From Campfires to Comic Books: American Storytelling 1920-1940

Miacademy & MiaPrep Learning Channel

This educational video explores the evolution of American storytelling traditions from the 1920s through the 1940s. It begins with a hook about the urban legend of sewer alligators before diving into three primary mediums of storytelling: campfire stories, film, and comic books. The narrator examines the historical origins, defining characteristics, and cultural significance of each medium, explaining how they reflected the time periods in which they emerged. The video covers specific genres like film noir and teen humor comics, providing historical context such as the Great Depression and World War II. It defines key literary and cultural terms including "urban legend," "zeitgeist," and "film noir." Visual examples range from historical photographs of early Boy Scouts to clips from classic films like "The Maltese Falcon" and "Modern Times," as well as covers from the Golden Age of Comic Books. Teachers can use this video to link American history with literature and media studies. It features built-in pause points for students to take notes or reflect on discussion questions, making it an interactive tool for the classroom. It is particularly useful for units on the 20th century, media literacy, or American cultural history.