multiperspectivity
{{Short description|Characteristic of narration or representation}}
Multiperspectivity (sometimes polyperspectivity) is a characteristic of narration or representation, where more than one perspective is represented to the audience.{{Cite web|url=http://www.lhn.uni-hamburg.de/article/multiperspectivity|title=Multiperspectivity|last=Hartner|first=Marcus|website=The Living Handbook of Narratology|publisher=University of Hamburg|access-date=2016-09-19}}
Most frequently the term is applied to fiction which employs multiple narrators, often in opposition to each-other or to illuminate different elements of a plot, creating what is sometimes called a multiple narrative,{{Cite web|url=http://education.seattlepi.com/multiple-narrative-5829.html|title=What Is a Multiple Narrative?|last=Magher|first=Maria|access-date=2016-09-19}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.euronet.nl/users/mcbeijer/dan/mns/|title=Multiple Narrative Structures in Contemporary Cinema|last=Hassler-Forest|first=Dan}} or multi-narrative.{{Cite journal|date=2014-02-02|title=Same Difference: Humanity as Allegory in the Multi-Narrative Film|url=http://film-philosophy.com/conference/index.php/conf/F-P2014/paper/viewPaper/907|language=en}}
However, a similar concept is applied to historical process, in which multiple different perspectives are used to evaluate events.{{Cite web|url=http://teachinghistory.org/teaching-materials/ask-a-master-teacher/23610|title=Multiperspectivity: What Is It, and Why Use It? {{!}} Teachinghistory.org|website=teachinghistory.org|access-date=2016-09-19}} Educators have extended the concept and term to apply to techniques used to teach multiple disciplines, including social sciences, like economics and civics,{{Cite journal|last=Weber|first=Birgit|date=2016-02-26|title=Multiperspectivity, Values and Criticism in Economic and Civic Education|url=http://www.jsse.org/index.php/jsse/article/view/1510|journal=JSSE - Journal of Social Science Education|language=en|volume=14|issue=4|doi=10.2390/jsse-v14-i4-1510|issn=1618-5293}} and physical education.{{Cite journal|last=Krüger|first=Arnd|date=2012-10-29|title=Multiperspectivity as a basis of current German physical education|url=http://www.cairn.info/resume.php?ID_ARTICLE=SM_078_0011|journal=Movement & Sport Sciences|language=en|issue=78|pages=11–23|issn=2118-5735|doi=10.1051/sm/2012020|url-access=subscription}}
Use in history
File:MULTIPERSPECTIVITY.jpg{{Main|historical method}}
The use of multiple perspectives arose because educators and scholars from the recent decades questioned the validity of one-sided historical narratives. Instead of focusing on a dominant group's point of view, they suggested to employ multiperspectivity. This is because of the diversity and cultural pluralism, since many groups – women, the poor, ethnic minorities, etc. – have been ignored in traditional historical narratives.
Good historians must not just focus on one side of the story, instead they must look into different sources to know if the facts corroborate with each other and to produce more accurate interpretations. "In history, multiple perspectives are usual and have to be tested against evidence, and accounted for in judgments and conclusions." Ann Low-Beer explains.{{Cite web|url=https://teachinghistory.org/teaching-materials/ask-a-master-teacher/23610|title=Teachinghistory.org|website=teachinghistory.org|access-date=2019-11-15}}
- Multiple historical narratives provide space to inquire and investigate.
- Different sources offer different historical truths.
- It brings a more complex, complete and richer understanding of the past.
- It can be used to show corroboration of acts, to show diverse perspectives of a single event, and to showcase the human condition in compelling ways.{{Cite web|url=http://greatstorybook.com/multiperspectivity-write-multi-narrative/|title=Multiperspectivity: when & how to write multi-narrative|last=Hill|first=Chazda|date=2016-10-11|website=GreatStorybook.com|language=en-US|access-date=2019-11-15}}
- Multiperspectivity is a significant tool for stimulating historical understanding and thinking and a necessary precondition for all citizens that live in a multicultural society.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cy.undp.org/content/cyprus/en/home/operations/projects/action_for_cooperation_and_trust/multiperspectivity-and-intercultural-dialogue-in-education--mide.html|title=Multiperspectivity and Intercultural Dialogue in Education (MIDE)|website=UNDP in Cyprus|language=en|access-date=2019-11-15}}
See also
- Mosaic novel - a genre of novel employing multiperspectivity
References
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{{Narrative}}