Why is biography such a good window into history?
Fouché: If you have a compelling, interesting story about a human individual, group, or institution, it’s a way to place oneself in the historical past. This perspective helps us understand their identities at the present moment in society. Q: Has there been a shift in the way historians and authors approach biographical subjects? Fouché: The general shift is to a broader understanding of all kinds of work, and that’s happening in the humanities across the board with the development of more cultural analysis. For instance, most people started writing about black inventors during the civil rights movement. It was important to have these flawless hero champions. However, as times have changed, the thrust of black life and black community has changed: We don’t need these narrow, flawless hero champions anymore. These “celebrated biographies,” as I like to call them, are limited in their scope and understanding of these people. A nuanced biography provides a deeper, more contextual underst
