1. Moonrise Kingdom
“Were you followed?”

2. As far as I know, Wes Anderson (the director of this film), had no intention of this scene having anything to do with the topic of immigration.

3. But that doesn’t mean that you and I can’t interpret what we see as something that does have to do with the topic of immigration.

4. in·ter·pret verb (used with object) 1
in·ter·pret verb (used with object) 1. to give or provide the meaning of; explain; explicate; elucidate. 2. to construe or understand in a particular way: to interpret a reply as favorable. 3. to bring out the meaning of (a dramatic work, music, etc.) by performance or execution. 4. to perform or render (a song, role in a play, etc.) according to one's own understanding or sensitivity. 5. to translate orally.

5. This scene isn’t composed of a bunch of facts, it is a series of events that we must interpret to the best of our abilities.

6. We can interpret what we see however we want with the limited knowledge that we have.

7. And the ways we interpret this scene will be different for all of us, as individuals, depending on who we are, where we are coming from, and where we think we are going.

8. And that is OK, as long as we are basing our interpretations on what we actually see, and not just on what we want to see.

9. And just as it is with this scene from Moonrise Kingdom, so it is with all of history.

10. History is NOT a series of immutable (unchangeable) facts.
[Please write this down]

11. History IS a social construct.
Social Construct: the way meaning is created through social interaction with others.

12. Events, both historical and contemporary, are always interpreted.

13. No one knows the whole story.

14. Everyone is biased. Yes, everyone.
bi·as : a particular tendency or inclination,
especially one that prevents unprejudiced
consideration of a question; prejudice.

15. What it all means is entirely up to us.

16. The point of studying history is to interpret events in order to create meaning.

17. Then use that meaning to help inform our actions today.

18. So that our actions might contribute in some way to making the world a better place.

19. Preguntas?