Beyoncé, the Virgin Mary, and the Power of Imagery
Why did Beyoncé pose as the Virgin Mary in her pregnancy and birth announcements? Learn about her art historical referents and iconic portraiture here.
Brigham Young and the Defense of Mormon Polygamy
Mormon leader Brigham Young tried to create a culture of polygamy in the nineteenth century. How did he justify the practice in Victorian-era America?
The 1917 Immigration Act That Presaged Trump’s Muslim Ban
Prohibitive laws like the 1917 Immigration Act barred many Asians from entering America. Cultural fears still determine who "deserves" to migrate.
To Fix Fake News, Look To Yellow Journalism
Fake news has plenty of precedents in the history of mass media, and particularly, in the history of American journalism.
Eddie Aikau: The Rad Life of a Hawaiian Surfing Legend
Eddie Aikau was a surfing legend during a time when Hawaiian legends were being resurrected. As a lifeguard, he attempted more than 500 daring rescues.
St. Francis Square: How a Union Built Integrated, Affordable Housing in San Francisco
How a union built integrated affordable housing in early 1960s San Francisco.
“The Phantom of Hollywood” and the Demise of the MGM Film Musical
The Hollywood musical was slaughtered onscreen for the entertainment of the spectator in The Phantom of Hollywood, a horribly tacky made-for-TV movie.
Was Charlie Chaplin’s Tramp Un-American?
Were Charlie Chaplin’s Tramp films also subtle critiques of the social inequities of American capitalism?
