Tides of History Doing History through Movies: Interview with Dr. Jason Herbert
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Dec 4, 2025 
Dr. Jason Herbert, a historian and tribal liaison for the U.S. Forest Service, explores the intersection of film and history. He discusses why movies ignite passion for historical narratives and how they shape our understanding of the past. Jason emphasizes the power of storytelling over mere factual accuracy in films like *Kingdom of Heaven* and *Lincoln*. They also dive into the impact of intimate history films and the importance of engaging with pop culture to bring history to a wider audience.
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Engage Movies, Don't Only Criticize
- Don't treat movies as only objects for nitpicking; historians generally enjoy them and their visual storytelling.
- Use films as entry points to discuss historical periods and public perceptions, not just errors.
Star Wars As Childhood History
- Jason Herbert recounts his first 'history' film as The Empire Strikes Back and links Star Wars to historical storytelling.
- He traces how Indiana Jones and similar films hooked him on past-themed fiction.
Sequels Show Cultural Shifts
- Gladiator (2000) and Gladiator 2 (2024) demonstrate how attitudes toward empire changed over 25 years.
- Patrick Wyman emphasizes that sequels can reveal shifting cultural perspectives.