By Genesis Benavides
The history department sponsored this event with a viewing of the 1932 film I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang. A film about a World War l veteran named James Allen coming back home to pursue his dream of becoming an engineer but when a colleague of his commits a crime and Allen is present at the scene, he is implicated. He is imprisoned and forced to do hard labor.
The film brings up social commentary on the prison system, the meaning of being a man, and the pursuit of justice. The students discussed at the end of the film how the film is relevant to subjects they have learned in class.
The student attendees got a chance to engage with a classic Hollywood film and learn about the history of Hollywood and how a film like I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang is important to many people because of its relatable content that regular people can identify with.
The event was moderated by Dr. Ryan Anderson, who is offering a history course that is open to all in the university called Interwar America, this course covers 1920s to 1940s America.
“I think most people learn history from books and movies,” Dr. Ryan Anderson said. “It’s a fun way to learn history and introduce the students to older cinema.”
