Hallmark Channel holiday movies garner an estimated $350 million in ad revenue annually, but they’ve been criticized for predictable content and a lack of racial, religious, and LGBTQ representation. Educator and lecturer Stef Woods explores why these movies have been hugely successful.
Coleen Christian Burke, a former White House design partner and author of Christmas with the First Ladies, examines how modern first ladies have combined the shimmer of holiday magic with meaningful reflection, creating a celebration narrative for all Americans.
Media historian Brian Rose surveys the landscape of American TV comedy, examining how comedy evolved from the vaudeville shtick of Milton Berle and the slapstick artistry of Lucille Ball to relevant sitcoms like “M*A*S*H,” the social satire of “Saturday Night Live,” a twist on the sitcom with “The Jeffersons,” and the self-reflexive absurdities of “The Simpsons.”
Was ever a movie so loved? Rick and Ilsa. Sam at the piano. The Nazis, the nightclub, the goodbye at the airport. Casablanca is about life at its most fragile and meaningful, movie stars at their most beautiful and moving, and a supporting cast of real-life escapees from Nazi-held Europe. Documentary filmmaker and writer Sara Lukinson explores the making of the film, backstage dramas, and the times that turned what was just another film on the lot into an immortal love story of intrigue and transit papers.
Malcolm Evans, the Beatles’ long-time roadie, personal assistant, and devoted friend, was an invaluable member of the band’s inner circle during the group’s remarkable years of success and continued in their employ as each later embarked on solo careers. Evans’s memoirs of his life with the Beatles never saw print, and his diaries, manuscripts, and memorabilia were thought missing for decades after his tragic death. Beatles’ scholar and author Kenneth Womack reveals Mal’s unknown story at the heart of the Beatles’ legend and unseen photos and ephemera that supply the missing puzzle piece in the Fab Four’s incredible story.
We all know the Cinderella fairy tale, the story of the downtrodden but kind girl forced to toil for her cruel stepmother and stepsisters. But there’s a lot more to Cinderella: In some versions, there isn’t a fairy godmother but rather a magical tree, a fish, or even a flock of turkeys. Folklorists Sara Cleto and Brittany Warman discuss how versions differ, what we can learn from Cinderella, and why the story has had such a lasting impact on Western culture.
Exacting. Demanding. Controlling. Obsessive. This was Stanley Kubrick, the reclusive mastermind whose approach to filmmaking was not for the weak of spirit. But the results spoke for themselves: 2001: A Space Odyssey, Dr. Strangelove, A Clockwork Orange, The Shining, Full Metal Jacket, and many more groundbreaking classics. Film historian Max Alvarez leads a filmmaking odyssey through the life and career of one of the 20th century’s most provocative, maddening, and brilliant cinematic practitioners.
How did the Miss America pageant survive for more than 100 years despite scandals, shifting cultural tastes. and changing expectations for women? Washington Post journalist Amy Argetsinger, author of There She Was: The Secret History of Miss America, explores the pageant’s story, beginning with its start in 1921. Following her lecture, attendees get to see objects from the National Museum of American History’s Miss America collection that are not on public display, hear from curators Ryan Lintelman and Jane Rogers about collecting the objects, and meet former Miss America titleholders, who tell stories about the pieces.
Though it lasted for only 50 years, the Japanese empire forever changed the geopolitical balance in Asia and left a complex legacy that endures to this day. In a winter series, historian Justin M. Jacobs takes you on a thematic tour of five fascinating topics in the history of the Japanese empire. This session's focus will be on Japanese baseball.
For nearly a century, Hollywood has been captivated by the allure of the Broadway musical. Most of the Great White Way’s biggest hits have made the transfer to the movie theater, though sometimes the journey has yielded damaged goods. Media historian Brian Rose looks at this colorful history, including glorious reinterpretations like Milos Forman’s Hair and Steven Spielberg’s remake of West Side Story.
Though it lasted for only 50 years, the Japanese empire forever changed the geopolitical balance in Asia and left a complex legacy that endures to this day. In a winter series, historian Justin M. Jacobs takes you on a thematic tour of five fascinating topics in the history of the Japanese empire. This session's focus will be on Japanese video games.
Two days before Academy Awards night, Washington City Paper film critic Noah Gittell focuses on all things Oscar, from Academy Awards history to this year’s nominations and behind-the-scenes stories. He sorts through the story lines, rumors, and gossip, so that when the telecast begins, you'll be the most knowledgeable guest at your Oscar party.
Since the beginning of motion pictures, making audiences laugh has been one of the film industry’s biggest box office attractions. Media historian Brian Rose looks at major highlights of screen comedy over the last 125 years, illustrated with more than 40 examples from Hollywood’s funniest films.
