This week’s Unwatchables tackles our most difficult subject matter yet. The Birth of a Nation is the most vilely racist “great film” ever to reinvent the medium, and its shadow looms large over American history. We did extensive research for this deep dive into the historical context, including the film’s hideous ideology, its unprecedented success and stunning technical innovations, and how figures like D.W. Griffith and Woodrow Wilson grappled with the controversy they didn’t see coming. In the end we try to figure out what The Birth of a Nation means in 2022, and more fundamentally: can great art be evil?

Unwatchables is hosted by Marc Dottavio and Seth Troyer, produced by Tony Scarpitti, featuring artwork by Micah Kraus.

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