Two big conferences mean that Ed and I have been quieter than normal, perhaps the relief of more than a few. But those who are already tired of the family over the long weekend, the marvelous Plimoth Plantation has a nice history of Thanksgiving for you to peruse, if you want to show off over…
Entertainment versus Effect Our discussion of the 1970s began with a question for today: which would leave you more disgusted and demoralized, a terrible economy defined by inflation and few job opportunities OR a presidential political scandal that showed wickedness in high places. In groups of two, my wonderful students chattered and chattered. The result…
I too heart the Seventies, although I try not to call it that–too decadent (get it?).But it is a fun one to teach. And I was pleasantly surprised to see that a full three-quarters of my students knew roughly what Watergate was before I began the story: a hotel. They may not have known the…
The Seventies Perhaps not a glorious decade to live in, the Seventies are a blast to teach. There is no widely held mythology about the seventies to debunk. When I have asked my students about it, they vaguely mention disco, and then someone remembers who John Travolta is (or was). They perhaps reference Jimmy Carter,…
Yes, it’s true. I hate “the Sixties.” This is mainly because of what popular culture has done to it. It’s all “peace, love, and happiness,” tie-die, pot smoking, free love, Jimi Hendrix, and youth culture. While that’s a slice of what “the Sixties” was (well, the late Sixties), it was just a small slice, and…
Where Local Meets Global I like Kevin’s idea of centering on a few stories – to show the different faces and feelings of the spirit of the sixties and the civil rights revolution. I wonder, too, if touchstone events could draw out some of the gripping storylines. I’ve also used music to tell the stories,…
The civil rights movement is filled with so many great stories, and it’s perhaps one of the few things we can be certain our students have some basic understanding of: it’s got to be easy to teach, right? And yet, and yet…every time I finish my lecture on the subject I feel I’ve let my…
Elijah James Blum Memorial Fund Sorry to post this personal note on our blog, but I wanted to let people know about a new memorial fund being put together by San Diego State University. It is to honor my son Elijah James Blum. Here is a link to more information and ways to donate if you feel led. http://usreligion.blogspot.com/2011/11/our-gentle-whisper-religious-life-and.htmlThe History…
Every time I lecture on “Cold War Culture” I realize I’ve done almost the entire lecture without referring once to Joseph McCarthy. This can’t be right. His polarizing presence animated much of the possibilities of politics of the 1950s. Some have even called it the Age of McCarthy. But still, was McCarthy more important than…
Documents and Discussions, 1945-1965 The class was all set up. I had asked them to imagine life when they were in fifth grade. “Who was your teacher?” “Mrs. Anderson,” one responded. “Who was your best friend?” A host of names were mumbled. What did your desk look like? When was recess? And then, I put…
