With Christmas just around the corner, it’s time to dust off those old DVDs, whip up some egg nogg, and cosy up on the sofa with a festive film.

From It's a White Christmas to Miracle on 34th Street, there's nothing quite like losing ourselves in a holiday favourite, but why do Christmas films resonate so much? Is the genre more important than we like to think? And ultimately… what can Christmas films really tell us about America?

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Special guest for this episode:

• Vaughn Joy, an academic who recently completed her PhD at UCL on mid-century Hollywood politics through a case study on Christmas films.

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Highlights from this episode:

• Christmas films serve as a cultural lens reflecting American values, traditions, and social dynamics.
• The genre of Christmas movies often combines sentimentality with deeper societal critiques and historical contexts.
• Films like 'It's a Wonderful Life' convey collective national trauma while promoting themes of togetherness.
• The debate over whether 'Die Hard' qualifies as a Christmas movie highlights the subjectivity of genre definitions.
• Hollywood Christmas films can both mirror and shape the ways people celebrate the holiday season.
• The evolution of Christmas films illustrates changing American identities and the commercialization of holiday traditions.

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Additional Resources:

Review Roulette | Vaughn Joy | Substack

Christmas movies: that time of year when home is where the heart is

What 'It's a Wonderful Life' Teaches Us About American History | Smithsonian

The Battle for Christmas: A Cultural History of America's Most Cherished Holiday: Amazon.co.uk: Nissenbaum, Stephen: 9780679740384: Books

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And if you like this episode, you might also love:

What is the War on Christmas?

How to Make a Hollywood Christmas Movie

What's the History of Christmas in America?

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This episode is sponsored by What's Your Map

What's Your Map is the British Podcast Award-winning show from map expert Professor Jerry Brotton. In each episode, he invites a special guest to share a map that means something to them. It's a fascinating show, and you can listen to the new season right now: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/whats-your-map/id1766500219