Every so often, Congress holds a hearing on the perils of pop culture. The “peril” has evolved from comic books, to rock and hip hop music, to violence in video games, but the proceedings follow a script.

When Politicians Blame Bad Behavior on Pop Culture

Producer: Joshua Fisher
Related
Free Speech VS Censorship: Warnings From Explicit Lyrics to Trigger Warnings

Free Speech VS Censorship: Warnings From Explicit Lyrics to Trigger Warnings

Offended by lyrics they deemed too sexual and violent, Tipper Gore and Susan Baker campaigned to put warning labels on albums in 1985. Years later, warning labels have ended up in some unexpected places.
 

More Like This

How the Cold War Arms Race Fueled a Sprint to the Moon

How the Cold War Arms Race Fueled a Sprint to the Moon

After the Soviet Union sent the first human safely into orbit, the U.S. government doubled down on its effort to win the race to the moon.

 Shamed by Sex, Survivors of the Purity Movement Confront the Past

Shamed by Sex, Survivors of the Purity Movement Confront the Past

A “purity” movement in the 90s led by evangelical Christians promoted a strict view of abstinence before marriage. Today, followers are grappling with unforeseen aftershocks.

 American Samoa Dodged a Pandemic in 1918. Here’s What We Learned

American Samoa Dodged a Pandemic in 1918. Here’s What We Learned

Two territories, two wildly different outcomes as a pandemic terrorized the world.

 Coronavirus Has a Playlist. Songs About Disease Go Way Back.

Coronavirus Has a Playlist. Songs About Disease Go Way Back.

Coronavirus songwriting has gone as global as the pandemic itself, creating a new genre called pandemic pop. It’s a tradition with a long history.