In Star Wars Episode Four, the evil Empire commits perhaps the most infamous war crime in the history of film: the destruction of Alderaan. Using the Death… Read more “Devil’s Advocate: Was Blowing Up Alderaan Justified?”
Category: Essays
Remembering the Alamo(s)
As dawn broke on March 6th, 1836, a Mexican army led by President Antonio Lòpez de Santa Anna stormed the Alamo, a small compound defended by several… Read more “Remembering the Alamo(s)”
Quintus Sertorius: The Patriot Who Defied Rome
This week, I’d like to write about one of my favorite figures from Roman history: Quintus Sertorius (126 BCE to 73 BCE). Sertorius’ life reads like a… Read more “Quintus Sertorius: The Patriot Who Defied Rome”
How Historical Films Misuse Color
In the 1930s, film developed color, and would never be the same again. Now, I wonder if some film genres are unconsciously reverting back to black and… Read more “How Historical Films Misuse Color”
Fake History: A Practical Guide to Inventing the Past
Over the past week, I’ve amused myself with George R. R. Martin’s newest book, Fire and Blood. For those of you without the inclination to read a… Read more “Fake History: A Practical Guide to Inventing the Past”
How Not To Measure a Country’s Power
How can we quantify the power of a country? Putting so many demographic, economic and military factors into a single number may seem like a daunting task,… Read more “How Not To Measure a Country’s Power”
The Great Myth of the Wehrmacht
In 1985, English historian Max Hastings published a provocative Washington Post article, titled simply: Their Wehrmacht was Better Than Our Army. The title refers to the German… Read more “The Great Myth of the Wehrmacht”
The History of Happiness: Are People Getting Happier?
Over the last few centuries, the lives of people have improved in almost every quantifiable way. Education, lifespan, living standards, hygiene, and countless other factors have steadily… Read more “The History of Happiness: Are People Getting Happier?”
More than Mordor: Tolkien and the First World War
It’s no secret that J. R. R. Tolkien borrowed from his experience in the trenches of World War One when creating Middle Earth. A month ago, I… Read more “More than Mordor: Tolkien and the First World War”
The Forgotten History of Disabled Veterans
When a war ends, the people are always quick to celebrate the returning soldiers and to mourn the dead. Yet few ever devote much thought to disabled… Read more “The Forgotten History of Disabled Veterans”
Tragedy and Farce 