Hey Mackenzie, I think the plagiarism issue in Dolton's writing is really cool. It sounds like you've got some good sources to provide the historical context for his work, and I'm sure the annotated book will be invaluable. I thought your 'Further Questions' section asked some really interesting questions, but the last two seem really broad. I like the idea of exploring what Dolton chose to plagiarize and why; did he sensationalize other aspects of New England life, or was he primarily concerned with religion? Is there a difference between religiously motivated travel narratives and the more mainstream kind? I think you'll have plenty of material for this paper!
My question was along Cameron's lines: what was so special about religion, that it became the focal point for condemning the people of New England? What does that tell us about English society at this time? Dunton's writings are at the end of the 17th century - nearly a century before the American Revolution. Perhaps you should explore whether the English were already afraid at this time of the possibility of colonial revolt? How would such sentiments have influenced what Dunton thought they would want to hear?
That's an interesting discovery you made about your source. Was this a common practice at the time? How rigid was intellectual property? If authors did not borrow from each other ("sample" each other maybe), why did John Dunton think it was appropriate to plagiarize so much? If he was motivated by money, were the sources little known enough that it wouldn't affect his sales? Also, if he focuses so much on the religious views of the colonists, why plagiarize poems as well? I'm really intrigued by your topic!
I also agree that plagiarism can actually help you make a more interesting argument. What parts exactly did he choose to copy? Also how will you reconcile the fact that while he largely portrayed the people of New England as immoral, he did occassionally describe them as pious models?
Looks like we are looking at a similar period. Thinking about travel writing as a genre seems to me to be really important-- it's too easy to forget that these explorers we are reading often have in mind a certain model of what "travel writing" should look like.
I'm curious to hear what you decide about how much Dunton is writing to please an audience. Another hypothesis that the genre of travel writing, as a dicsourse, was inescapable--he couldn't not write the way he did, otherwise it wouldn't be travel writing. I suppose the answer would overlap with both of these possibilities.
Hey Mackenzie, it sounds like you have a lot of information and sources for your topic; it seems like the only issue is narrowing down which ones will be most useful. While I knew of anti-Catholic sentiment in England at the time, I didn't realize the extent it reached (nor all the false accusations of conspiracy). I like your section "Further Questions" and think you've laid out the path to complete the rest of your research. Dunton seems to be a very interesting character, and I would mine his sources as much as you can for other writers he may allude to (or stole from) to get a more complete picture of travel writing at the time.
Thanks for the clear post. A couple thoughts or questions I had. You are exploring what Dunton's writings (plagiarism) about New England reveal about 17th century religion in England. But then you go on to say that "I believe this is what people in England wanted to hear about settlers in New England. At a time when independent sectors of protestantism, and catholicism were viewed as abhorrent and radical, they would want to believe that a colony comprised of these types of religions would be without good Christian morals". My question is, does this really reveal aspects of religion in England though? This seems to reveal a more condescending view of these ex-English citizens who fled the country...at first glance, it would seem to reveal more about how they reveal "radicals" as you mention than about the state of religion in England. Can you flush this out more then? What exactly are you hoping to learn about religion in England from this account of the New World?
Also, since he had been to New England once, is all of his work plagiarism or is some of it indeed his own observations since he did travel there at least once as you mentioned?
Interesting stuff about false narratives...it's related to my work!
Hey Mackenzie,
ReplyDeleteI think the plagiarism issue in Dolton's writing is really cool. It sounds like you've got some good sources to provide the historical context for his work, and I'm sure the annotated book will be invaluable. I thought your 'Further Questions' section asked some really interesting questions, but the last two seem really broad. I like the idea of exploring what Dolton chose to plagiarize and why; did he sensationalize other aspects of New England life, or was he primarily concerned with religion? Is there a difference between religiously motivated travel narratives and the more mainstream kind? I think you'll have plenty of material for this paper!
Hi Mackenzie,
ReplyDeleteMy question was along Cameron's lines: what was so special about religion, that it became the focal point for condemning the people of New England? What does that tell us about English society at this time? Dunton's writings are at the end of the 17th century - nearly a century before the American Revolution. Perhaps you should explore whether the English were already afraid at this time of the possibility of colonial revolt? How would such sentiments have influenced what Dunton thought they would want to hear?
Hey Mackenzie,
ReplyDeleteThat's an interesting discovery you made about your source. Was this a common practice at the time? How rigid was intellectual property? If authors did not borrow from each other ("sample" each other maybe), why did John Dunton think it was appropriate to plagiarize so much? If he was motivated by money, were the sources little known enough that it wouldn't affect his sales? Also, if he focuses so much on the religious views of the colonists, why plagiarize poems as well? I'm really intrigued by your topic!
I also agree that plagiarism can actually help you make a more interesting argument. What parts exactly did he choose to copy? Also how will you reconcile the fact that while he largely portrayed the people of New England as immoral, he did occassionally describe them as pious models?
ReplyDeleteHey Mackenzie,
ReplyDeleteLooks like we are looking at a similar period. Thinking about travel writing as a genre seems to me to be really important-- it's too easy to forget that these explorers we are reading often have in mind a certain model of what "travel writing" should look like.
I'm curious to hear what you decide about how much Dunton is writing to please an audience. Another hypothesis that the genre of travel writing, as a dicsourse, was inescapable--he couldn't not write the way he did, otherwise it wouldn't be travel writing. I suppose the answer would overlap with both of these possibilities.
Hey Mackenzie, it sounds like you have a lot of information and sources for your topic; it seems like the only issue is narrowing down which ones will be most useful. While I knew of anti-Catholic sentiment in England at the time, I didn't realize the extent it reached (nor all the false accusations of conspiracy). I like your section "Further Questions" and think you've laid out the path to complete the rest of your research. Dunton seems to be a very interesting character, and I would mine his sources as much as you can for other writers he may allude to (or stole from) to get a more complete picture of travel writing at the time.
ReplyDeleteHi Mackenzie,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the clear post. A couple thoughts or questions I had. You are exploring what Dunton's writings (plagiarism) about New England reveal about 17th century religion in England. But then you go on to say that "I believe this is what people in England wanted to hear about settlers in New England. At a time when independent sectors of protestantism, and catholicism were viewed as abhorrent and radical, they would want to believe that a colony comprised of these types of religions would be without good Christian morals".
My question is, does this really reveal aspects of religion in England though? This seems to reveal a more condescending view of these ex-English citizens who fled the country...at first glance, it would seem to reveal more about how they reveal "radicals" as you mention than about the state of religion in England.
Can you flush this out more then? What exactly are you hoping to learn about religion in England from this account of the New World?
Also, since he had been to New England once, is all of his work plagiarism or is some of it indeed his own observations since he did travel there at least once as you mentioned?
Interesting stuff about false narratives...it's related to my work!