Shame and Its Histories in the Twentieth Century

Abstract

Human emotions have been described as 'a map of our values'.2 In this paper I want to argue for a new direction in our history that takes emotions seriously. What role did hope play, for example, in propelling immigrants to this side of the world? What was the emotional content of the conversion experience that led some Maori to adopt Christianity? How do we understand desire as a motivating force for people's actions in the past?