Episode 163: Gillette's New Ad, Rep. Steve King, and Cursive's Decline

In this episode, Natalia, Neil, and Niki discuss the new Gillette commercial “We Believe,” Rep. Steve King’s controversial comments, and the decline of cursive in American schools.

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Here are some links and references mentioned during this week’s show: 

• Gillette released a new ad taking aim at “toxic masculinity.” Natalia recommended historian Gail Bederman’s book Manliness and Civilization: A Cultural History of Race and Gender in the United States, 1880-1917 and a Twitter thread she compiled of relevant historical images. Neil referred to his HuffPost piece on the campaign’s conservatism.
• Representative Steve King recently waxed nostalgic for the days when “white supremacy” was acceptable. Natalia recommended Niki’s CNN article on journalists’ role in establishing the bounds of political discourse and Marama Whyte’s forthcoming dissertation on how women journalists covered feminism. Niki shared historian David Greenberg’s scholarly article on the origin of the assumption of media’s “liberal bias.”
• Cursive instruction at school is becoming a relic. Niki cited this Atlantic article on the role of the ballpoint pen in its demise. Natalia recalled that literacy instruction pioneer Irene Fountas was also excellent at teaching cursive.

 In our regular closing feature, What’s Making History:

• Natalia recommended historian Emily Dufton’s book Grass Roots: The Rise and Fall and Rise of Marijuana in America.
• Neil discussed the Orlando Sentinel’s coverage of the pardon of the “Groveland Four.”
• Niki shared Yoni Appelbaum’s Atlantic article, “Impeach Donald Trump.”