39 episodes

How have writers, illustrators, film makers, and musicians shaped the American experience? In this podcast series historian Dr. Darren R. Reid explores American history through the lens of the artist. From classic comics books to music and film, this podcast examines how art and artistry has reflected and informed the American experience.

Featured iTunes podcast (January and February 2014), #1 episodes in Education and Higher Education. Current series, "Comic Book Studies" explores the historic and cultural significance of comic books and graphic novels, exploring issues relating to race, class, gender, and change over time in titles from Superman and Captain America to V for Vendetta and Art Spiegelman's Maus.

Silent Film festival (four episodes) combines classic films mostly from the silent era with new audio commentaries. Films include Charlie Chaplin's The Immigrant, Superman Goes to War, and D.W. Griffith's The Birth of a Nation.

Other episodes include lectures which explore how the Cold War changed the music of Pink Floyd, the lost Beach Boys' album, SMiLE, the music of the American Civil War, and representations of Native Americans in film and literature.

The Artist in American History Dr. Darren R. Reid

    • History
    • 3.6 • 14 Ratings

How have writers, illustrators, film makers, and musicians shaped the American experience? In this podcast series historian Dr. Darren R. Reid explores American history through the lens of the artist. From classic comics books to music and film, this podcast examines how art and artistry has reflected and informed the American experience.

Featured iTunes podcast (January and February 2014), #1 episodes in Education and Higher Education. Current series, "Comic Book Studies" explores the historic and cultural significance of comic books and graphic novels, exploring issues relating to race, class, gender, and change over time in titles from Superman and Captain America to V for Vendetta and Art Spiegelman's Maus.

Silent Film festival (four episodes) combines classic films mostly from the silent era with new audio commentaries. Films include Charlie Chaplin's The Immigrant, Superman Goes to War, and D.W. Griffith's The Birth of a Nation.

Other episodes include lectures which explore how the Cold War changed the music of Pink Floyd, the lost Beach Boys' album, SMiLE, the music of the American Civil War, and representations of Native Americans in film and literature.

    American Frontiers 01 - Keepers of the Forest

    American Frontiers 01 - Keepers of the Forest

    To celebrate the launch of my new documentary on Amazon Prime, this new series explores the stories, history, and culture of the Kaingang tribe, providing a unique insight into the history of this peo

    American Frontiers 01 - Keepers of the Forest

    American Frontiers 01 - Keepers of the Forest

    To celebrate the launch of my new documentary on Amazon Prime, this new series explores the stories, history, and culture of the Kaingang tribe, providing a unique insight into the history of this people.

    Langston Hughes and the Harlem Renaissance

    Langston Hughes and the Harlem Renaissance

    Perhaps one of the most exciting moments in US history, the Harlem Renaissance was an explosion of art, literature, and performance in New York's Harlem burgh.  One of its foremost participants, Langston Hughes, produced some of the greatest poetry of his generation - words which challenged dominant racial stereotypes whilst celebrating Black identities in a time when they were often suppressed.  In this podcast, Dr. Darren R. Reid examines the role of Hughes and his first published work, "The Negro Dreams of Rivers".

    Langston Hughes and the Harlem Renaissance

    Langston Hughes and the Harlem Renaissance

    Perhaps one of the most exciting moments in US history, the Harlem Renaissance was an explosion of art, literature, and performance in New York's Harlem burgh.  One of its foremost participants, Langston Hughes,

    • video
    Custer's Revenge: Racism and Sexism in Early Videogames (Videogame History #2)

    Custer's Revenge: Racism and Sexism in Early Videogames (Videogame History #2)

    Custer's Revenge on the Atari 2600 is an almost uniquely horrifying celebration of casual racism, sexism, and sexual assault. Released back in 1982, this novelty videogame is a type of revenge fantasy in which George Custer must cross a field of falli...

    • 4 min
    • video
    Custer's Revenge: Racism and Sexism in Early Videogames (Videogame History #2)

    Custer's Revenge: Racism and Sexism in Early Videogames (Videogame History #2)

    Custer's Revenge on the Atari 2600 is an almost uniquely horrifying celebration of casual racism, sexism, and sexual assault. Released back in 1982, this novelty videogame is a type of revenge fantasy in which George Custer must cross a field of falling arrows so that he can reach -and then rape- a Native American woman. To say that this game is in bad taste is an understatement. A toxic mix of racism and sexism, it celebrated masculinity in a crass and violent manner - a unique and fascinating (if repugnant) cultural artefact from the 1980s.

    • 4 min

Customer Reviews

3.6 out of 5
14 Ratings

14 Ratings

shana mcgee ,

very nice

great job. i love the insight you bring to the comics and early cinema. Keep it up. Your the only one who really covers this kinda thing. And about the other comment, if it was made because of racism, then it is important to show why and how they convey that racism. 5 stars for you. ;)

krsdolbow ,

You've got me thinking.....

which is exactly what I was looking for. I don't want to gather new knowledge to file away in my grey matter. I want challenges to my old software, an intel chip this pod thing provides. Thanks!

Lopkijuh ,

The fun police have arrived and there will be no fun allowed

Is the Lone Ranger racist? Wow, what a struggle it was to get through this mess. It is people like this who teach in our universities and in one way or another just need to lighten up. Racial stereotypes, being offended by anything and everything, this is how this guy felt about watching the Lone Ranger. It must be sad to go through life thinking history of the past was all about racism, predjudice and unfairness related to color of skin or race. This person's view is obviously slanted left where everybody and everything is offensive unless they fall in line with their liberal views.

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