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The History on Film Podcast
The All-American Robots with Dustin Abnet
Season 1, Ep. 9
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Ross talks with Dr. Dustin Abnet about his book The American Robot: A Cultural History, and what our depictions of human-like machines tells us about ourselves. America's fascination with artificial people goes back to the founding of the country, and provides insights to understandings of race, gender, labor, and more.
FURTHER READING:
Abnet, Dustin. The American Robot: A Cultural History.
FURTHER WATCHING:
"Westworld"
"Futurama"
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01:10:45||Season 1, Ep. 10Ross and Ryan take a break from the hustle and bustle of podcasting to share some of their favorite (and least favorite) holiday films, as well as some of their favorite books, shows, and movies from 2024. They talk about the state of the podcast and where things are headed in the upcoming year, and close with a very bizarre Christmas movie trivia game.FURTHER READING:Dunstan, Simon and Gerrard Williams. Grey Wolf: The Escape of Adolf Hitler.Jacobsen, Annie. Nuclear War: A Scenario.Koontz, Stephanie. The Way we Never Were.Vann, Michael and Liz Clarke. The Great Hanoi Rat Hunt.FURTHER WATCHING:"Interior Chinatown""La Brea""Wicked" (2024)Follow the show on Instagram! @histonfilmpodOr email us at historyonfilmpodcast@gmail.com8. Out of the Inkwell with Fabulous Fleischer Cartoons Restored
01:23:27||Season 1, Ep. 8Ross and Ryan welcome Jane, Mauricio, and Ray from Fabulous Fleischer Cartoons Restored and returning champion Dr. David Morton to talk about the works of Max Fleischer and Fleischer Studios. Among his many achievements, his studio was the first to animate both Popeye and Superman — and he created the legendary Betty Boop, who remains an icon of American culture to this day. Fleischer Studios also relocated from New York to Miami in the 1930s, becoming one of the most high-profile production studios in Florida at that time. No homework this week! Go watch cartoons!7. Make it a Blockbuster Night with Frederick Wasser
49:21||Season 1, Ep. 7Ross talks to Dr. Frederick Wasser about his book Veni, Vidi, Video, and how the invention of home video and the VCR reshaped the film industry. Learn about why VHS beat out Beta, how home video saved Disney, and much more. They end the conversation by connecting the industry changes and consolidation in the VCR era to the streaming environment of today. FURTHER READING:Wasser, Frederick. Veni, Vidi, Video: The Hollywood Empire and the VCR.FURTHER WATCHING:"Be Kind, Rewind" (2008)6. Intro to Fandom Studies with Mel Stanfill
49:49||Season 1, Ep. 6Dr. Mel Stanfill comes on to talk about fandom studies- what it is, why it's important, and how it can get ugly. Their new book, Fandom is Ugly, looks at how fandom studies can help explain contemporary political movements, online toxicity and harassment campaigns, and more. FURTHER READING:Stanfill, Mel. Fandom is Ugly: Networked Harrassment in Participatory Culture.FURTHER WATCHING:"Galaxy Quest" (1999)Follow the show on Instagram! @histonfilmpodOr email us at historyonfilmpodcast@gmail.com5. MCU: M*A*S*H Cinematic Universe with Eric White
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01:39:20||Season 1, Ep. 4Ross and Ryan begin their multi-part series on the history of Japanese anime and its reception in the West by talking about one of their all-time favorites, Katsuhiro Otomo's "Akira" (1988). They go through the development of filmed animation in Japan and the United States, how the two cultures influenced each other, and the surprising cartoon icon who connects them. Honestly, this episode could have easily been about 14 hours long and there still would have been more to cover.FURTHER READING:Alt, Matt. Pure Invention: How Japan Made the Modern World.Clements, Jonathan. Anime: A History.FURTHER WATCHING:"My Neighbor Totoro" (1988)"Cowboy Bebop"Follow the show on Instagram! @histonfilmpodOr email us at historyonfilmpodcast@gmail.com3. The Florida on Film Podcast with David Morton
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