The Artist in American History

Summary: 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.