Share

The History on Film Podcast
Jeffrey Weinstock's Flying Circus
Season 2, Ep. 4
•
And now for something completely different. Ross and Ryan are joined by Dr. Jeffrey Weinstock to discuss the cultural history of famed British comedy troupe Monty Python. They discuss the group's influences and output, English absurdist comedy, fandom as a language, and much more.
FURTHER READING:
Weinstock, Jeffrey (ed. with Kate Egan). And Now for Something Completely Different: Critical Approaches to Monty Python.
FURTHER WATCHING:
The works of Monty Python!
BONUS:
Check out a recent segment Dr. Weinstock did with CBS on Rocky Horror!
Consider supporting us on Patreon: https://patreon.com/HOFCast
Or email us at historyonfilmpodcast@gmail.com
More episodes
View all episodes

19. That 70s Class with Landon Palmer
01:19:17||Season 2, Ep. 19Ross speaks with Dr. Landon Palmer about teaching 70s Hollywood Cinema! They discuss the major trends and changes to the film industry in this period, presenting these films to younger audiences, how culture perpetuates through generations, and much more!FURTHER READING:Alsop, Elizabeth. Elaine May.Henderson, Odie. Black Caesars and Foxy Cleopatras: A History of Blaxploitation Cinema.Nystrom, Derek. Hard Hats, Rednecks, and Macho Men: Class in 1970s American CinemaTarantino, Quentin. Cinema Speculation.FURTHER WATCHING:"Is That Black Enough For You?!""Shampoo"
18. Hip Hop Historians
01:49:18||Season 2, Ep. 18Ross is joined by Dr. Sage Gray, and Tim Fielder, the co-creators of The Graphic History of Hip Hop! They discuss the process behind producing graphic histories, the cultural and political evolution of hip hop, as well as approaches to teaching the multifaceted history of music to younger generations. All the mutual aid organizations mentioned in the episode can be found below.FURTHER READING:"Dearly Beloved"The Graphic History of Hip Hop.FURTHER WATCHING:Style Wars (1982)House Party (1990)Sankofa (1993)Tupac: Resurrection (2003)FURTHER LISTENING:Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star (1998)The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1999)AID GROUPS:Halle Q Brown Community CenterRise and RememberReconnect RondoPilgrim Baptist ChurchPrepare and ProsperPay Attention!
17. QB Draw with Dave Rappoccio
01:04:08||Season 2, Ep. 17Ross is joined by webcomic artist David Rapoccio to discuss NFL fandom, trends in sports culture, and the Super Bowl! It's got a little bit of everything- fandom studies, predictions and analysis, why the commercials aren't good anymore, Carl from Aqua Teen Hunger Force, and a game! And if you aren't a football fan, we tell you what to talk about so you can join in on the fun.FURTHER READING:Nanni, Ryan. The New Cats Turn 20.TheDrawPlay.com!FURTHER WATCHING:The Super Bowl!"Lisa the Greek""Bart Starr""Sunday, Cruddy Sunday"
16. Missing Inaction with Benjamin Railton
01:24:06||Season 2, Ep. 16Ross is joined by professor of American Studies Dr. Benjamin Railton, author of and co-creator of Black and White and Read All Over. Together, they do a deep-dive on a relatively-obscure episode of The X-Files, "Unrequited", which looks at the contested legacy, cultural impact, and unresolved trauma of the Vietnam War and the POW/MIA movement. You don't have to be an X-Files fan to listen to this episode, but it does help if you remember what Ross Perot's 1992 campaign song was.FURTHER READING:Perlstein, Rick. The Enduring Cult of the Vietnam "Missing in Action".Lembcke, Jerry. The Spitting Image:Myth, Memory, and the Legacy of Vietnam.FURTHER WATCHING:Uncommon Valor (1983)Missing in Action (1984)Rambo: First Blood, Part II (1985)Platoon (1986)Full Metal Jacket (1987)Born on the Fourth of July (1989)Casualties of War (1989)AND CHECK OUT:Black and White and Read All Over!
15. The Episode They Don't Want You to Hear!
01:15:40||Season 2, Ep. 15Ross is joined by Robert Spinelli and Dr. Bethan Jones to discuss the history of conspiracy theories in popular culture. They look at how conspiratorial thinking reflects social and political anxieties, the ways in which conspiracy theorists are depicted in media, and the difficulty in approaching these topics academically. FURTHER READING:Spinelli, Robert (Ed.). The Lizard People Don't Want You to Read ThisJones, Bethan. Participatory Culture Wars: Controversy, Conflict, and Complicity in FandomFURTHER WATCHING:Community S2E9, "Conspiracy Theories and Interior Design"JFKThe Truman ShowThe X-Files
14. Film and Media History with Josie Torres Barth
01:10:33||Season 2, Ep. 14Ross kicks off the new mini-series "Class Notes" by speaking with Dr. Josie Torres Barth about her courses on Film and Media History! They discuss the major trends and focal points of the subject, the challenges of teaching media studies in our modern cultural ecosystem, and much more.FURTHER READING: Hilmes, Michele. Radio Voices: American Broadcasting, 1922-1952.Spigel, Lynn. Make Room for TV: Television and the Family Ideal in Postwar America.Schatz, Thomas. The Genius of the System: Hollywood Filmmaking in the Studio Era.Monaco, James. How to Read a Film: Movies, Media, and Beyond.FURTHER WATCHING:"The Story of Film: An Odyssey""Babyface""The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari""Cleo From 5 to 7"
So It's Come to This: A HoFCast Clip Show
55:07||Season 2As we bid a fond farewell to a close friend and colleague, please enjoy this collection of fun moments from the HoFCast Archives.SEGMENTS:Biopic Mailbag Question: 3:50Cartoon Music Trivia: 13:35Christmas Movie Trivia: 38:00Stranger Things Prediction: 51:16
13. The Cold War on Christmas with Vaughn Joy
01:15:20||Season 2, Ep. 13Ross is joined by Dr. Vaughn Joy to discuss how the Cold War and McCarthyism reshaped the American concept of Christmas. Dr. Joy's new book, Selling Out Santa: Christmas Films in the Age of McCarthy looks at how Hollywood depictions of the holidays changed to reflect the pressures of domestic containment. FURTHER READING:Joy, Vaughn. Selling Out Santa: Christmas Films in the Age of McCarthy.Black and White and Read All OverFURTHER WATCHING:It's a Wonderful Life (1946)Klaus (2019)
12. GoldenEye on the Prize with Paul Klein
01:40:04||Season 2, Ep. 12Ross is joined by returning guest Paul T Klein to talk about Bond, James Bond- specifically the 1995 franchise revival film, "GoldenEye". They talk about how the film engages with the End of History moment, reinventing Bond for the 90s, as well as the tremendous impact the N64 adaptation had on gaming. Ross celebrates the career of Joe Don Baker.FURTHER READING:Chapman, James. "License to Thrill: A Cultural History of the James Bond Films"Knoor, Alyse. "GoldenEye 007"FURTHER WATCHING:"GoldenEra"AND CHECK OUT MORE OF PAUL KLEIN'S WORK AT:howtoreadmovies.comCold War Cinema podcast