The Pop History Dig - a collection of short stories about popular culture - its history, its people, and its power
Welcome to The Pop History Dig.
In today’s world, busy people often miss or by-pass important historic and cultural events when they first occur. Others have completely forgotten older events or know little of their significance. The Pop History Dig is offered as a place to revisit some of that cultural history, whether decades old or occurring just last week. It is also a place to consider and reconsider the importance and meaning of these events – and their impact on society.
What you will find here is a collection of stories that probe the history and power of popular culture – its people, its businesses, and its politics. Everything from Thomas Edison’s inventions to Oprah Winfrey’s political endorsements is fair game at this site – and more. Music, sport, film, and television are all part of the mix. Media and entertainment, quite obviously, figure prominently in make up of popular culture, and these are a primary focus. History is covered, yes, but it’s history with a difference; political, cultural, and business history; history that helps explain, for example, how media and entertainment have become such a pervasive part of our daily lives.
All of this is served up in a short- to medium-length story format – stories that are somewhat longer than a typical blog, but in-depth enough to provide thorough coverage of a particular subject or offer some new arrangement of information. Each story typically includes period photos, sidebars, and other graphics. Some will contain music files, and some will link to videos on YouTube and elsewere. There is also biography, business history, and a share of nostalgia found here. Some stories are serious and conven- tional, others less so.
Jack Kennedy’s politics are covered, as well as Mickey Mantle’s home runs and Madonna’s music. Warner Brothers’ film history is included, along with John Steinbeck’s novels and the power of 1930s’ radio. Walt Disney’s empire and how Ted Turner built CNN are also covered. Jack Kennedy’s politics are covered, as well as Mickey Mantle’s home runs and Madonna’s music. And other stories to come might focus on the product endorsements of basketball phenom LeBron James, the history of MTV, or a Ray Charles song.
These are all stories of a kind; part of the mix of people and events sometimes called “popular culture.” But they are also more than that. They are stories of money, politics, and power, too – and also, the longer timeline of history. They tell us something about who we are, where we have come from, and what we value. Some are significant in business or the arts; others have become historic milestones and landmarks; and still others have become woven into the social fabric over time. Some are embedded in our personal lives and emotional memories – from music and film, or a good book or memorable sporting event. And whether personal marker or cultural milestone, many of these events have come to us by way of the media and entertainment industries.
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