Studs Terkel, the Pulitzer Prize-winÂning hisÂtoÂriÂan of the everyÂman, has passed away at the ripe old age of 96. (Get the NYTimes obit here.) Below, we have a lengthy conÂverÂsaÂtion with Terkel, recordÂed when he was 91. As you’ll see, being a nonaÂgeÂnarÂiÂan did litÂtle to slow him down.
From the Civil War to the Vietnam War — The Geography of US Presidential Elections
The GeogÂraÂphy of US PresÂiÂdenÂtial ElecÂtions keeps rolling along. With his well-craftÂed lecÂtures, MarÂtin Lewis shows you this week how AmerÂiÂca’s politÂiÂcal map and its politÂiÂcal parÂties changed draÂmatÂiÂcalÂly folÂlowÂing the CivÂil War. In the space of 90 minÂutes, he takes you through the ReconÂstrucÂtion periÂod, The GildÂed Age, the DepresÂsion, World War II and The Cold War, up through the VietÂnam War.
You can downÂload LecÂture 3 via Tunes U in high resÂoÂluÂtion or watch the YouTube verÂsion below. And, as always, you can join the ongoÂing conÂverÂsaÂtion with the proÂfesÂsor and othÂer stuÂdents worldÂwide right here.
There are still two more lecÂtures to come, includÂing one that will offer a postÂmortem of next week’s elecÂtion.
LastÂly, if you missed the preÂviÂous lecÂtures, you can grab them on iTunes here and YouTube here.
The 13th Amendment
This week, CNN announced the winÂners of the iReÂport Film FesÂtiÂval, the network’s first user-genÂerÂatÂed short film comÂpeÂtiÂtion. The fesÂtiÂval “chalÂlenged filmÂmakÂers to docÂuÂment this year’s presÂiÂdenÂtial camÂpaign from their perÂsonÂal vanÂtage point, whether they were volÂunÂteerÂing for a camÂpaign or had comÂpelling stoÂries about this elecÂtion they wantÂed to docÂuÂment creÂativeÂly.” And the Grand Jury Award went to a short film called “13th AmendÂment.” Here, Mike DenÂnis of PhiladelÂphia, Pa., folÂlows his 90-year-old grandÂmothÂer, who is African AmerÂiÂcan, on her jourÂney to vote for the first seriÂous black canÂdiÂdate for the AmerÂiÂcan presÂiÂdenÂcy. (And, by the way, in case you were wonÂderÂing, the 13th AmendÂment banned slavÂery in the UnitÂed States in 1865.) Here it goes:
The Political Wire
I’ve spent the past sevÂerÂal months workÂing through The Wire on DVD. A simÂply brilÂliant show. (Here’s a recap of SeaÂson 1 in case you don’t know what you’re missÂing. And for even more recaps click here.) Now some memÂbers of the cast, the good guys and the bad, have rolled out a comÂmerÂcial encourÂagÂing North CarÂoliÂna resÂiÂdents to get out the vote on TuesÂday. It’s a good idea for all AmerÂiÂcan votÂers, no matÂter who you supÂport in this race. Thanks to KotÂtke for point it out. Here it goes:
Darwin’s Legacy
For weeks, it’s been one of the most popÂuÂlar podÂcasts on iTunes: CreÂatÂed by the CasÂsiopeia Project, “EvoÂluÂtion” (iTuneÂsU) offers a series of video podÂcasts that explains what sciÂenÂtists know about evoÂluÂtion in a visuÂalÂly appealÂing forÂmat. (If you don’t have an iPod, you can always watch the series on your comÂputÂer by downÂloadÂing iTunes here.)
This all gives me a good excuse to highÂlight anothÂer podÂcast comÂing out of my proÂgram at StanÂford. To comÂmemÂoÂrate the 200th anniverÂsary of Charles Darwin’s birth and the 150th anniverÂsary of the pubÂliÂcaÂtion of On the OriÂgin of Species, we’re preÂsentÂing a course called DarÂwin’s LegaÂcy. (Access for free on iTunes here.) Led by Bill Durham, a MacArthur (“genius grant”) Prize WinÂner and ProÂfesÂsor of AnthroÂpolÂoÂgy, the course brings togethÂer leadÂing DarÂwin scholÂars from around the counÂtry and explores Darwin’s legaÂcy in fields as diverse as anthroÂpolÂoÂgy, reliÂgion, medÂiÂcine, psyÂcholÂoÂgy, phiÂlosÂoÂphy, litÂerÂaÂture, and biolÂoÂgy. Among othÂers, you will find here talks (capÂtured in video) by Daniel DenÂnett and Janet Browne (author of the definÂiÂtive two-volÂume DarÂwin biogÂraÂphy.) To access the comÂplete course via iTunes, which is being rolled out in weekÂly installÂments, simÂply click here. Down the road, we will also be makÂing the course availÂable on YouTube. For many othÂer free uniÂverÂsiÂty coursÂes, click here.
Elephant Jumping On Trampoline
This is half art/half ranÂdom, or maybe it’s betÂter to say half random/half art. AnyÂway, it calls to mind one of our popÂuÂlar posts (EleÂphant PaintÂing) from months to go. So here it is, an aniÂmatÂed short by NicoÂlas Deveaux.
What Makes a Poem a Poem in 60 Seconds
A rather clever mini, mini-lecÂture from Charles BernÂstein, poet and proÂfesÂsor at the UniÂverÂsiÂty of PennÂsylÂvaÂnia, wouldÂn’t you say?
Support Us
We're hoping to rely on loyal readers, rather than erratic ads. Please click the Donate button and support Open Culture. You can use Paypal, Venmo, Patreon, even Crypto! We thank you!
Receive our Daily Email
About Us
Open Culture scours the web for the best educational media. We find the free courses and audio books you need, the language lessons & educational videos you want, and plenty of enlightenment in between.
Advertise With Us
