European Review of History Podcast

In this episode, Ruby is joined by Dr Katie Turner, Independent Scholar and Public Historian, to explore how cinema has shaped our collective imagination of the biblical past. From Ben Hur to The Passion of the Christ, “Jesus films” have been among the most enduring — and contentious — examples of history on screen.Katie, whose research spans Second Temple Judaism, the New Testament, and their reception in art, drama, and film, lifts the curtain on how filmmakers have reimagined sacred stories for modern audiences. Together, Ruby and Katie discuss why depictions of Jesus and the ancient world so often reflect theology, orientalism, and cultural bias more than historical evidence — and how filmic conventions have turned Jesus into one of cinema’s most recognisable (and reinterpreted) figures.They delve into questions of authenticity and audience expectation, from casting and costume design to the use of European landscapes as stand-ins for the ancient Near East. Katie explains why efforts to “correct” popular portrayals can sometimes backfire, creating an “anti-authenticity effect” in viewers accustomed to centuries of artistic tradition.The conversation also explores non-Western portrayals, subversive reimaginings such as Life of Brian and Jesus Christ Superstar, and the enduring cultural power of these films as both entertainment and theology.Whether you’re a film buff, theologian, or historian, this episode reveals how the cinematic Jesus tells us as much about our own world as it does about the ancient one.Find out more about Katie's work here:Bluesky: @katieturnerphd.comWebsite: https://www.katieturnerphd.com/aboutPodcast: https://www.godsandmoviemakers.com/Read the journal here:https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/cerh20/currentFollow the journal here:Bluesky: @EuroReviewHistThreads:@EuroReviewHistoryInstagram: @euroreviewhistoryBlog: www.euroreviewhistory.comThe views expressed in this podcast are the speakers' own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Taylor & Francis. We have made every effort to ensure that the information in this podcast is accurate and up-to-date, but cannot guarantee that it is error-free. If you have any questions or concerns about the information in this podcast, please contact us directly. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ruby sits down with Maxime Durand, Historical Researcher and Production Coordinator at Ubisoft Montréal, to explore the fascinating intersection between history, gaming, and storytelling.As one of the key figures behind the Assassin’s Creed franchise, Maxime works to ensure the games’ richly detailed historical worlds — from Renaissance Italy to Revolutionary Paris — are as accurate and immersive as possible. In this episode, Ruby and Maxime discuss the delicate balance between creative license and historical authenticity, and how these digital reconstructions shape the way millions of players imagine and engage with the past.The conversation ranges from the practical challenges of recreating historical settings in an entertainment medium to the ethical and educational implications of letting players “experience” history through gameplay. Together, they consider how Assassin’s Creed and similar projects can act as powerful tools for public history, historical empathy, and cultural preservation.Whether you’re a historian, a gamer, or simply curious about how the past comes to life on screen, this episode offers a compelling glimpse behind the scenes of one of the world’s most historically ambitious video game series.Find out more about Maxime's work here:Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/maxime-durand-81380533Learn more about Assassin's Creed:https://www.ubisoft.com/en-gb/game/assassins-creedRead the journal here:https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/cerh20/currentFollow the journal here:Bluesky: @EuroReviewHistThreads:@EuroReviewHistoryInstagram: @euroreviewhistoryBlog: www.euroreviewhistory.comThe views expressed in this podcast are the speakers' own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Taylor & Francis. We have made every effort to ensure that the information in this podcast is accurate and up-to-date, but cannot guarantee that it is error-free. If you have any questions or concerns about the information in this podcast, please contact us directly. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this lively opening episode of The European Review of History Podcast’s new series on History and Entertainment, Ruby is joined by Dr Oliver Coulson, Head of Operations and Conservation at the Norwich Historic Churches Trust. Together they explore how laughter, satire, and visual wit were woven into the fabric of medieval religious life.From the Venerable Bede — the eighth-century monk who slipped the first recorded joke in English history into his Ecclesiastical History — to the Lollards and the fox-filled manuscripts of the fifteenth century, Oliver reveals that medieval culture was far from dour or joyless. The conversation uncovers a rich and surprisingly funny world where manuscripts doubled as cartoons, morality plays poked fun at priests, and even heresy inspired a wry visual vocabulary.Along the way, Ruby and Oliver consider why modern audiences often imagine the Middle Ages as dark and humourless, and how rediscovering the period’s playfulness can bridge the gap between past and present.Whether you’re a medievalist, a history enthusiast, or simply someone who enjoys a good pun (Pope Gregory’s “Angli/Angeli” joke gets an honourable mention), this episode will make you see the Middle Ages in a whole new light.Connect with Oliver:Instagram: @omc_igFind out more about Norwich Historic Churches Trust:https://www.nhct-norwich.org/about/Read the journal here:https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/cerh20/currentFollow the journal here:Bluesky: @EuroReviewHistThreads:@EuroReviewHistoryInstagram: @euroreviewhistoryBlog: www.euroreviewhistory.comThe views expressed in this podcast are the speakers' own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Taylor & Francis. We have made every effort to ensure that the information in this podcast is accurate and up-to-date, but cannot guarantee that it is error-free. If you have any questions or concerns about the information in this podcast, please contact us directly. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the final episode of our Digital Histories series, we are joined by Claire Miles - better known as ‘Hisdoryan’ to her online followers. Claire is a history content creator, specialising in Welsh history and we discuss how blogging and digital media is shaping the way history is accessed and enjoyed. Connect with Claire:Hisdoryan blog: https://hisdoryan.co.uk/Twitter: @HisdoryanThreads: @HisdoryanInstagram: @HisdoryanRead the journal here:https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/cerh20/currentFollow the journal here:Twitter: @EuroReviewHistThreads:@EuroReviewHistoryInstagram: @euroreviewhistoryBlog: www.euroreviewhistory.comThe views expressed in this podcast are the speakers' own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Taylor & Francis. We have made every effort to ensure that the information in this podcast is accurate and up-to-date, but cannot guarantee that it is error-free. If you have any questions or concerns about the information in this podcast, please contact us directly. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr Ian Garner, a historian and analyst of Russian culture and war propaganda, discusses how Russia uses social media to create myths about its history and identity as state propaganda. Topics include Russian cultural consciousness, the role of media in shaping perception, Russian identity influenced by propaganda, the challenges of countering Russian propaganda, interdisciplinary studies in diffusing historical narratives on social media, and the role of emotions and familial history in shaping Russian identity.

In this episode of our Digital Histories series, we are joined by Dr. Stefan Ramsen (University of Manchester) - a historian of oral history who is currently working on the Our Heritage, Our Stories project which is embracing user-generated content and looking to create a vast online archive of important historical sources. Connect with Stefan and the Our Heritage, Our Stories project here:Stefan’s Twitter: @RamblesedOur Heritage, Our Stories Twitter: @OHOS_NatCollOur Heritage, Our Stories website: https://ohos.ac.ukRead the journal here:https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/cerh20/currentFollow the journal here:Threads:@EuroReviewHistoryInstagram: @euroreviewhistoryTwitter: @EuroReviewHistBlog: www.euroreviewhistory.comThe views expressed in this podcast are the speakers' own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Taylor & Francis. We have made every effort to ensure that the information in this podcast is accurate and up-to-date, but cannot guarantee that it is error-free. If you have any questions or concerns about the information in this podcast, please contact us directly. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In episode three of our Digital Histories series, we are joined by Dr. Roel Konijnendijk (Lincoln College, University of Oxford), Dr Owen Rees (University of Nottingham) + Professor Stephen Hodkinson (University of Nottingham) to discuss how they promote and engage with digital content about ancient history online.Connect with Roel and Owen here:https://owenrees.co.uk/https://www.badancient.com/https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/Owen's Twitter: @reeshistoryOwen's Threads: @ancientreesRoel's Twitter: @roelkonijnRead the journal here:https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/cerh20/currentFollow the journal here:Threads: @euroreviewhistoryInstagram: @euroreviewhistoryTwitter: @EuroReviewHistBlog: www.euroreviewhistory.comThe views expressed in this podcast are the speakers' own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Taylor & Francis. We have made every effort to ensure that the information in this podcast is accurate and up-to-date, but cannot guarantee that it is error-free. If you have any questions or concerns about the information in this podcast, please contact us directly. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of our Digital Histories series, we are joined by John Overholt, curator of the Donald and Mary Hyde Collection of Samuel Johnson and Early Modern Books and Manuscripts at Houghton Library, Harvard University. We discuss Face to Face: Portraits of People of Color Before Photography - an exhibition recently curated by John at the Houghton Library that has been recreated online in an entirely digital rendering of the exhibition space that focusses exclusively on portraits and depictions of people of colour. Learn more about and visit Face to Face: Portraits of People of Color Before Photography here:https://storage.net-fs.com/hosting/6288278/35/https://library.harvard.edu/exhibits/face-faceConnect with John and the Houghton Libary here:Twitter: @HoughtonLibMastodon: overholt.glammr.usHoughton Library website: https://library.harvard.edu/libraries/houghtonRead the journal here:https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/cerh20/currentFollow the journal here:Twitter: @EuroReviewHistInstagram: @euroreviewhistoryBlog: www.euroreviewhistory.comThe views expressed in this podcast are the speakers' own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Taylor & Francis. We have made every effort to ensure that the information in this podcast is accurate and up-to-date, but cannot guarantee that it is error-free. If you have any questions or concerns about the information in this podcast, please contact us directly. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this first episode of our Digital Histories series, we are joined by Dr Heidi Tworek (University of British Columbia) to discuss power, influence and early twentieth-century communications technology, and how Wikipedia features in her teaching.Connect with Heidi here:Twitter: @HeidiTworek Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/heiditworekhttps://www.heiditworek.com/Read the journal here:https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/cerh20/currentFollow the journal here:Twitter: @EuroReviewHistInstagram: @euroreviewhistoryBlog: www.euroreviewhistory.comThe views expressed in this podcast are the speakers' own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Taylor & Francis. We have made every effort to ensure that the information in this podcast is accurate and up-to-date, but cannot guarantee that it is error-free. If you have any questions or concerns about the information in this podcast, please contact us directly. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.