No place like home: “The Wizard of Oz” in memory and history.
"The Wizard of Oz" premiered the very week before World War II began. In many ways it carries with it the lost innocence of its time.
It’s release day for “The Warmest Tide: How Climate Change is Changing History.”
My new book on climate change, its history, and where it may be taking us is out now!
All that sizzles: a geohistory of the great American steak houses.
The great American steak houses are about a lot more than just good steak. They tell a key part of the American story.
Geography of hate: the places of racism in American history. [With Geolocations]
The legacy of racism is everywhere in American history, from marble mansions to ordinary streetcorners. We must reckon with it.
“Some Kind of a Man”: Announcing the Orson Welles Blogathon.
Join me in September to analyze the work and life of Orson Welles, one of the most enigmatic showmen of the 20th century.
Helter Skelter revisited: the Manson murders at 50. [With Geolocations]
Witness the places where some of the most shocking and terrible crimes of the 20th century occurred. Most don't look that different.
Popcorn and Purple Stuff: A Journey Through 1990s Cinema, in 25 Films. [Part V]
The final article on this journey through 1990s cinema takes us to the very best the decade has to offer.
Popcorn and Purple Stuff: A Journey Through 1990s Cinema, in 25 Films. [Part IV]
The next dive into 1990s cinema features kissyface schmaltz on a ship, exploding convicts on a plane, and Will Shakespeare brandishing a 9mm.
Popcorn and Purple Stuff: A Journey Through 1990s Cinema, in 25 Films. [Part III]
The third installment of 1990s cinema takes us to a convenience store in New Jersey, an apocalyptic desert in Australia, and the mean streets of L.A.
Popcorn and Purple Stuff: A Journey Through 1990s Cinema in 25 Films. [Part II]
The second part of our 25-film journey through the 1990s involves technology, random violence, and a heartbreaking depiction of the Holocaust.