A Song of the South – Decoding Dixie
'Dixie' -the unofficial anthem of the Confederate States of America- is one of the most controversial and divisive songs in American history. For many modern day appreciators of the track, 'Dixie' is a charming, nostalgic look at the American South, a celebration of the region's sense of its own identity. To its ...
>
The State of the Western in 2013
The State of the Western in 2013 Disney's The Lone Ranger cost a reported $215 million to make. Since its release earlier this year it has earned just $89 million at the US box office. When the film's international haul of $171 million is taken into account, the situation appears to improve to the tune ...
>
John Brown’s Body
Celebrating the launch of the new podcast series, The Artist in American History, this special episode explores the significance of the artist in American history by examining the evolution of "John Brown's Body", from abolitionist folk anthem to "Battle Hymn of the Republic" in the early years of the American Civil War. ...
>
Understanding Torture and Violence in Early America: The Execution of William Crawford and the Gnadenhutten Massacre
Press Play to Listen to the Lecture With Disney's The Lone Ranger limping towards its DVD release, now is a good time to reflect upon the ways in which Americans, Europeans, and their descendants have produced and consumed popular media which seeks to depict -and shape- how we view the Indians. In the last ...
>
The Artist in American History
The Artist and American History - #AmericanStudies Artistry reflects much about society, culture, and history. Ideas and assumptions about race, gender, sexuality, and class can find expression in the creative works of decades past. Over the past year the American Studies and History Podcast has presented a ...
>
D.W. Griffith’s The Mended Lute – Film + Director’s-style Commentary
The American Studies and History Podcast presents an academic audio commentary on D.W. Griffith's 1909 film, The Mended Lute. The video below contains the entire 8 minute original film with a new audio commentary track exploring the racist attitudes which sit at the heart of this production. The Mended Lute ...
>
Deconstructing America: The Beach Boys, Brian Wilson, and the Making of SMiLE
Watch The Video Documentary Version of "Learning to SMiLE" on Youtube In 1966, Brian Wilson led his band, The Beach Boys, into the studio to begin work on the follow-up to the critical smash hit, Pet Sounds. The planned album, SMiLE, was meant to sit alongside The Beatles forthcoming Sgt. Pepper's album on ...
>