The Story of a Boy, A Girl, and a Universe

This week we're taking the wagon train to the stars. We're looking at Genre films, specifically sci fi and westerns.

Belton has a signficant discussion of the Turner Thesis. Here is a link to an essay on Frederick Jackson Turner from PBS and here is a link to his essay, The Significance of the Frontier in American History. This is the preface to his book that is based on the paper he read in Chicago. You can get to the entire book from this link.

These are some supplemental clips for the class.

Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show (1902)



Disney's Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show (Paris)


Star Wars


Star Trek (2009)


James Cameron was interviewed on Fresh Air. Follow the link and listen to the story, it's interesting.

We're going to try to stay away from TV for this class, but it clearly has an impact on this topic. Here are some links.
Star Trek: Space Seed (This is a link to the entire episode. You should, and want, to watch the whole thing but you don't have to watch it.)
Back in the 1990....

Firefly (the one season wonder)

The Comedy of the Depression or Depressing Comedy?

Here is some material for class this Wednesday. Here is a biography of Preston
Sturges to give you a little background for Sullivan's Travels. Although we're still in the Great Depression, we're switiching gears to comedy.



We're also moving into the World War II era. Here is some viewing to prepare for that.

With Triumph of the Will you don't have to watch the entire film, but check out at least the first 10 to 15 minutes. It is also worth while to move check out the end with the scenes from the Nuremburg rallies.

Triumph of the Will


This is the second film in Capra's Why we Fight series.
Why We Fight: The Nazis Strike (the first 10 minutes)


the Fight for the Sky (1945)


Do you recognize the narrator?

The Great Depression

Hey folks,
This week we're looking at the interwar period and the Great Depression. The film is Our Daily Bread. Here are some suplemental videos and reading for this week.

Documentary on 1929 Stock Market Crash


This a documentary made for the New Deal.

The Plow that Broke the Plains


1934 EPIC campaign

part 1


Part 2


Here is a non-traditional view of the Frank Capra classic.

Movies
Wonderful? Sorry, George, It’s a Pitiful, Dreadful Life
By WENDELL JAMIESON
Published: December 19, 2008
“It’s a Wonderful Life” is a terrifying, asphyxiating story about growing up and relinquishing your dreams. Was this what adulthood promised?

The King

Ok, so we don't mean Elvis, but rather King Vidor.

Check out this short bio of King Vidor to help you with thinking and writing about Our Daily Bread.

The Elephant in the Room

Yes, Edison electrocuted an elephant. It's hard to make out, but here is the clip from youtube.



For those of you who haven't seen birth of a nation, here is the trailer.

We're Not in Kansas Anymore

This week we are, among other things, discussing the Wizard of Oz.

Here are some links to a couple of readings.

The Wizard of Oz: Parable of Populism / Henry M. Littlefield [originally in American Quarterly 16 (1964) 47-58]

and

The Rise & Fall of the Wonderful Wizard of Oz as a “Parable of Populism” / David B. Parker [originally in Journal of the Georgia Assoc. of Historians 15 (1994) 49-63]

Don't forget to get your Belton questions on Moodle.