The Historian

Intro:

The Historian is part storyteller, part data recorder. He studies change—and lack thereof, providing valuable perspective, to counter both naïve optimism and pathological pessimism. Knowledge of the self needs to precede the control, care and growth of self. He constantly records the other Hands’ work—as well as the failures, which usually provides the most fertile lessons.

Bridges: Arts, Humanities and Science:

• One part humanitian: focuses on individual human experiences
• One part scientist: data-driven in his collection and presentation of evidence
• One part artist: present and bring stories forward in stimulating manner

Modus operandi:

Favorite--or "go-to" tools: data tracking & narrative writing (the tools don’t matter as much as the process to him—though the other hands may want the data in more usable/crunchable formats and so he obliges

Strengths & Weaknesses (including a “kryptonite”): does he have a great memory? Rather, a poor one, which is why he writes things down.

Narrative is powerful, but can be deceptive. We over-depend on it, well beyond its ability to convey truth.

Hand in Hand w/___(works most / best with other FARMhands): Habitué, Heuristician

…inevitable conflicts with … Hacker? (athey look in opposite temporal directions)

Backstory / origin story:

Maybe can’t tell his own story so well in a the-cobbler’s-kids-go-barefoot sort of way.

Also old as sin? Ironically, little is known about Herodotus himself. he wrote himself into existence.

Works at that time were “published” by being read aloud. His “publication” of the Histories at the Olympic Games. Story goes Herodotus refused to read his book to the crowd until there was ample cloud cover to shade him on the platform. By then, most of the crowd left. This led to the saying, “Like Herodotus and his shade”, which alludes to those who miss opportunities by waiting for optimal circumstances. I like to think (though without evidence) this might be an origin of the modern expression “throwing shade”; in any case, would be fun to play with the idea.

What’s a practitioner of the humanities called? It’s not a “humanitarian”, per se