Brasenose College was delighted to host acclaimed historian Simon Schama, writer of over eighteen books, on Thursday 12th May for a tea followed by a Q and A session and drinks reception. He was first a student then lecturer and Fellow at Cambridge, followed by a Fellowship at Brasenose College itself in Oxford, before moving to America where he is currently a Professor of History and Art History at Columbia University.
“You can tell a lot about someone by how they eat artichokes.” This was my introduction to the historian. Friendly, warm and charming, Simon Schama immediately dispelled the potential nervousness which comes from meeting someone so knowledgeable and intelligent. He met a variety of Brasenose history students, both undergraduates and postgraduates, having conversations about the correct way to eat scones (cream then jam) as well as more serious historical matters including the work of students.
The Q and A style discussion was held in St Mary’s Church, just across Radcliffe Square, which has a stunning ceiling with beams and gold stars on a blue background. Not that anyone was looking at the ceiling, Schama’s quick and intelligent responses to Principal John Bowers’ questions were the focus of the show.
His wit and charisma came through in asides and ripostes to questions. When Principal Bowers was describing the motivations for his first appointment to Cambridge as a lecturer and then Fellow, Professor Schama strongly objected to the implication that he was “a bachelor”, saying laughingly “they obviously did not know me that well.” He also told us of his friendship with Helen Mirren when they were children and how he wished he had dated her!
The discussion moved onto the subject of the American election. He argued that Donald Trump’s motto was “the louder the raspberry, purer the raspberry”, whereas Hillary was all about content. He further explained that he thinks that Trump does not believe his “completely insane” policies and only uses them as slogans and that his message is successful because it is anti-establishment and simple. He warned that there was a sense of violent thug about him, which he thought was to an extent necessary in an American president, but that it came in a particularly dangerous brand with Trump - almost as if he had his own strong arm. He also warned of the dangers of this new simple, game show style politics where “thinking and reasoning is a sign of weakness”. Schama predicted that Trump would make the live debates all about Bill Clinton's sex life as a way to discredit Hillary Clinton.
Professor Schama’s most recent books have focussed on Jewish history, there has also been a TV series produced, where he presents ‘The Story of the Jews’. He explained that he felt it was at first a topic he could not approach from an academic level as it was so personal to him. He had founded a society in Cambridge where he studied and discussed Jewish history with students. Schama accused historical ignorance of being a significant contribution to the current climate of anti-Semitism, with allegations particularly prevalent in the political left, “Two words vindicate that: Ken Livingstone.” Schama clarified that he was “an extreme critic” of Israel and a two statist but that the position of Ken Livingstone, which he alleged was that Israel should not exist was abhorrent (he said that the creation of Israel was “a great catastrophe”). He went on, “Zionism has become a synonym for racism” when it was born out of anti-Semitism and “absolute desperation” following the Second World War. Although he emphasised that some Jews in Israel had lived in Palestine and that there was a Jewish majority in Jerusalem, he admitted there was certainly “an element of imperialist skulduggery”. His passion on the subject was evident, Schama even apologised for his vehemence, pointing to the pulpit and saying “Sorry I should be up there giving a sermon.”
When quizzed on the reforms to history in the National Curriculum, he praised Gove saying that he was “very clever and interesting” and that he himself had advised Gove about history in schools. Schama called history teachers “heroes” and highlighted the fact that they have very little time in which to teach their subject, as they are “very lucky” to have an hour and forty-five minutes. On his visits to secondary schools he noticed that the modules did not link up and talked of his wish to focus more on chronology whilst exploring the questions inherent in the story-telling. However, he criticized Gove’s policy of including a list of names which had to be studied. He suggested directing attention to topics which students might be interested in or are topical such as the Anglo-Indian story, particularly in areas with a high Indian population as well as the Reformation, due to “the passions of religious allegiance”, and the Opium Wars, explaining that “teenagers could relate to hard drugs” to which Principal Bowers responded “not in this College!”
On Brexit, Professor Schama was quick to say he was a Bremainer and recommended an article in The Financial Times, written by a Professor of History at Princeton, which can be found here: which argues that Brexit is partly a product of British imperial nostalgia. Despite his Bremain sympathies, Schama criticised the thrust of the campaign which he feels has been too negative and instead should focus on “the case for being part of a reformed Europe.” He said that in this instance he agrees with Greek economist Yanis Varoufakis, though he largely disagrees with his policies, who maintained that Britain would not escape an EU meltdown even if it left.
The questions of the audience tended to ask Professor Schama to gaze into his crystal ball, asking how he thought history would treat Barack Obama, “very kindly”. To the questioner who enquired what would happen if Britain exits Europe, Donald Trump becomes President of the United States of America and there’s a mayoral assassination in London, he queried, “Do you know something about a mayoral assassination plot?”
Professor Simon Schama spoke intelligently and entertaingly, and his visit was enjoyed greatly by many Brasenose students and staff, and members of the wider University and members of the public.
By Ariane Laurent-Smith (Second Year, Ancient and Modern History)