Using pop culture to teach history is an interesting idea that I believe has a lot of merit personally as I have rea many examples of these things being used in classes to help understand. Like the article discusses game of thrones use in teaching about historical things from the perspective of the Lannister’s. It helps that the author of Game of Thrones pulls from historical record for a lot of his stories and events in his books. For instance the Abbasid Caliphate basically came to power by pulling a red wedding on the Umayyads while they all slept in there castle. Or the Greyjoy’s being used to represent the period of viking invasion in the 8 and 9 hundreds. Another thing that can be used is a game called Tropico, you play as the dictator of a small Caribbean nation and have to try to maintain your power. It is also one of the best examples of how authoritarian systems end up working as you attempt to run the economy and maintain the dictatorship. You don’t have to cheat in the elections you can actually get away with doing not a whole lot. As long as you are in charge still you are winning the mountains of dead to maintain your rule dont matter.
This is my point with all this though, is that these are two pop culture tools that can geniuenly help students learn easier. It is one thing to explain to a child how authoritarians work and how they maintain there power, it is another thing to make the kid a virtual dictator and show them how from first hand experience now how these kinds of governments run and function. Or to relate the war of the roses to the Targaryen and Baratheon war that leads to Robert taking over the kingdom. I think it is very important to use these tools we have been given to attempt to make learning fun and interesting for the kids. As well as to help them relate it to something they like which I believe will boost retention of valuable information.
