Historian's Take

History Series / 1 Season

In each episode, our favorite historians and their friends give their take on a piece of pop culture to add context and perspective to our favorite media. We’ll unpack an iconic moment or phenomenon in movies, music, television, and more, from show business’s love of Blaccent to deep cuts from our favorite childhood cartoons.

9m 41s

What Is Blaccent And Why Do People Keep Using It?

S1 E1 / 9m 41s

There’s a pattern of white and non-Black performers using "Black English" or "Blaccent" to gain notoriety. These performers are being called out (and canceled) for cultural appropriation, yet Blaccent is becoming more popular, with some people proclaiming Blaccent to be the modern internet-speak. What is the problem with using a Blaccent? And what does history tell us about it's origins?

Why Was Everybody Kung Fu Fighting In The 70s?

S1 E2 / 10m 23s

Black Kung Fu films were wildly popular in the 70s, a welcome response to the anger many people felt against societal injustice. What was happening in the 70s that led to the growth of Black films and the popularity of Hong Kong Kung Fu flicks? In this episode, we unpack the history of how Black Kung Fu films became a sensation and why their themes are making are making a return today.

What Is The Asian Himbo And Why Is This Character So Popular

S1 E3 / 10m 30s

There’s a new type of character in Hollywood: The Asian Himbo. These hunky male characters who are sweet but not the brightest bulbs have come a long way from stereotypes that date all the way back to the 1800s. We break down how Hollywood’s least sexy character went from completely undesirable to leading love interest.

What Is Pansexuality And Why Is It So Popular In Modern TV

S1 E4 / 11m 50s

Lesbian. Gay. Bisexual. All fabulous identities along with many more are housed under the LGBTQIA+ community. And yet, in recent film and TV, there’s one identity that has been particularly visible: pansexuality. Professor Bainbridge along with special guests Megan Townsend and Fran Tirado take a look at the history of queer representation to tell us why pansexuality has become so popular.

What We Can Learn From These Native American Comedies

S1 E5 / 9m 39s

Native American representation in film and TV used to be confined to Westerns and storylines of defeat. Today, a new wave of Native American comedies, written and created by Native peoples, are taking back their narratives. Shows like Reservation Dogs and Rutherford Falls challenge stereotypes and address big political movements like #LandBack.

What Does Dirty Dancing Have To Do With Abortion?

S1 E6 / 10m 1s

Dirty Dancing is an iconic film from 1987, but do you remember what it’s really about? Dirty Dancing’s entire plot wouldn’t be possible without the abortion that’s at the heart of the movie. Join the writer of Dirty Dancing Eleanor Bergstein, special guest, and our resident professor, as they trace the history of abortion access through Dirty Dancing and what it means for our world today.

The Untold Origins of the Black & Blind Musician

S1 E7 / 7m 29s

There’s a long history of blind Black musicians in the US dating back to the 19th century, from Blind Tom to Ray Charles. Join recording artist Lachi and Professor Danielle Bainbridge to discuss the history on why blindness seems like a common thread among Black musicians. And how modern musicians have changed the narrative on disability in performance.

The Surprising Origins of Vampires

S1 E8 / 8m 34s

Our fascination with vampires has spanned centuries, but it didn’t all start with Dracula. In fact, the first vampires (dating back to the 1800s!) were actually women. This genre of literature gave writers an outlet to explore female sexuality and societal taboos, leading to a cult of lesbian vampire films in the 60s and 70s.

Why Kate Bush’s Viral Success is Radical

S1 E9 / 9m 49s

Kate Bush’s 1985 song, “Running Up that Hill (A Deal With God),” has climbed to the top of music charts in 2022 and reached nearly 500 million streams. This song’s revival after 37 years is largely thanks to season 4 of Stranger Things. But what makes this song’s overnight success even wilder is the fact that Bush owns the copyrights to her own recordings, which means she keeps as much as 80%.

The Real History of the Partition in Ms. Marvel

S1 E10 / 9m 29s

Ms. Marvel, a Pakistani American teenager named Kamala Khan, is the latest superhero to join the Marvel Universe. Her superpower? Family bangles that carry the strength and power of intergenerational knowledge passed down by her grandmother from Pakistan. Based on real historical events, Kamala's family was forcibly displaced during the Partition of India in 1947.

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