For too many people, history was taught with straight-up textbooks, primary sources, and maybe a documentary or two. I knew my students were already learning history—through movies, music, and even memes. The catch? They weren’t always learning it accurately. The problem was how to help my students realize history was far more interesting than reading a dry textbook every class (not that you should never do that).
That’s where we come in. If we ignore pop culture, we miss a powerful opportunity to connect with students where they already are. Think about it: when Hamilton hit Broadway, kids who’d never cared about the Founding Fathers suddenly knew cabinet debates by heart. Or when a viral meme compares current politicians to historical figures, students ask, “Is that true?” Pop culture is the hook, but it’s also a bridge to deeper historical thinking.
I’m not suggesting we replace primary sources with Marvel movies. But if we use them strategically, we can spark curiosity and then guide students to fact-check, contextualize, and analyze. The movie Braveheart becomes a discussion about nationalism. A protest song turns into a lesson on the Civil Rights Movement. A meme about Caesar’s last words? Perfect springboard into source reliability.
History lives in the culture around us. If our students are already consuming it, we might as well teach them how to digest it critically.
Happy teaching,
Ryan Wagoner
The Lyceum of History
“I am indebted to my father for living, but to my teacher for living well.” ~Alexander the Great
Follow me on:
Lyceum of History 
Leave a comment