Providing a Path for Lifelong Learning
Following the passing of Senator John McCain, we discuss the history of social conventions honoring the passing of public figures, particularly in political office. In the United States, the importance of lowering flags can become the center of huge discussions and arguments regarding respect; furthermore, John McCain's passing and the trajectory of his political career… Continue reading Centre Trail Podcast 16: Passing Away of Public Figures
This summer I saw Hamilton. If you have been living under a rock somewhere and the genius of Lin Manuel Miranda has somehow escaped you, do a quick Google search. I'll wait. Much to my 6 year old's dismay, I did not take him with me--I took my husband instead. We didn't get to sit… Continue reading We’re Gonna Teach ‘Em How to Say Goodbye
Tara and John get together at the end of Black History Month to discuss the life of Frederick Douglass, whose two hundredth birthday was this past February 14th. We particularly focus on the impact of his famous memoir A Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, and think about this month’s release of the new… Continue reading Centre Trail Podcast 15: Frederick Douglass & Black Panther
Tara and John discuss the Winter Olympics in Pyeonchang, South Korea and some wider historical questions around the Olympic Games. Where does this idea come from, how does it translate into a type of “Olympic ideal” and what are some of the ramifications of this for how countries interact with each other?
In honor of our podcast coming out tomorrow, here are a few links to good reads about the olympics: Why are Jamaican runners so good? This article tackles some of the historical and cultural issues embedded in that question. Skis are more than 4,000 years old. And according to this piece they have changed a… Continue reading Olympic Roundup
Tara and John talk about St. Valentine’s Day and Ash Wednesday, which this year fall on the same day, raising interesting comparisons about their broader cultural impact. Come for the discussion of historical context of two juxtaposed cultural practices, stay for the sweet Anne of Cleves references.
Below is a story from Tara's CentreTerm Class on Alternate History. Our author is Aarthi Vadhanam, a senior math major, who chose to think about the creation of the modern Middle East. In this story, she imagines an Iran that was friendly with the United States and a major player in Middle Eastern politics. She… Continue reading We are Pain and What Cures Pain, Both
The latest news cycle is full of reports concerning President Trump's desire to have a grand military parade in Washington D.C. The impetus behind this supposedly lies with the President's positive reaction to experiencing France's annual Bastille Day parade in person and a desire to recognize the service of the men and women of the… Continue reading Standing Armies and Military Parades
Tara and John get together as the spring semester at Centre College starts to get underway. John is teaching the history of modern popular sport, and he talks a little about how to define sports and what kind of interesting historical questions that activity raises. Tara revisits her blog post on Founding Fathers, and talks… Continue reading Centre Trail Podcast 12: When is a sport a sport, and what’s a Founding Father?
Did you know that the phrase "founding fathers" wasn't coined until 1916? It was then that Warren Harding used that wording in a speech to the Republican National Convention. Somehow, I always find this a surprising fact. Have Americans only thought about the revolutionary generations as father figures for a century? Americans before 1916 certainly… Continue reading “Founding Fathers”
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