Book Talk: Sparks by Ian Johnson
Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2025 8:52 am
To find those contemporary views of Lorre’s work, Simmons turned to the fan magazine collection in the Archive’s Media History Digital Library. There she found interviews with the actor and reviews of his movies from the 1930s. Despite appearing as a mysterious figure on film, Simmons says she learned the interviews present him as a conventional, regular guy. She gained even more insight through the published fan letters in the magazines. “I found it really interesting that I was reading these letters from almost one hundred years ago,” Simmons said.
For another UCLA course, Simmons tapped into the Internet Archive to view silent German films that were discussed in class. While she was studying, Simmons found herself stumbling onto trailers for other films, which led her to checking out similar movies for fun after her projects were complete. Many of the more obscure titles that interest her are not available on streaming services, she notes.
Simmons says she tells others about the resources available phone number database through the Internet Archive—including her family of librarians.
Join author Ian Johnson and sociologist Li Jun for an IN-PERSON discussion about “Sparks: China’s Underground Historians and their Battle for the Future”
Click Here to Watch the Recording
Sparks tells the resonant story of writers, filmmakers, and artists who use history to challenge Communist Party rule.
6:00 PM — Doors Open
6:30 PM — Book Talk: Sparks by Ian Johnson
7:30 PM — Book Signing
Please note that this event will be held in person at the Internet Archive, 300 Funston Avenue, San Francisco.
For another UCLA course, Simmons tapped into the Internet Archive to view silent German films that were discussed in class. While she was studying, Simmons found herself stumbling onto trailers for other films, which led her to checking out similar movies for fun after her projects were complete. Many of the more obscure titles that interest her are not available on streaming services, she notes.
Simmons says she tells others about the resources available phone number database through the Internet Archive—including her family of librarians.
Join author Ian Johnson and sociologist Li Jun for an IN-PERSON discussion about “Sparks: China’s Underground Historians and their Battle for the Future”
Click Here to Watch the Recording
Sparks tells the resonant story of writers, filmmakers, and artists who use history to challenge Communist Party rule.
6:00 PM — Doors Open
6:30 PM — Book Talk: Sparks by Ian Johnson
7:30 PM — Book Signing
Please note that this event will be held in person at the Internet Archive, 300 Funston Avenue, San Francisco.