Episode 4.3. The History of Nostalgia

Nostalgia can be both good and bad—at its best, it manifests in historical reenactment, vintage fashion, and mid-century modern furniture. At its worst, it can drive regressive political policies, fascism, and book bans. But nostalgia itself isn’t a bad thing—it’s a bittersweet, rose-tinted longing for the past, but how did people in the past experience it? In this thoughtful episode, Jess talks to Dr. Agnes Arnold-Forster about historical ideas about nostalgia, nostalgia as a medical condition, and the surprising link to a poltergeist that took the form of a talking mongoose called Gef. Dr. Arnold-Forster’s new book is Nostalgia: A History of a Dangerous Emotion.

You can listen to Episode 4.3. The History of Nostalgia online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

Episode 4.3. The History of Nostalgia is an episode from Dirty Sexy History by Jessica Cale.

This episode is 00:57:05 long.

This episode was published on May 30, 2024.

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