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For historians and artists, do conventions limit or expand their ability to produce knowledge? Discuss with reference to history and the arts.

This IB Theory of Knowledge essay, based on the November 2025 prescribed title, examines whether conventions serve to limit or expand the production of knowledge in history and the arts. It explores how methodological norms in history, such as source verification and chronology, can support the objective construction of historical narratives while also recognizing how rigid adherence can exclude marginalized voices and unconventional evidence. In contrast, the essay investigates how artistic conventions in fields like music and film can constrain creativity through standardized forms, yet may also provide a foundation for innovation when artists choose to subvert or reimagine them. Drawing on examples such as historiographical approaches to the American Civil War and narrative experimentation in Quentin Tarantino’s ‘Pulp Fiction,’ the essay argues that conventions both enable and restrict knowledge production, depending on how they are applied within each Area of Knowledge.

April 6, 2025

* The sample essays are for browsing purposes only and are not to be submitted as original work to avoid issues with plagiarism.

For historians and artists, do conventions limit or expand their ability to produce

knowledge? Discuss with reference to history and the arts.

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For historians and artists, do conventions limit or expand their ability to produce

knowledge? Discuss with reference to history and the arts.

Primarily, both historians and artists work from a set of conventions that govern the

process of making knowledge. Conventions are procedures, customs, and norms accepted as

standards to guide inquiry and art production. Within history, conventions of corroboration of

sources, organizing around chronology, and testing of evidence all encourage objectivity in

order to preserve the validity of what occurred in the past. This methodological heft is

designed to eliminate bias and leave a veritable record of historical fact. Conventions, in the

arts, are instead traditional styles, forms, and techniques which control how new concepts are

interpreted and communicated. This strict adherence to norms can choke off original

expression and close the door to breakthroughs in vision. This split raises an interesting

question regarding the place of conventions in general: though former methodologies are

essential to making an accurate and objective presentation, conventional art forms may be

creative hindrances in that they limit experimentation with deviant thinking. Consequently,

the contention of this essay is that while conventions in history protect truth by being

objective, conventions in the arts effectively constrain the generation of new knowledge by

imposing strict creative boundaries.

History conventions which include historical methods do not restrict the generation of

knowledge, but instead widen it by establishing an orderly and discernible framework of

organizing information. Historical methods involve evidence-based form of study and help

safeguard the sensitive nature of history especially because of its relationship with humanity.

Since access to the past cannot be direct, historians utilize conventionized approaches

towards reconstructing events accurately. An excellent example of how conventions enrich

historical understanding can be seen within the study of the American Civil War. Historians

have utilized various primary sources such as military records, letters, diaries, and newspaper

articles. Such sources are then subjected to rigorous processes like cross-referencing and

source criticism. For instance, the use of comprehensive military dispatches and government

reports has enabled historians to build an authentic and balanced depiction of battles,

strategies, and war-related political decisions (Smith, 2020). This methodical procedure

excludes individual bias and ensures conclusions are made based on empirical reality. The

systematicity of such conventions is needed in maintaining the truthfulness of history. Since

it is impossible to observe historical events directly, these procedures serve as a replacement

for direct observation. In this case, through the following of normal procedures, historians

ensure that every piece of evidence is thoroughly scrutinized and its context properly

comprehended (Bagby, 2022). This critical evaluation not only organizes the vast quantity of

historical data but also allows historians to make connections between apparently disparate

events, leading to a more vibrant and accurate picture of the past. The American Civil War is

a clear case where these conventions have facilitated a better understanding of causes and

effects of war, thus achieving overall improved insight into modern-day American society

(Bagby, 2022). In conclusion, conventions of historical analysis such as systematic source

evaluation and evidence-based examination are necessary. They do not hinder the production

of knowledge but ensure the safeguarding of history's truth. This stringently organized

approach enables historians to create reliable, objective knowledge that advances our

understanding of events like the American Civil War, thus substantiating that such

conventions do widen rather than constrict the historian's field of inquiry to create

meaningful insights.

On the other hand, conventions in history can restrict the generation of new

knowledge by enforcing rigid frameworks that may overlook alternative perspectives and

unconventional sources. For example, there is the A notable example is the traditional

narrative of the American Civil War. For many years, historians primarily focused on military

strategies and high-level political decisions, often excluding the voices of African Americans

and women. These groups provided invaluable insights into the lived experiences and social

dynamics of the era, yet their contributions were marginalized because conventional methods

favored official records and established documents (Moore, 2024). This strict adherence to

traditional sources can lead to a narrow interpretation of historical events. By relying heavily

on official narratives, historians may inadvertently ignore evidence that does not conform to

these established protocols. The lack of emphasis on personal diaries, oral histories, and non-

traditional records means that important aspects of the war, such as the struggles and

resilience of marginalized communities, remain underexplored (Moore, 2024). As a result,

the full complexity of the conflict and its social ramifications is not fully understood. While

conventional methods ensure objectivity by using verified sources, they may also inhibit the

exploration of novel ideas and broader perspectives, ultimately restraining the growth of

historical knowledge. Thus, although conventions provide a disciplined structure for analysis,

they can limit historical inquiry by constraining researchers to traditional narratives, as

evidenced by the incomplete accounts of the American Civil War. However, conventional

historical methods do not inherently restrict because they ensure accuracy and have evolved

to include diverse perspectives, enriching historical understanding rather than restricting it.

In the arts, conventions such as standard forms and tested techniques establish

creative constraints that restrict the production of new knowledge. Conventional techniques

such as melody and rhythm in music impose a restricted set of structural expectations that

restrict the generation of new ideas. For example, there is the widespread use of the verse-

chorus form in American pop music. This approach is generally thought to be the norm for

success commercially (Konert-Panek & Gradowski, 2024). Record companies and radio

stations like this form because it guarantees a familiar sound that will gain a broad

listenership. Those artists who attempt to stray from these practices, for example, by using

abnormal song structures or unusual chord changes, tend to encounter resistance from

gatekeepers within the industry (Konert-Panek & Gradowski, 2024). This resistance occurs

when experimental tracks receive little airtime or are shunned by critics who have been

brought up on conventional musical patterns (Konert-Panek & Gradowski, 2024). The

inflexibility of these artistic conventions limits creativity. While art is a topic of poetic license

and all, the reliance on established techniques places musicians and artists in a preconceived

mold. Instead of allowing for open exchange of ideas that may harbor creative musical

compositions, imposing the norms channels imagination into mimicking familiar patterns

(Konert-Panek & Gradowski, 2024). It results in a never-ending cycle where innovation is

stifled and contrasting opinions are not fully developed. The creative boundaries set by these

standard procedures frame the room for innovation in new form and sound, thereby capping

the development of new ideas and information in the art. In short, as much as art involves

subjectivity and poetic license, today's conventions in American popular music, such as

standard procedures and prearranged form, are speed bumps. Such conventions set new

boundaries that do not allow new ideas to be investigated and restrict the development of new

knowledge in the arts.

However, art conventions are not restrictive to the development of new knowledge.

They provide an ordered framework that fosters innovation through a common vocabulary in

which imaginative ideas can be meaningfully described. Rather than stifling creativity, these

conventions are vessels for artists to labor on, twist, and redefine conventional forms. For

example, in "Pulp Fiction," Tarantino follows the ancient three-act design but reconstructs it

in non-linear configuration. This innovative reshaping of popular narrative convention

delivers a novel, engaging perspective that renews film as a creative art of narrative

storytelling (Zhou, 2022). The film intertwines several stories, offers offbeat conversations,

and negates conventional chronological sequences, allowing audiences to remix ideas of

crime and redemption. Tarantino's novel approach exemplifies that time-tested structures may

be redesigned to generate revolutionary cinematic art and catalyze novel creative ideas

(Zhou, 2022). "Pulp Fiction" indicates that time-tested structures are acceptable as adaptive

starting points. Film directors are capable of invoking such norms as prototypes to trial and

experiment on, thereby transgressing viewers' expectations and amplifying varieties of

artistic work. Conventions provide standard requirements for guaranteeing readability and

logic, allowing innovative creative deviations and subsequent discoveries to reach new sorts

of knowledge. Such structured creativeness is valuable to sustain the debate and artistic

advancement. Rather than limiting the expression of originality, film narrative and ethics

conventions offer an adamant basis to bring about breakthroughs, eventually elevating new

arts knowledge development. However, leaning on past narratives' constructions

conventionally gets movie makers fixed to familiar scripts, thereby not encouraging the

fabrication of completely original storylines.

In conclusion, conventions in history do not limit production of knowledge because

they aim to improve objectivity by ensuring knowledge is expanded systematically. However,

conventions in the arts restrict creativity and innovation of new information. Historical

research strategies like source verification and chronological analysis offer a strict

methodology that purifies and simplifies knowledge, i.e., in research on the American Civil

War. These conventions are not constricting historical research but actually enrich it by

granting factual integrity. Art conventions, on the other hand, as entrenched musical forms

and entrenched narrative forms take on rigid forms committed to suppressing originality.

While some artists play around with conventions in a bid to generate newness, conventions in

fields such as music and cinema are committed to suppressing deviation, restricting

innovative production. Complying with the entrenched works of art suppresses non-

conventional innovation, suppressing revolutionary revolutions of art. Finally, while

conventions in history safeguard information, conventions in art limit creativity, showing

how in the arts strict adherence to norms already set prior to creativity inhibits innovation in

knowledge creation. Therefore, the impact of conventions varies among knowledge domains,

impacting discovery differently in that some thrive with systematic examination, while others

thrive when given interpretive freedom.

References

Bagby, P. (2022). Culture and History. Univ of California Press.

Konert-Panek, M., & Gradowski, M. (2024). Stylistic Contrasts and Social Implications in

“You Can’t Always Get What You Want.” Popular Music and Society, 48(1), 79–101.

https://doi.org/10.1080/03007766.2024.2442208

Moore, F. (2024). The Civil War in Song and Story. 1860-1865. BoD – Books on Demand.

Smith, T. B. (2020). “Altogether fitting and proper” : Civil War battlefield preservation in

history, memory, and policy, 1861-2015. The University Of Tennessee Press.

Zhou, Y. (2022). Noir Elements of Neo-Noir: An Analysis of Quentin Tarantino and David

Fincher. Frontiers in Art Research, 4(16). https://doi.org/10.25236/far.2022.041608

April 6, 2025

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Academic level:

High school

Type of paper:

IB ToK Essay

Discipline:

History and art

Citation:

APA

Pages:

6 (1600 words)

Spacing:

Double