I had an interesting phone call this week. Apparently, someone (or sometwo) is working on a Laura Ingalls Wilder documentary. It is in the “discussion phase,” where ideas are being tossed around as to how a Laura Ingalls Wilder documentary ought to be done.
So the question was: what would I hope to see in a Laura Ingalls Wilder documentary?
My answer? Scholarship.
Now that I’ve had a few days to think about it, I’m still not certain as to exactly what I would hope to see in such a documentary – other than something that was historically accurate. It has always bothered me how often historical accuracy has taken a backseat to keeping the damn myth alive.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned in the past ten years or so, it’s that it’s not nice to point out (with proof) that Laura was wrong about anything. “Why would you want to prove Laura wrong?” I’ve been asked.
I don’t think the problem is “proving Laura wrong.” I think the problem is in proving that widely-available publications are wrong. Therefore, I honestly don’t think anyone has the balls to tell the real story.
