This lovely book was a gift from my wife. I think I got it
for my birthday, but it might’ve been Christmas. Regardless of when I got it, I’ve
been pouring over this book for about 3 months. “Pop Culture With Character” is
a look a one of the coolest museums of all-time- Geppi’s Entertainment Museum
(AKA: the GEM), which is devoted to Americana, pop culture, and comic books.
Even though it’s in Baltimore, I want to go to this place so bad.
Friends of mine have gone and I am so envious thanks to the
awesome pics that they’ve posted on Facebook. If you remember watching it on TV,
seeing it as a comic book or playing it as a kid, it’s probably at the GEM.
The book is set out like the museum. If you don’t believe me,
look that the fold out map at the end of the book and you’ll see how each chapter
is designed like a wing of the museum. I was born in 1977 when pop culture was
really hitting the main stream and having grown up in the 80s and 90s, I was inundated
with pop culture TV, books, toys, games, clothing, posters, and much more. Plus, I am such an old soul, having
watched classic shows from the 50s and 60s with my parents and listened
exclusively to Motown, the Beatles, and the Monkees up until high school. That old
school feeling is why when I became a history major, my focus was on the pop
culture era (essentially 1938; the first appearance of Superman and Hitler’s
invasion of Poland up to the present day.) It wasn’t a popular focus, I only
had one or two real modern history classes, but I loved pop culture and most of
my research papers and projects were geared to that area of study. That maybe
why I wasn’t the top history student as I am sure my research drove my
instructors and professors nuts.
Anyway, though I’m now a chef, if I ever got offered a
chance to work again in the history field in terms of popular culture and
modern history, I’d hang my apron up in a heartbeat. I guess pop culture with
my comics collection, tee shirts, 70s Steelers memorabilia, and Star Wars/
Doctor Who/ Star Trek obsession is my truest passion. To make a career of that
would be the greatest adventure- sorry Peter Pan.
Back to the GEM book. I loved it. I thought while the book
and museum focuses a little too much on the Revolutionary War and Civil War
era, I can see from their thesis that those periods of American history did
star to plant the seed of pop culture. Essentially any time our nation goes to
war, expect our troops to use their down time to play games, read comics, and
reflect on homes. At the same time, as loved ones go off to war and the nation
braces for bad news or worse a direct attack, expect the population to come up
with ideas to keep our minds off the horrors and fears of conflict- especially our
nation’s youth!
This interesting look at American history has my wife and I
psyched to take a trip up to Baltimore this year to catch Derek Jeter one last
time in uniform and spend a day at the GEM. I think I’ll be in hog heaven and I
am sure I’ll tear that gift shop up. Until then, I’ve got this awesome little
teaser to keep my occupied. I highly recommend this book and hopefully later
this year, I can give an in-depth review of the GEM as well.
Worth Consuming.
Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.
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