What If? An Introduction to Alternate History

Alternate History is the concept that events which occurred in history could have happened differently. Some common examples from popular culture in American history are "What if America had lost World War 2?" and "What if JFK wasn't shot in November 1963?"

Many historians use alternate history scenarios as academic exercises to explore different possible outcomes to historical events to see how things could have turned out differently (and might again in the future). 

Alternatively (sorry), many speculative fiction writers use alternate history scenarios to create worlds that are familiar to us as readers or viewers, but different enough to make the world of the story and its history be characters in their own right.

Alternate History is a way to look at our history from a slightly askew perspective, forcing us to think much more about what led us as a society from there to here, from then to now. 

In this 1-hour class, we'll discuss a number of famous works of alternate history in literature, film, television, and gaming. 

Some examples of specific works and events that may be covered, depending on student interest, are:
- What if the US lost World War 2? (example in fiction: The Man in the High Castle; a novel (and television show) about a world where Japan and Germany won World War 2 and jointly occupy the United States.)
- What if the Jewish people were settled somewhere other than Palestine? (example in fiction: The Yiddish Policemen's Union is a mystery-genre novel about a world where Jews are resettled in Alaska instead of Israel after World War 2.)
- What if the US did not drop atomic bombs on Japan? (example in fiction: "The Lucky Strike," a short story about how the atomic bombing of Hiroshima could have gone differently.)
- What if Hitler had never been born? (example in fiction: The "Red Alert" video game series deals with a variety of alternate and alternative alternate history scenarios such as "what if Hitler was killed by a time-traveling Albert Einstein?")
- What if Europe never began the age of exploration or imperialism? (example in fiction: The Years of Rice and Salt is a novel exploring a world without Europeans, 99% of whom died of The Black Death.)
- What if the South had won the US Civil War? (example in fiction: Guns of the South is a slightly tongue-in-cheek novel about time-traveling white supremacists who travel back in time to provide the Confederate Army under Robert E. Lee with a large number of AK-47s and other advanced technology.)
- What if the American Revolution had failed? (example in fiction: For Want of a Nail: If Burgoyne had won at Saratoga is a fictional textbook written 200 years after the French choose not to provide assistance against the British during the American War of Independence.)

Students are also very welcome and encouraged to bring up their own favorite works of fiction or historical scenarios of interest to discuss!

The specific "point(s) of divergence" in each work, the moment (or moments) when history changed, will be identified and explained. Students will be encouraged to share whether they believe the alternate history presented is a realistic projection or complete fantasy.

Students are encouraged to come to class ready to chat with their peers and think outside the box! 

Please feel free to contact me with any questions!