The role of literacy in social studies education has been greatly elevated over the last decade. The National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) models through the indicators of its C3 Framework how to strengthen K-12 students' disciplinary thinking, literacy, and argumentation skills in the four core social studies disciplines: civics,…

The story of American superheroes cannot be told without the publisher DC and its evolving audience. During the latter 1930s and early 1940s, DC Comics assembled a catalog of superheroes that became the archetype of the genre itself: Superman, Wonder Woman, and Batman. As DC Comics' audience and market grew throughout the decades, the company's…

Playing Indian is one of the oldest and most pervasive forms of American cultural expression, indeed one of the oldest forms of affinity with American culture at the national level. This form of expression is "central to efforts to imagine and materialize distinctive American identities." Enacting redface has historically aided European Americans…

Describes the development of a college-level course in the history of animation. Contends that social history is reflected in the animated cartoons made for movie theaters. Includes a selected glossary, a bibliography of print resources, and a recommended list of video cassettes. (CFR)

Compares John Bull and Uncle Sam as iconographic symbols, respectively personifying male images of the British and United States national characters. Recounts their origins, evolutions, and representative values, and includes cartoons depicting the evolution. Describes female counterparts: Britannia and Columbia/Liberty. (CH)

Presents a lesson plan that analyzes and interprets the symbolic content of six political cartoons published in the United States during the juncture and aftermath of the Spanish-American War. Includes instructions for preparation, reproductions of six cartoons suitable for hand-outs, and a series of discussion questions. (MJP)