Episodios

  • Episode 3: The Myth of the Good War: How World War II Became America's Simplest Narrative

    Episode 3: The Myth of the Good War: How World War II Became America's Simplest Narrative
    Apr 16 2025
    Alex Calder explores how the morally complex reality of World War II was transformed into a straightforward narrative of American heroism and unambiguous moral clarity that continues to shape understanding of both that conflict and America's role in the world. While acknowledging the necessity of defeating genuinely evil Nazi and Japanese regimes, the episode examines uncomfortable truths often omitted from the "Good War" narrative—including strategic bombing of civilian areas, Japanese American internment, racial segregation within the military, and the alliance with Stalin's Soviet Union. Alex reveals how this simplified narrative has influenced subsequent American military interventions by providing a template that later policymakers have tried to apply to fundamentally different conflicts. The episode advocates for a more nuanced understanding that honors the war's necessity while acknowledging its moral complexities and human costs.
    Más Menos
    25 m
  • Episode 2: The Real Wild West: Hollywood's Favorite Historical Playground

    Episode 2: The Real Wild West: Hollywood's Favorite Historical Playground
    Apr 16 2025
    Alex Calder examines how Hollywood transformed a brief, complex period of American frontier history into an enduring mythology that bears little resemblance to historical reality. The episode contrasts Hollywood's mythic West of dramatic gunfights and rugged individualism with the historical frontier's diverse population, strict gun regulations, economic motivations, and complex relationships with Native American nations. Alex explores how this mythology developed through dime novels, Wild West shows, and thousands of films, becoming a framework for American identity that continues to influence politics, international perceptions of American character, and cultural values. Through revealing the stark differences between Hollywood's West and historical reality, the episode demonstrates how entertainment can create powerful cultural memories that overshadow actual history while serving contemporary political narratives about American character values.
    Más Menos
    24 m
adbl_web_global_use_to_activate_webcro768_stickypopup