Department of History, UC Santa Barbara

National Identity and The Nation in Post Neoliberal Latin America
2010-04-19 00:00 (America/Denver) | CA
talk in the “Tequila Mondays” series.
hm 4/8/10

Nationalizing States Revisited
2010-04-19 00:00
In this talk Prof. Brubaker will return to his influential book, Nationalism Reframed: Nationhood and the National Question in the New Europe, to reflect upon changes since the collapse of the Soviet Union and the re-emergence of independent Central and Eastern Europe.
Brubaker is a member of American Academy of Arts and Sciences, a Guggenheim Fellowship winner, and the recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship. His most recent book is Nationalist Politics and Everyday Ethnicity in a Transylvanian Town.
Sponsored by the IHC’s Identity Studies RFG, the Dept. of Political Science, the Dept. of Germanic, Slavic, & Semitic Studies, and the Dept. of History.
hm 4/15/10

The Life of Local Inventor and Aviation Pioneer Earle Ovington
2010-04-19 00:00
Jessica Price ’09, currently a volunteer at the Goleta Valley Historical Society, announces a local history lecture happening Monday night. Student prices are $5. If anyone has questions they can call the GVHS office (805) 681-7216 or they can e-mail me at jprice@westmont.edu
“Known only as America’s first Air Mail Pilot, there is much more to the
story of Earle Lewis Ovington that can be learned today from a study of his
life. Earle Ovington exemplified all that was right with America–true
sportsmanship, common sense, fairness, perseverance, achievement,
entrepreneurship, competitiveness, and personal responsibility–character
traits sadly lacking in much of America today. In a multifaceted career
that spanned a mere fifty-seven years, he achieved a truly amazing number
of accomplishments.”
From the wind-swept streets of Chicago, to the hurried pace of New York
City, to the quiet Newton Highlands suburb of Boston, to the boardwalks o f
Atlantic City and the lush open spaces of Santa Barbara, California, Earle
Lewis Ovington passionately pursued his dreams. At age sixteen he left home
to seek employment with Thomas Edison and later earned his Electrical
Engineering degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He was a
showman, a multi-enterprising entrepreneur, inventor, and fearless pioneer
aviator.
In a detailed and well researched narrative that draws upon hundreds of
photographs, letters, government records, and original source materials
from private and family records, the author weaves the story of the life of
Earle Ovington–from his little known contribution to early X-ray technology
and friendship with Nikola Tesla, to his roles in the advancement of the
early motorcycle and aviation industries in America.
Anchored in the optimism of the late nineteenth century, he was a visionary
who continually looked to the future. Virtually forgotten today, Earle
Ovington lived a life of which most people can only dream. Reminiscences of
a Birdman tells for the first time to a new generation, the complete story
of this uniquely American hero.”
-Robert D. Campbell
hm 4/18/10

Coercion, Compliance, and Resistance in Wartime Japan, 1942-1945
2010-04-23 00:00
Sponsored by the East Asian Cultures Research Focus Group, the East Asia Center, and the Department of History.
jwil 14.iv.2010, hm 4/14

History of the 1970 Isla Vista Riots
2010-04-23 00:00
Friday, April 23rd, at 7pm, at the Magic Lantern Theater, is Don’t Bank on Amerika, a rarely-seen documentary from 1970, co-directed by cinema scholar Peter Biskind, about the turbulence at UCSB that resulted in the burning of the I.V. branch of the Bank of America.
At 7:45pm is another short from the 1980’s, Beyond the Barricades, about the lives of I.V. activists nearly twenty years later.
At 8:30pm is a new documentary by KCSB Media Center students called Our University, a look into the privatization of public education and the power of student activism.
The evening culminates at 9:30pm with the area debut of Chicago 10 (http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/chicago10), a feature about the trial of the Chicago 8, anti-war protesters who were prosecuted by the government for organizing demonstrations at the 1968 Democratic National Convention, which contributed to tensions in Isla Vista. Utilizing archival footage, animation, contemporary music, and the voices of Nick Nolte, Roy Schieder, Live Schrieber, Mark Ruffalo, Jeffrey Wright, and Hank Azaria, filmmaker Brett Morgen creates a cult-movie vibe perfectly suited for a late-night weekend screening.
The Magic Lantern Theater is located at 960 Embarcadero Del Norte in Isla Vista.
These events will also feature giveaways and special William Kunstler DVD discounts for attendees and are free and open to the entire public.
hm 4/23/10

Story Faire (featuring guest appearance by Prof. Sears McGee)
2010-04-24 00:00
In support of a local event, we pass on this invitation by one of our professors, J. Sears McGee:
Dear Friends,
Have you ever wondered how I’d look in a dress? And even if you haven’t, wouldn’t that be worth seeing? I will be wearing a long ruffled dress and a straw hat with flowers on the brim on Saturday, April 24th at the fourth annual StoryFaire, held this year at De la Guerra Plaza from 11 to 4 p.m.
Here’s the story. My wife, Marni, started StoryFaire four years ago – it’s a literacy festival, a book signing and launch for local authors and illustrators of children’s books, a party for kids, and a benefit for its two sponsors, CALM and Storyteller Children’s Center. It’s a wonderful day with food, musicians, dancers, balloon art, crafts and games, author presentations, book sales sponsored by Chaucer’s, face painters, clowns and magicians. All this, with free entry – and ME. Oh yes, in addition to 17 local authors and illustrators, Valerie Tripp (who has written 31 of the American Girl books) will also be there, signing books and greeting her fans.
But back to my costume. I will be Granny Winston, a wolf in drag – a character in one of Marni’s books, WINSTON THE BOOK WOLF. He’s rather Churchillian. Don’t miss my long tail. Marni will also be dressed up, as another of her characters, SILLY GOOSE. She’s launching a new book this year, BUMBLE, THE LITTLE BEAR WITH BIG IDEAS and as such will be one of 8 authors launching new books at StoryFaire 2010. If you haven’t seen any of her books, have a look at her website (marnimcgee.com – click on “Books”).
Stunning Stats: More than three out of four of those on welfare, 85% of unwed mothers, and 68% of those arrested are illiterate. About three in five of America’s prison inmates are illiterate, and 85% of all juvenile offenders have reading problems. Children who have not developed some basic literacy skills by the time they enter school are 3 – 4 times more likely to drop out in later years.
hm 4/22/10

History of the 1970 Isla Vista Riots
2010-04-24 00:00
The UCSB Alumni Association (http://ucsbalum.com), KCSB, and Magic Lantern Films will host “Reflecting on Rebellion: Isla Vista 40 Years Later,” a free program of films, panelists, and a reception mixer focusing on the I.V. riots and the Bank of America burning 40 years later.
The proceedings start at 3pm with screenings of those two short films, Don’t Bank on Amerika and Beyond the Barricades.
At 4pm, UCSB Professor Richard Flacks will moderate a panel of key participants and observers from 1970, including former student-leader James Gregory, former El Gaucho editor and News & Review founder Becca Wilson, and photographer Gregory Desilet, whose new book Burning Banks and Roasting Marshmallows is a fictionalized narrative of the uprisings.
After a late afternoon reception, at 6:30pm there will be a return-engagement showing of William Kunstler: Disturbing the Universe (http://www.disturbingtheuniverse.com), Emily and Sarah Kunstler’s acclaimed documentary about their radical attorney father, who represented Civil Rights Era organizers, Chicago conspiracy defendants, Attica prisoners, American Indian Movement activists, and other political prisoners. Learn about the man some blamed for inciting the torching of the bank.
These events will also feature giveaways and special William Kunstler DVD discounts for attendees and are free and open to the entire public.
hm 4/23/10
