La historia maleable. A propósito de Internet

Abstract

This essay attempts to assess the impact of the new technologies on the discipline of history. It starts from the assumption that the revolution in information technology has altered the way in which texts are transmitted, the medium in which they are made available, and the ways in which they are read. Moving on, this essay tries to evaluate how far it might affect other fundamental ideas. The changes are various. On the one hand, it could have an effect on the type of source, and to a degree on the critical method with which historians approach whatever type of document. On the other hand, it could also undermine the notion of authorship, not only because many of the new texts in existence lack any recognisable signature, but also because many of them are the product of collective reworkings, which further dissolves the deeply-rooted sense of ownership we are accustomed to. Finally, it could bring about changes to the way history is written, making it much less hierarchical and closed and much more open and untidy