Archive for August, 2012
Turf War: A History of College Sports
In this episode of BackStory, the History Guys unpack the origins of college sports and the ways universities have justified athletics on campus. Peter, Ed, and Brian take us back to Amherst College in the 19th century, where the first collegiate Phys. Ed. program blossomed, and they tell a little-known story about the integration of the University of Alabama’s football team.
Conventional Wisdom: A History of American Political Conventions
American political conventions haven’t always been so predictable. Before becoming scripted for television, conventions were often where pressing issues of the day got hashed out and careers were made or ruined. In this hour of BackStory we venture into the back rooms, the chaotic halls, and the streets where these dramas unfolded.
Climate Control: A History of Heating and Cooling
In this episode, the History Guys consider the advent of air conditioning, and explore its far-reaching implications on everything from architecture and leisure to demography and politics. They also look at what happened when stoves became widely available in the mid-19th century, and how technology altered Americans’ way of life.
Here to There: A History of Mapping
We’re devoting this episode of BackStory to maps – asking how the ways in which Americans have mapped geography illustrate the ways in which Americans have understood themselves socially.
Beach Bodies: A History of the American Physique
On this episode of BackStory, we explore the ways body image ideals have changed over the centuries, and look at a few of the ways Americans have attempted to perfect their physiques.
