Join us for a discussion with cultural historian Dr. Vaughn Joy about her new book, Selling Out Santa: Hollywood Christmas Films in the Age of McCarthy. Dr. Joy’s work discusses how the American Christmas tradition developed as a social mirror for the nation, and how Hollywood built on that legacy in the mid-20th century with such films as It's a Wonderful Life and Miracle on 34th Street. There will be time at the end of the talk for a Q&A, book sale, and signing, with books provided by Edgartown Books.

Vaughn Joy, PhD, is a cultural historian of mid-century Hollywood, McCarthyism, and American Christmas traditions. She also runs a website for public scholarship entitled Black & White & Read All Over, where you can find her film reviews and other works.

This program is offered in collaboration with Edgartown Books.