When to distrust peer-reviewed journals

Why would you ever distrust a peer-reviewed journal? Isn’t peer review the gold standard for quality in academia? Aren’t we always being told to rely on peer reviewed scholarly literature instead of personal opinions and non-scholarly sources. This video shows you there can be good reasons to distrust peer-reviewed journals, and explains that peer-review doesn’t …

How TIKHistory misleads you with sources

TIK History is a military history Youtuber. His videos extensive use of sources, cited even down to the page number, has gained him a reputation for reliability, accuracy, and good research practices. But TIK’s videos on a number of topics repeatedly suffer from biased sources, incorrect sources, and misrepresented sources. This video shows you how …

Miniminuteman is wrong about pyramids & slavery

The Miniminuteman channel is a great resource for learning about history and archaeology. However, I think Miniminuteman is wrong about pyramids and slavery. Specifcally, I think he’s wrong to say “The Great Pyramid was built by like craftsmen and laborers. It was not an enslaved force”, and this video explains why. Media credits Primary source …

The Negro Sailor | US Navy propaganda

In 1945 a remarkable film was produced, the result of an unusual combination of interests. The United States Navy, black rights advocates, social scientists, and the Hollywood movie community, all contributed to a curious work of propaganda entitled “The Negro Sailor”. This video describes the film and its purpose. Administration, United States National Archives and …

Don’t trust NewScientist magazine

NewScientist is a popular science magazine which indulges in some very bad journalism. This may be due to the fact that the company often hires freelance writers who are encouraged to narrativize their articles and use an eye-catching title. They do not require freelancers to have any particular qualifications in the subjects on which they …

The myth of witches’ hallucinogens

It is commonly believed that Early Modern women accused of being witches, made ointments from local plants containing powerful psychoactive agents, which caused hallucinations of flight and other supernatural events. These videos examine the history of the hallucinogenic flying ointment narrative, and present evidence discrediting the myth of witches’ hallucinogens. Ahmed, Shokhan Rasool. “Witches Which …

The Kavernacle is wrong about cyberpunk & Blade Runner 1982

Youtuber The Kavernacle has made three separate videos about the history of cyberpunk as a genre, and about the 1982 movie Blade Runner. In all three videos he makes serious errors about both subjects. These videos explain why The Kavernacle is wrong about cyberpunk and Blade Runner 1982. Abohela, Islam. “Future City in Science Fiction …

The Kavernacle is bad at history

Youtuber The Kavernacle mainly makes social commentary, media analysis, and political videos. Occasionally he comments on history, and often makes mistakes. This video demonstrates The Kavernacle is bad at history. See here for a written form of the arguments in the video. Addlakha, Renu. “Discursive and Institutional Intersections: Women, Health and Law in Modern India.” …