The Automobile in Popular Culture, w/guest Leonard Pierce

Automobiles have been a staple of popular culture over the last half century – there’s something uniquely American about road-trip films and car chases, and many have seen these movies as naturally evolving from the western genre. Why is it so appealing to stick characters in a car and have them embark on adventures? What are some of the more iconic films and television shows featuring automobiles? Featured here is Part 1 of a two-part discussion, and returning as my guest is freelance writer and cultural critic Leonard Pierce, whose blog can be found at www.ludickid.com. [Originally broadcast on WLUW’s Under Surveillance in January 2008.]

Part 1:

Part 2:

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Kevin Fullam is a writer and researcher, with extensive experience in fields ranging from sports analytics to politics and cinema.
In addition, he has hosted two long-running radio series on film and culture, and taught mass media at Loyola University.
Episodes of his two shows, Split Reel and Under Surveillance, are archived on the Radio page.