Major Project Progress

Inevitably, I have stumbled upon various flaws in my original project idea. Central to my qualms is an ever-increasing disinterest in my selected area of focus. Although it had once satisfied my interest, I am finding myself underwhelmed by the plethora of information and highly unmotivated. In addition to this, I fear my idea will be constrained by the resources at my disposal. Although their are various texts on the subject, the majority of these resources appear to revolve around the two historians mentioned in the previous blog. This may detract from my argument as I will be focusing entirely on two opinions, as opposed to a vast array of different historians. Additionally, after conducting my bas research I felt I had compiled a vague list of factors influencing my Historians. The ease to which this was discovered alluded to a lack of depth to the subject and instigated my hunch of a looming disinterest.
With this in mind, I have decided to select a new focus for my history project. After brain-storming with my teacher, I have considered several broad options:

• The impact of Bob Dylan on the baby-boomers and beyond as the "unwilling leader" of their generation.
• The effects of the emergence of different drugs on the progress of history - Opium, marijuana, LSD, ecstasy etc.
• The consistent emergence of "Robin Hoods" in history - Ned Kelly, Pablo Escobar etc.
• The revolution of the 60s - What caused it? Science, politics, arts? or perhaps a figment of our collective imagination.

Major Project Progress

Recently, I decided on a general field of investigation for my history project. I am interested in global affairs and am intrigued by the ever-changing economic, political and social relationships between countries. The United States of America is of particular significance as it has emerged as a modern "super-power", replacing the old-age, traditional European empires of Britain, France and Germany. Consequently, foreign relations with the US are of pinnacle importance to most nations of the world. However, France's approach to America has changed significantly throughout its rise to power. Whilst the US remained a burgeoning nation of immense promise and idealism, France sustained an immense fascination with its growth and progress. It is strange then that France's present-day attitude towards American does not reflect this same intrigue and respect. It appears as though the French-US relationship has undergone an unfortunate metamorphosis- emphasised by the writings of various historians.
My history project will reflect these ideals by investigating the changing French attitudes towards America and the emergence of French anti-Americanism. In order to achieve this, I will focus on the works two historians - Alexander de Tocqueville and Jean Baudrillard. Both of whom are imposing French historians and quintessential "products of their time" (19th century and 20th century, respectively).

Major Project Progress

I have found a pretty interesting concept that I want to look into, it refers to French-American relations. More specifically, it focusses on America's change from the young, potential land of hope to a developed, capitalist society. Although this isn't something I'd normally be intesrested in, it seems fairly "juicy" as Mr Carragher would say. Here's a website which deals with the issue in fairly immense detail :

http://www.clrjamesinstitute.org/baudrill.html

19/10/09

Today I established my blog!
I am continuing to search for a major work idea, though I have received useful feedback.