Personally I never think of revision. To think that important documents in history had to be revised makes perfect sense, since they are extremely important. So the revisers of these documents are just as important as the writers. Without revision the day our country's independence was voted of would be completely different. Without revision history would be changed. It's also pretty cool that different drafts tell us different things about history. Lincoln's Gettysburg Address drafts show us that he wrote different parts at different times. It shows us that he might have changed the speech very close to the time he gave it. It's also cool that he added in his own notes and his handwriting is preserved in history forever.
I think it's important to realize that revision has been here since before they called it revision and it's necessary when trying to put your best work out there. As annoying and sometimes painful as revising over and over is, it will only make you look better. Who knows, maybe if Lincoln didn’t revise the way he had maybe the Gettysburg Address wouldn’t be as famous as it is today.
The Gettysburg Address presented by different people and in different ways was very interesting. The Johnny Cash version I really liked because of the music and his voice. This made me pay more attention then I would usually. The powerpoint really did nothing for me. I would have rather just read the real Address because really the power point showed nothing. I think the different ways the Address was presented also tied together the way people learn and the different learning techniques.
You make some excellent points about the importance of revision and the role it plays in our history, Julie.
ReplyDeleteThe PPoint Gettysburg Address is boring for a reason, I think.