History Via Media

​History Via Media (HVM), is a channel dedicated to exploring history through the lens of media!

HVM’s goal is to ​promote of the study of history. From film and television to books and music, HVM investigates how different forms of media have portrayed historical events and shaped public understanding of the past.

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Selected Examples: 

Truman: A Legacy in 12 Clips

Truman: A Legacy in 12 Clips is 'A Curated Study Experience,' a guide to President Harry S. Truman. This guide accompanies twelve pivotal video moments drawn from HBO's acclaimed film ‘Truman’ and real historical footage, with the goal of helping understand the life, leadership, and moral challenges of America’s 33rd President.

Topics:
  • The Prendergast Machine
  • The Truman Committee 
  • The Death Of FDR
  • The Manhattan Project 
  • Hiroshima
  • Potsdam
  • Israel
  • ​1948 Election
  • On Communism
  • McCarthyism 
  • Korea
  • Farwell Message

Truman:  The Story of Harry Truman  - An Audio Comic

In the heat of the 1948 election, the Truman campaign released a bold and unusual piece of campaign literature: a full-color, 16-page comic book titled The Story of Harry S. Truman. From his Missouri boyhood to his wartime service, business struggles, and rise to the presidency, the comic captured the spirit and story of Truman in a way no campaign ever had.

This short video brings that forgotten comic to life—with voice narration, subtle sound effects, and a touch of nostalgia. It’s a little quirky, a little old-school, but worth a watch. You might just learn something—and maybe even smile.
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​Originally dismissed by some in Washington, the comic was wildly popular, with over 3 million copies distributed—even in schools. As Time magazine put it, it was “something new in campaign literature.”

October Sky: Launch

"October Sky" is a biographical drama film released in 1999. Directed by Joe Johnston, the movie is based on the true story of Homer Hickam Jr., a coal miner's son who aspires to become a rocket scientist. The title "October Sky" is an anagram of "Rocket Boys," which is the title of Hickam's memoir on which the film is based. In this scene, a test launch of Homer’s rocket is successful, being the climax of the film.

Citizen Cohn: It’s a Right

"Citizen Cohn"​ is a biographical drama film released in 1992. Directed by Frank Pierson, the movie focuses on the life and career of Roy Cohn, a prominent and controversial figure in American politics and law. The film is based on the biography of the same name by Nicholas von Hoffman. In this clip, Roy is questioning a suspected communist sympathizer and is reminded of the rights all American have.

​Hail, Caesar!: Communists

"Hail, Caesar!" is a 2016 comedy film written and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen, starring Josh Brolin, George Clooney, and Alden Ehrenreich. The film is a homage to the Golden Age of Hollywood, set in the 1950s and follows the life of Eddie Mannix, a Hollywood fixer who is tasked with solving the problems of various stars at Capitol Pictures. In this scene, Hollywood star Baird Whitlock (George Clooney) has the essence of the dialectic explained by the communists ‘kidnappers’.

​1952 Election: Ed Murrow’s Thoughts

A clip of the ​CBS 1952 Election coverage. Ed Murrow gives his thoughts on the Republican victory., the first in 20 years,