Paul Cantor on Popular Culture

In his second conversation with Bill Kristol, University of Virginia literature professor Paul Cantor focuses on American popular culture and what we can learn about America and the world from our greatest television shows and movies. Cantor analyzes our best television series—including Deadwood, The Walking Dead, Breaking Bad, The Simpsons, and Seinfeld—and explains why we should take them seriously. Cantor and Kristol also discuss American cinema—including The Godfather, Scarface, and The Searchers—and consider the enduring appeal of gangster films and Westerns. Finally, Cantor argues that conservatives have been wrong to ignore popular culture and makes the case for why they should pay attention.