TheArchive: Reviewing the Rare, Retro, and Restored

When most Americans think of November, the first thing that pops into their minds is Thanksgiving . This uniquely American holiday is a time for crazy travel misadventures , delicious food, and quality time with friends and family. But November is also Native American Heritage Month, a time dedicated to celebrating the history, culture, and contributions of Native people.  While Native American Heritage Month and Thanksgiving seem like distinct holidays, they are very intertwined. Thanksgiving is often framed as a joyful celebration of cooperation between Pilgrims and Native Americans, but history tells a more complicated and dark story. While there was a shared feast in 1621, the following years brought hardship, conflict, and colonization for Native peoples.  For many Native Americans, Thanksgiving is a day of mourning. It is a time to remember the lives lost and the customs and cultural norms forcibly removed by European settlement. Native American Heritage Month’s goal is...

Calling all history buffs and film nerds! Alex Garland’s highly anticipated new film, Civil War , premieres this Friday. The English novelist, screenwriter, and director has built a remarkable career by mastering intricate and expansive concepts through imaginative and captivating narratives and striking visuals . Before becoming a director, Alex Garland was a novelist. His debut novel, The Beach , transported readers to an unspoiled seashore inhabited by like-minded travelers, weaving together drug culture references, hallucinatory sequences, and vivid depictions of excess and utopia. In Civil War , Garland immerses audiences in a dystopian future where a second Civil War ravages and fractures the United States of America. The tension, intrigue, and thought-provoking themes promise to captivate viewers in a heady dystopian world once again.  The film follows a team of journalists ( Kirsten Dunst , Cailee Spaeny , Wagner Moura ) who traverse the United States, capturing the chaos ...

Black History Month , observed annually in February, is a significant time to reflect on the achievements, struggles, and contributions of African Americans throughout history . This month-long celebration serves as a powerful and necessary reminder of the resilience, creativity, and impact that individuals of African descent have had on the United States and the world.  The legacy of Black History Month dates back to 1926 when historian Dr. Carter G. Woodson recognized the lack of history and perspectives of African Americans in the nation's curriculum throughout his studies. Dr. Carter G. Woodson stated that African-American contributions were too often overlooked, ignored, and even suppressed by the writers of history textbooks. Black History Month is a direct response to the systemic suppression of the black experience. In this month, we as Americans not only celebrate black history, but we also rectify historical biases . There are many ways to honor Black History Month like...