June
30: American Mythbusters: The Pledge of Allegiance: A July 4th
series on busting national myths starts with things we get wrong about the
Pledge.
July
1: American Mythbusters: The Statue of Liberty: The series continues with
what’s right, and what’s wrong, with how we remember Lady Liberty.
July
2: American Mythbusters: Pocahontas: Some of the complex histories and
truths behind one of our most mythologized historical figures, as the series
continues.
July
3: American Mythbusters: Rosa Parks: The good, better, and best ways to
remember an iconic, mythic woman and moment.
July
4: American Mythbusters: George Washington: The series concludes with three
of the most common myths about the Father of Our Country.
July
5-6: American Mythbusters: 4th of July Special: But wait, the
series is extended with a special holiday post on the letters that reveal the
myths and truths of our national birthday.
July
7: ALA Follow Ups: Contemporary Literature and Culture: A series following
up May’s ALA conference starts with the three great speakers on the panel I
chaired.
July
8: ALA Follow Ups: Rebecca Harding Davis: The series continues with a panel
that considered some of the complexities of one of our under-read 19th
century authors.
July
9: ALA Follow Ups: Teaching Asian American Literature: Some of my takeaways
from a great roundtable discussion, as the series rolls on.
July
10: ALA Follow Ups: Alfred Bendixen: A tribute to the scholar without whom
the ALA wouldn’t exist, and the importance of his work.
July
11: ALA Follow Ups: The ALA and the FRC: The series concludes with the
jokes, ideals, and realities of an uneasy coincidental juxtaposition.
July
12-13: Crowd-sourcing the ALA: Fellow AmericanStudiers weigh in with their
own ALA follow ups and responses—add yours in comments, please!
July
14: American Beaches: Revere Beach: A summertime series starts with three
telling stages of one of our most emblematic beaches.
July
15: American Beaches: The Inkwell: The series continues with a few ways to
AmericanStudy a unique and iconic beach.
July
16: American Beaches: Gidget and The Beach Boys: What we can make of a
striking early 1960s fad, as the series rolls on.
July
17: American Beaches: On the Beach: On the under-appreciated classic film
that couldn’t compete with historic threats.
July
18: American Beaches: Baywatch: The series concludes with the superficial
and silly series that still reveals American narratives and myths.
July
19-20: American Beaches: Jamie Hirami’s Guest Post: My latest Guest Post,
from a talented young scholar studying another of our famous beaches.
July
21: American Autobiographers: John Woolman: A series on autographical
writings and voices starts with the 18th century chronicler of
inspiring wanderings.
July
22: American Autobiographers: Olaudah Equiano: The series continues with
the controversial personal narrative that should be required reading whatever
its genre.
July
23: American Autobiographers: William Apess: One of the recovered 19th
century voices we’re very lucky to be able to hear, as the series rolls on.
July
24: American Autobiographers: Nat Love: On the unique and larger-than-life
autobiography that helps us analyze longstanding national myths.
July
25: American Autobiographers: Carlos Bulosan: The series concludes with the
20th century autobiographical novel guaranteed to pull your
heartstrings.
July
26-27: Crowd-sourced Autobiographers: My latest crowd-sourced post, with
fellow AmericanStudiers highlighting autobiographical works—share your thoughts
in comments!
July
28: Uncles and Aunts: Uncle Remus: A series inspired by my sister’s
birthday opens with the folktale uncle who is propaganda and yet something
more.
July
29: Uncles and Aunts: Aunt Jemima: The series continues with the worst and
best of a caricatured commercial character.
July
30: Uncles and Aunts: Uncle Buck: The film character who helps us analyze
narratives of lovable but troubled funny
men, as the series rolls on.
July
31: Uncles and Aunts: Binx’s Aunt Emily: On a fictional character who
embodies but also challenges a sexist stereotype.
August
1: Uncles and Aunts: Uncle Elephant: The series concludes with the
children’s book that’s as sad and as joyous as life itself.
Next series
starts Monday,
Ben
PS. Topics or
themes you’d like to see covered in this space? Guest Posts you’d like to
contribute? Lemme know, please!
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