[UA] Oh, Those Wacky Cliomancers

[Hopt]

Eric Christian Berg wrote:
> On the flip side, however, I believe that Cliomancy has a special focus on
> mass belief, so an argument could be made that enough people 'knowing'
> that a site is significant in such a way is all that matters, since
> history is less an objective science and more a study of perceptions of
> the past.

I think the key to Cliomancy is public perception of the location. The
site of, say, Jesus of Nazareth's burial, or the fabled Atlantis, might
yield a couple of major charges, but since no one knows where they are
they've stayed unused. In "Fly to Heaven" in "One Shots", Simon Diulio
(however you spell that..) has been reaping charges off the Sears Tower
after he killed off his teacher, but what has the Sears Tower ever done
to affect historical events? It's just powerful because people recognize
it.

Besides, if only Shakespeare's true house (the one that affected
history) held charges, then Cliomancers visiting the tourist site would
know immediately it was powerless. Also an interesting point, news might
not have gotten to enough people yet to affect the charges Cliomancers
have been getting from the tourist site, if it depends on public
perception. Shakespeare's actual house may be a different one, but at
long as not enough people know about it, the tourist site will be the
one to go to...

Kinda makes you wonder about who's making a living giving guides tours
and whatnot. A perfect excuse to be at the house early every day, no?

Hopt
--
"He was the Emperor of the United States. But no one knew about him..."

_______________________________________________
UA mailing list
UA at lists.uchicago.edu
http://lists.uchicago.edu/mailman/listinfo/ua