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masmdu

(2,636 posts)

47. "Nationalist mythology with diversity window dressing"

Thu Nov 20, 2025, 10:59 PM

Nov 20

Interesting take by Tad Stoermer, historian/academic

Ken Burns’ American Revolution is 1950s History for 2026

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Description

Ken Burns’ new documentary looks inclusive because it acknowledges slavery and includes marginalized voices. But it’s actually 1950s Consensus School historiography—Cold War nationalist mythology updated with social history texture. Burns told TIME his goal is proving “The American Revolution is the most important, consequential revolution in history”—the conclusion drives the investigation. That’s not history.

The Consensus School (Hofstadter, Boorstin, Morgan) dominated 1950-1975, teaching Boomers that Americans were unified by founding principles despite surface conflicts. It collapsed in academia but shaped the generation now doing public storytelling—Burns, Spielberg, major filmmakers absorbed this framework young.

Burns anchors his series with Gordon Wood and Joseph Ellis—both complained in 2018 that social history was overshadowing “positive” founding narratives. Serious scholars like Maya Jasanoff, Annette Gordon-Reed, and Christopher Brown provide texture but get slotted into a nationalist framework where marginalized voices matter only insofar as they contributed to “America.”

Modern Revolutionary War historiography asks: whose revolution? Which resistance movements succeeded, which got crushed? It places the Revolution in Atlantic contexts—Dutch Revolt came first, Haiti was more radical, “America” was one contingent outcome. Burns can’t engage this without abandoning American exceptionalism.

This is 1950s history for 2026. The 250th deserves better than nationalist mythology with diversity window-dressing.

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hunter love_katz leftstreet misanthrope calimary

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Highlight:

KEN BURNS, WoW! [View all] Mr.Bee Nov 20 OP

Ken Burns is a treasure..it takes years to get his documentaries completed but so worth it for us. Deuxcents Nov 20 #1

People don't understand that dates are relevant for cause and effect misanthrope Nov 20 #5

A treasure indeed. B.See Nov 20 #48

We got a lucky break at Yorktown underpants Nov 20 #2

U beat me to the punch with von Steuben BaronChocula Nov 20 #18

It has been illuminating. A tour de force for sure. mahina Nov 20 #3

And now we're throwing it all away misanthrope Nov 20 #4

i do not accept barbtries Friday #59

I appreciated that they did not gloss over the slavery issue... maptap22 Nov 20 #6

Not only owned but ruthlessly hunted down escaped slaves. BannonsLiver Nov 20 #8

Just goes to show you Farmer-Rick Friday #62

I like that he trashed the narrative on George III that is/was taught in our schools BannonsLiver Nov 20 #7

Does he cover post-war veterans, etc? leftstreet Nov 20 #9

It's woven into the whole thing TommyT139 Nov 20 #31

I heard it said that Burns could do a documentary on dirt an it would be wonderful. 😂😂😂 Srkdqltr Nov 20 #10

Hey, he managed to make BASEBALL interesting, for me! Paladin Nov 20 #20

Those First 3 Episodes Of "Baseball" Are Awesome ProfessorGAC Nov 20 #41

He did Kali999 Friday #78

Yes Srkdqltr Friday #79

Several indigenous tribes allied with Britain. Frasier Balzov Nov 20 #11

The British offered freedom from slavery for blacks that fought for the Crown nt wolfie001 Nov 20 #21

Then left them to die in small boats from smallpox and dysentery Ponietz Nov 20 #27

Oh yes wolfie001 Friday #57

It has been a great series so far, as expected. Hey Joe Nov 20 #12

That issue came up some during the Covid mandatory troop vaccinations. Hassin Bin Sober Nov 20 #54

I love the artwork they chose to put in the series BigmanPigman Nov 20 #13

I was going to point out how wonderful the illustrations are, just rounds out this most excellent production. n/t SheilaAnn Nov 20 #28

And The MAPS! Mr.Bee Nov 20 #52

All is accurate except part of your 2nd paragraph - --if not for the French. 3Hotdogs Nov 20 #14

okay... Mr.Bee Nov 20 #16

--- not trying to beat up on you. 3Hotdogs Nov 20 #42

Did I reveal Mr.Bee Nov 20 #53

Peter Coyote is one of the great narrators of all time. nt moniss Nov 20 #15

Green Mountain Boys Fiorillo Nov 20 #17

any relation Mr.Bee Friday #55

Not found Fiorillo Friday #66

I a lot of ways, it was the wealthier people who fought against the British Warpy Nov 20 #19

Yes, and George Washington was not a nice man. But he was the right man for the time in which we needed him. SunSeeker Nov 20 #36

Since the 18th century artillery has been the biggest killer on the battlefield AverageOldGuy Nov 20 #22

Yes, Burns' episode 2 talks about the horrible toll smallpox took during the Revolutionary War. nt SunSeeker Nov 20 #37

That is quite true. MANY more soldiers died of disease than of wounds, Jack Valentino Nov 20 #46

technically it was our mosquitoes + malaria that got the brits. pansypoo53219 Friday #76

I keep thinking while watching--How in the world did we win this war? Bayard Nov 20 #23

Learn more every day! elleng Nov 20 #24

Great series. Even better than The American Revolution-OverSimplified. BHDem53 Nov 20 #25

"The Revolutionary War wasn't just fought with muskets or antique cannons shooting at each other." Collimator Nov 20 #26

Some at least might have been. soldierant Friday #75

The French King Louis XVI (hubby of Marie Antoinette) loaned vast sums for our revolution hedda_foil Nov 20 #29

That history is also fascinating catchnrelease Nov 20 #44

Never thought of the American Revolution as our first civil war until watching the first couple of episodes. walkingman Nov 20 #30

That the American Colonial Revolution changed the whole world's idea of governance has been what I have always ShazamIam Nov 20 #32

THE PHRASE homegirl Friday #68

This is why Col. Stanton said, " Lafayette, we are here!" spike jones Nov 20 #33

Ken Burns is a gift, madamesilverspurs Nov 20 #34

I'm waiting to see if Burns talks Deminpenn Nov 20 #35

The theme that the Revolutionary War was also a civil war is definitely told. SunSeeker Nov 20 #39

That is so, but here, the British actively sought to set the Deminpenn Friday #72

Iroquois Nasruddin Nov 20 #38

Yes, episode 2 makes clear the native nations helped keep Canada British. SunSeeker Nov 20 #40

Back in 1960 or thereabouts Jilly_in_VA Nov 20 #43

I'm sorry your teachers failed you. I was taught all of that by my teachers in the 1960s. Martin68 Nov 20 #45

"Nationalist mythology with diversity window dressing" masmdu Nov 20 #47

Thank you. Burns is a master storyteller but I have a few issues with the mythmaking. Solomon Friday #58

+1 leftstreet Friday #67

Definitely Mr.Bee Nov 20 #49

Did You Catch Craig Furguson Mr.Bee Nov 20 #50

Would it be so bad if we were like Canada or Australia? hunter Nov 20 #51

You may find Jay Winik's book, "The Great Upheaval" of interest . . . Journeyman Friday #56

There were Native Americans allied with the British as well. cab67 Friday #60

Oneida Nation Warriors Haudenosaunee Friday #61

Welcome to DU LetMyPeopleVote Friday #73

Shekoli! Satekhwalá:ne' kʌ ni'isé: tsi' náhte' yutanuhelá:tuhe̲' marble falls Friday #77

Glad to see your name pop up. Bohunk68 Tuesday #81

Fact: by the time of the American revolution, SidneyR Friday #63

Been watching also jonstl08 Friday #64

and let's not forget the contribution by WOMEN! Mr.Bee Friday #65

Yep jonstl08 Friday #69

I watched the first episode last night. So well done, debm55 Friday #70

I just now watched the first 50 minutes while Emile Friday #71

There were lots H2O Man Friday #74

I prefer my history with more content and less comment. WarGamer Friday #80