The past is present
At the 50th anniversary of the fight, the “Thrilla in Manila” emerges as not only the story of two extraordinary boxers’ pushing themselves to their physical limits, but also embodies creativity and entrepreneurship within the African American community, as well as a climactic event in the history of American sports in the 1970s.
T-Pain’s stunning, stripped-down vocal performance on the Tiny Desk version of “Buy U A Drank (Shawty Snappin’)” makes it clear that he’s got the organic vocal chops to “sound good” without any digital assistance. Through T-Pain's example, students see that we must first know what our own voices are capable of to then explore what technology might do to expand, enhance, or embellish our creative endeavors.
"Meeting Across the River" routinely lands last when fans rank their Born to Run favorites. But its noir mood was where the country was heading in the mid-1970s.
In 1995, Democrats held up a Big Bird doll to laud the importance of children’s television and save public broadcast funding. This strategy does not seem likely to work in 2025.
Mike White’s White Lotus remains bona fide Watercooler TV, but the satire it has become known for falls flatter than ever in an uneven Season 3 that threatens to promote what it intends to criticize.
This course traces the history of the United States during the 1990s. It pays particular attention to the politics of the era, as well as the cultural texts (songs, films, and other phenomena) that both reflected and shaped the period.
What do the reactions to Lizzo's September 2022 visit to the National Archive say about access to public services? We have work to do if we want to keep saying libraries are welcoming spaces, and a radical librarian from the 1930s gives us a place to start.
Gaslit is at its best when it ruminates on presidential power, showing viewers how loyalty can lead to criminality. The show's individual stories are fascinating, but they often obscure Nixon's guilt, along with the social movements of the period.
An exploration of Hollywood's eclectic Christmas film history, surveying developments from the 1990s through today.
An exploration of Hollywood Christmas film history, including children's, horror, and action movies from the 1960s to the 1980s.
Clio and the Contemporary 