The sixth episode in the Comic Books Studies series examines the ways in which Wonder Woman creator William Moulton Marston tried to distill his complicated ideas about gender and female superiority into a single character. Wonder Woman, who will ma

In this special episode we examine the just broadcast return of Jack Bauer in 24: Live Another Day. Always a political creative vehicle, 24 is perfect for discussion and analysis. In this episode Dr. Reid reviews the two hour return of the show...

Comic books are not always seen as a valid subject of academic discussion but in this episode, Dr. Reid lays out a case for why that should not be the case by exploring Alan Moore's V for Vendetta and Watchmen, and Art Spiegelman's Maus

A short film that explores how fundamental ideas about race manifested themselves in the first wave of superhero comics.

Captain America first appeared in 1940 but shortly after his introduction he was joined by sidekick team "The Young Allies" among whom was one of the most openly racist characters in superhero history. In this episode we explore how and why men like Jack

The second American Studies lecture again looks at classic American comic books, this time turning its attention on Batman's arch-nemesis, the Joker. Throughout his long career the Joker has been portrayed as everything from a Chicago-inspired gangster,

Superman first appeared during the Great Depression in 1938 in a comic book which reflected the period's strong stereotypes against women. In this episode the first superhero comic will be given a scholarly reading and compared to its modern equivalent to

In the same week that the producers behind hit sitcom, 'How I Met Your Mother' had to apologise for their use of 'yellow face' in a recent episode, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences nominated The Lone Ranger for the Oscar in...

In the final part of the 2013-2014 film festival we explore Charlie Chaplin's seminal 1917 film, The Immigrant. When Chaplin was exiled from the United States in the 1950s for his leftist politics, this film was used as evidence against him....

The Birth of a Nation (1915) is one of the most important films in the history of cinema. It refined the art of editing, special effects, large casts of characters, and was truly epic in scope. Unfortunately, is also one of the most racist films...