Episode 6

How Accurate is Forrest Gump?

In the mid 1980s, author Winston Groom published a story which would, thanks to its Oscar-winning Hollywood adaptation, come to be a quintessential American tale.

Forrest Gump's life zigzags around some of the most important moments in 20th century American history. But where's the line between fact and fiction?

In this episode we dive into a modern classic and do a bit of fact-checking to answer the question... how accurate is Forrest Gump?

Joining me from the faculty today is Jon Mitchell, an Associate Professor of American Studies at the University of East Anglia. He is interested in late 20th Century US culture, with a particular interest in the representation of gender and sexuality.

See Jon's full bio

Additional Resources:

BOOK: Forrest Gump (1986) by Winston Groom

MOVIE: Forrest Gump (1994)

BOOK: Revisions of the American Adam: Innocence, Identity And Masculinity In Twentieth Century America (Continuum Literary Studies) by Jon Mitchell

If you enjoy this episode, you might also like:

What Makes Country Music so American?

Are the Oscars Still Relevant?

Why Does Everyone Love Disney?

Could Friends BE Any Bigger?

How Accurate is Forrest Gump?

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What would you put in a US time capsule? We're creating a virtual one on the podcast very soon, and we want to hear from you. Visit https://www.speakpipe.com/AmericaAHistory right now to record your contribution... and you might just make it on the show.

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Be on the Show!

What would you put in a US time capsule? We're creating a virtual one on the podcast very soon, and we want to hear from you. Visit https://www.speakpipe.com/AmericaAHistory right now to record your contribution... and you might just make it on the show.

About the Podcast

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America: A History
Your Ultimate Guide to US History

About your host

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Liam Heffernan

Liam's fascination with America grows year on year. Having graduated with a Masters in American Studies with Film, he loves pop culture and has been to Vegas four times which, in his opinion, is not enough.