Right now, there is much talk of conflict, division, and civil war-like conditions in the US, while at the same time the 250th anniversary of the world’s oldest democracy is being celebrated. In her talk, Heike Paul examines the power and influence of the country’s political and cultural founding myths, which for a long time were widely regarded as the common basis of the national identity. These include the myths of discovery, expansion, the founding of the state, and social

Heike Paul was interviewed by Doris Schäfer-Noske for "Kultur heute" (Deutschlandfunk) about the exhibition "Chimes of Freedom: Protest, Patriotism & the Power of Song" at the new Bruce Springsteen Center for American Music on the Monmouth College campus in New Jersey. To listen to the full conversation, see here.

As one of the project leaders of the newly established research group "Neoimperialismus als Herausforderung der Gegenwart" (Neoimperalism as the Challenge of the Present), Heike Paul participates in its kick-off event. Following a talk by Jörn Leonhard, Heike Paul takes part in a discussion with Jörn Leonhard and fellow project leaders Martin Schulze Wessel and Carlo Masala. For more information (in German), see here. All Pictures © BAdW / Philipp Gülland

For an episode of the podcast SWR Kultur Forum, Karsten Umlauf talks to Heike Paul, Elisabeth Bronfen, and Till Kadritzke about the self-representation of the U.S. in Hollywood cinema. The episode is available via ARD Sounds as well as on other common platforms for podcasts. For more information and to listen to the episode, see here.

Heike Paul was interviewed for the two-part documentary "America, who are you? Eine Mentalitätsgeschichte der USA – Freiheit und Religion," produced by arte. The documentary will air on June 23, at 20.15 and 21.05. Afterwards, it will be available in the arte mediatheque. For more information, the trailer, and to watch the full documentary (after the TV premiere), see here.

For an episode of the Deutschlandfunk podcast "Der Rest ist Geschichte," Anh Tran interviews Heike Paul on the history of racism in the US. The episode, titled "Das rassistische Erbe der USA," is the second episode of the four-part documentary "250 Jahre USA." Among other podcast platforms, the episode is available in the Deutschlandfunk app as well as on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. For more information and to listen to the episode, see here.