Compare, Pick a Format, Storyboard
First set your recovered perspective against the account you were given — and finish with a claim, not a shrug. Then decide which medium will best explain your figure's experience, and storyboard the whole thing on paper before you go anywhere near a generator.
You now hold two accounts of the same past: the account you were given (the museum label, the exhibition text, the story everyone already knows) and the perspective you recovered. Before you tell your story, set them against each other. Not to decide who is right — to find out what we can establish.
AFill the comparison grid
| The account we were given | Our recovered perspective | |
|---|---|---|
| What happened, according to this? | ||
| Who is at the centre? | ||
| Who is left out? | ||
| What is the evidence? | ||
| Whose interest does this serve? |
BNow finish it. This box is not optional.
A comparison that ends in "so everyone saw it differently" is not history yet. End in a claim:
No AI in this step by default. If you do use it: AI may restate a position you have already evidenced. It may not supply a position or decide between them.
Did you finish with a claim, and not a shrug?
Did you explain why the accounts differ — position, information, interest — and not just that they differ?
Which medium will best explain your figure's experience to your audience?
Available formats
| Format | What it is |
|---|---|
| REEL | A fast-paced, linear video sequence that uses the object to anchor a concise, visually-driven narrative arc of the historical figure's key choice or moment. |
| COMIC | A visual storytelling medium that uses panels to break down historical context and character perspective into a clear, frame-by-frame sequence. |
| GAME / SIMULATION | An interactive experience that requires the audience to step into the figure's shoes and make a historically informed decision within a specific, evidence-based dilemma. |
Guidelines
Use REEL or COMIC if your story is a sequence. It's like a film or comic — perfect for showing how a series of events led your figure to use that object.
Use GAME or SIMULATION if your story is a decision or a change throughout time. It's like a game or a "choose-your-own-path" story — perfect for putting the audience in the figure's shoes to face a tough choice.
Why?
In one sentence, explain why this format fits your chosen story angle.
Guiding questions to draft a storyboard — for Reel and Comic
- Hook — The start. In which context does the person or object appear?
- Who — Main figure & other characters?
- Purpose — Why does the object, action or person matter?
- Pressure — What is the historical conflict?
- Choice — What did they decide to do?
- Inner World — What did they feel/think? (Use evidence!)
- Result — What happened because of their choice?
- Meaning — What does this tell us about the time period?
Guiding questions to draft a simulation or game
- The Entry — Set the scene (where/when/who).
- The Decision — What is the main dilemma?
- The Options — What are the two realistic paths? (Support with evidence.)
- The Consequence — What happens for each path?
- The Reflection — What does this choice reveal about the figure's perspective?
Time to build. Use the template below to draw and write out your format. Pencil first. No AI yet.
AReel or Comic
Draw each scene. Note WHAT, WHERE, WHO is in the scene. What do the characters say?
Aim for 6–8 frames. Each frame should advance the story.
BSimulation or game
Draw what you want to build. Note WHAT, WHO, WHERE, RULES, OPTIONS, etc. How can you interact with the game? Keep it simple.
The "Then, Not Now" Test
Does your draft describe the person's feelings and choices using only the values and language of their time, rather than modern-day assumptions?
If your character says "I feel anxious about my carbon footprint" — go back and rewrite. They didn't.