Tag: American Studies

With a little help: How crucial encounters with Werner Herzog and Mick Jagger led to the development of a screenplay about Robert Johnson’s extraordinary life and legacy.

October 3, 2012

One of the first inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Robert Johnson’sshort life remains steeped in mystery and wrapped in some of the most enduringlegends of modern music. BY ALAN GREENBERGWriter, film producer, film director, and photographer It was 1974, and it all began when I was building a bed. Living alone … More With a little help: How crucial encounters with Werner Herzog and Mick Jagger led to the development of a screenplay about Robert Johnson’s extraordinary life and legacy.

School start times: Why so rigid?

September 18, 2012

BY MATTHEW J. WOLF-MEYERAssistant professor of anthropology, University of California, Santa Cruz Over the past thirty years, there’s been a mounting body of evidence regarding changes in long-term sleep needs. Infants need a lot of sleep; children less so; adolescents need more; and adults, less, until our later years, when many require even less sleep. … More School start times: Why so rigid?

Diane Fujino tackles new, explosive claims that Black Panther Party member Richard Aoki was an FBI informant.

August 23, 2012

Democracy Now!: Diane Fujino, author of Samurai among Panthers: Richard Aoki on Race, Resistance, and a Paradoxical Life, appears on the show with Seth Rosenfeld, whose new book Subversives claims that Aoki informed on his colleagues. San Francisco Chronicle: An op-ed piece, published today, in which Fujino asks, where’s the evidence? Fred Ho weighs in: … More Diane Fujino tackles new, explosive claims that Black Panther Party member Richard Aoki was an FBI informant.

The benefits of sharing a bed — with lovers, children, or dogs

June 29, 2012

Should you share your sleeping space with Fido? BY MATTHEW WOLF-MEYERAssistant professor of anthropology at the University of California, Santa Cruz Sure, sharing a bed can be a nuisance from time to time. And spending the night in a hotel alone while traveling can be a vacation in itself. But there’s been some recent attention … More The benefits of sharing a bed — with lovers, children, or dogs

Reauthorizing Indianness (or Acts of Violence against Native Self-Determination)

June 19, 2012

Image source. BY MARK RIFKINAssociate professor of English at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro During the past few months, the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives both have passed bills reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). The law originally was adopted in 1994 and was last reauthorized in 2005, and in its … More Reauthorizing Indianness (or Acts of Violence against Native Self-Determination)

Is a good night’s sleep legitimately possible?

June 7, 2012

Sleep: It might traditionally be relegated to the twilight hours.But that doesn’t mean it has to be. BY MATTHEW WOLF-MEYERAssistant professor of anthropology at the University of California, Santa Cruz Slate & Survey Monkey just published the results of a poll on sleep, most of which is pretty innocuous. The two findings that work pretty … More Is a good night’s sleep legitimately possible?

Planning a summer or Memorial Day weekend trip? These beautiful, significant national destinations are primed to spark the intellectually curious adventurer in you.

May 24, 2012

Half Dome Overlook, Yosemite National Park, California.Photograph by Robert Bednar. Diablo Lake Overlook, North Cascades National Park, Washington.Photograph by Robert Bednar. Wawona Tunnel Yosemite Valley Overlook, Yosemite National Park, California.Photograph by Robert Bednar. Zion Lodge, Utah, 1930s. Colored Lantern Slide.National Park Service Historic Photograph Collection. Watchtower at Desert View, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona.Photograph by … More Planning a summer or Memorial Day weekend trip? These beautiful, significant national destinations are primed to spark the intellectually curious adventurer in you.