This event is part of "The Cause of All Mankind: A Celebration of the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence."

This screening will feature clips from popular depictions of the American Revolution in culture, including the musicals Hamilton and 1776, as well as the HBO miniseries John Adams. The clips will be interspersed with panel commentary between Historian Dr. Susan Brynne Long and Film Studies Director Dr. John Lyden, Professor of Religious Studies, who edits the Journal of Religion and Film. They will consider the historical accuracies and inaccuracies of these representations, as well as the ways in which they reflect modern values and a society's evaluation of its own history. Media re-imaginings of history tell us as much about the times in which they were made as the times they depict, and in this light, the discussion will ask questions such as: What is the utility of putting history on screen? What can we learn about ourselves and our history by evaluating these representations? And what is the role of popular media in promoting civic engagement? A key learning outcome for participants will be enhanced historical and popular cultural literacy.