The Semiotics of Setting

I have a terrible confession to make. I don’t know history.

I mean, I know some stuff…I’m not completely inept. But I don’t know what happened the Friday after Hitler died, or how quickly the use of the light bulb spread through the world following its invention.

Why is this a problem?

Well, it’s a problem because, on occasion, I pretend to write historical fiction.

I say ‘pretend’ because I’ve never quite gotten there. I can’t figure out the correct circumstances of characters in the times they supposedly live because I don’t know the history surrounding those times well enough to do so convincingly.

Also, I don’t really care.

History was and is important. But in my fiction, the (non-fictional) facts don’t matter to me. So I use history and geography for their semiotic value.

By which I mean: How do the historical and geographical signs (say, a kerosene lamp) relate to the reader, the characters, and the story in general?

The simple existence of a kerosene lamp speaks a great deal to a modern reader. It means the story is taking place somewhere unlike the world we live in. It is probably many years ago, and there is likely greater adherence to social structure and propriety. Also, the story probably takes place within a settled society, not a primitive environment.

If I am writing a story that has need of these elements, can I choose to convey them by setting my story in a world where a kerosene lamp is an everyday item for my characters? Or does my use of a kerosene lamp require me to include the kind of historical details of the events that took place when kerosene lamps were commonly used.

I personally champion the first of these, and not just because I’m too lazy to research all the details necessary. Using such elements is common in sci-fi and fantasy. The reader gets signals from the weaponry and technology and clothing and manner of speech in these worlds which do not really exist. In literary fiction (eep, just called my fiction literary) these elements do not lose their ability to signal the reader simply because the story takes place on earth.

Or maybe I just tell myself that so I can stop buying history books.