The U.S. Role in a Changing World

Description

In 47 short video clips, ranging in length from 43 seconds to over three minutes, 11 different scholars examine changes for the U.S. in the recent past and issues facing the country today, including the end of the Cold War, environmental concerns, international relations, terrorism and WMDs, and trade. Intended to accompany the Choices Program's curriculum The U.S. Role in a Changing World, these clips may still be used independently.

Registration is required, but free.

Iran Through the Looking Glass: History, Reform, and Revolution

Description

In 45 short video clips, ranging in length from 53 seconds to over three minutes, scholars Jo-Ann Hart, Shala Haeri, Farzaneh Milani, Mariam Habibi, Joseph Cirincione, and Linda Miller look at Iranian history over the 20th and 21st centuries, focusing on events that led up to the 1979 Revolution, the Revolution and the Iran Hostage Crisis, and the effects of those events on Iran today. The clips examine how the U.S. was involved in all of these events. Intended to accompany the Choices Program's curriculum Iran Through the Looking Glass: History, Reform, and Revolution, these clips may still be used independently.

Registration is required, but free.

The Cuban Missile Crisis: Considering Its Place in Cold War History

Description

In 19 short video clips, ranging in length from 58 seconds to three and a half minutes, scholars Jim Blight, janet Lang, and Sergei Khrushchev examine the events that led up to the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Crisis itself, and the personalities involved. Intended to accompany the Choices Program's curriculum The Cuban Missile Crisis: Considering Its Place in Cold War History, these clips may still be used independently.

Registration is required, but free.

Confronting Genocide: Never Again?

Description

In 17 short video clips, ranging in length from 52 seconds to over two minutes, scholars Susan Allee, Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro, and David Kennedy look at how global response to genocide has developed over the past century and examine U.S. response to several genocides. Intended to accompany the Choices Program's curriculum Confronting Genocide: Never Again?, these clips may still be used independently.

Registration is required, but free.

The Challenge of Nuclear Weapons

Description

In 28 short video clips, ranging in length from 40 seconds to over three minutes, a range of experts, including both politicians and scholars, discuss the history of nuclear weapons, the present political and military global situation and views of nuclear weapons, and the future of nuclear weapons. Intended to accompany the Choices Program's curriculum The Challenge of Nuclear Weapons, these clips may still be used independently.

Registration is required, but free.

Now It Can Be Told: The Unknown Irving Berlin

Description

From the Library of Congress Webcasts website:

"The Music Division of the Library of Congress and the American Musicological Society, in joint partnership, presented the third in a series of lectures highlighting musicological research conducted in the division's collections. Jeffrey Magee presented 'Now It Can Be Told: The Unknown Irving Berlin.'

After Jerome Kern famously pronounced that 'Irving Berlin is American music' in 1925, Berlin continued for several decades more to define many of America's most distinctive musical idioms, from Tin Pan Alley to Broadway to Hollywood. Berlin's death 20 years ago at the age of 101 accelerated an ever-expanding cottage industry of commentary, reflection and scholarship on a legendary figure.

In an effort to amplify patterns in Berlin's stage and screen career, the talk will aim to draw connections among unknown (or little-known) materials—including songs, scripts, 'plot treatments,' and other notable documents—and Berlin's better-known work."

Although the video may appear broken, please be aware that it loads slowly, and will eventually start.

Frances Perkins, the Woman Behind FDR

Description

Journalist Kirstin Downey talks about Frances Perkins, the subject of her book The Woman Behind the New Deal: The Life of Frances Perkins, FDR's Secretary of Labor and His Moral Conscience. As secretary of labor during FDR's presidency, Perkins initiated social-welfare reforms in areas including unemployment, child labor, immigration, and work-week length.

The Temple of Invention

Description

This podcast from the Smithsonian American Art Museum details the history of the museum's building, once the U.S. Patent Office, or "Temple of Invention."

To listen to this podcast, scroll to the bullet point which reads, "Listen to our podcast about the magnificent building that houses the Smithsonian American Art Museum," and select a file type.

American Cinema

Description

Using clips from more than 300 of the greatest movies ever made, this series explores film history and American culture through the eyes of over 150 Hollywood insiders, including Clint Eastwood, Steven Spielberg, and Michael Eisner. In-depth treatments present film as a powerful economic force, potent 20th-century art form, and viable career option. "American Cinema" connects subjects such as history, business, and English with other studies. In addition, it is a perfect vehicle for developing visual and media literacy skills and can be used as a springboard for creative-writing endeavors and media production. This video instructional series on film history for college and high school classrooms and adult learners includes 10 one-hour and three half-hour video programs and coordinated books.