Hilde Løvdal Stephens
@hildelstephens.bsky.social
Assoc. Prof. of American Studies, Uni of Oslo. Book: Family Matters: James Dobson and Focus on the Family’s Crusade for the Christian Home (2019). Interests: religion, education, political culture.
Late 70s/early 80s rock had some cringe moments, but I don’t think much can compete with 38 Special’s Caught Up In You. Where do you even start with this? youtu.be/zg21Rkew874
38 Special - Caught Up In You (Official Music Video)
YouTube video by 38SpecialVEVO
youtu.be
November 14, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Late 70s/early 80s rock had some cringe moments, but I don’t think much can compete with 38 Special’s Caught Up In You. Where do you even start with this? youtu.be/zg21Rkew874
One of the most influential programs in American Studies in Europe needs your support. Sign the petition to save it here: c.org/RFHWp8HyTN
SAVE AMERICAN STUDIES TEACHING AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM
Can you spare a minute to help this campaign?
c.org
November 14, 2025 at 8:10 PM
One of the most influential programs in American Studies in Europe needs your support. Sign the petition to save it here: c.org/RFHWp8HyTN
I introduced my students to Up with People today. Minds were blown.
Up With People (1965)
YouTube video by michigandad63
www.youtube.com
November 6, 2025 at 3:16 PM
I introduced my students to Up with People today. Minds were blown.
I found a way to include some the lyrics from Carman and Petra's Our Turn Now to this article on religion in schools.
The ball got dropped in 62
They wouldn’t let children pray in schools
Violent crimes begin to rise
The grades went low and the kids got high
It sums it all up so well.
The ball got dropped in 62
They wouldn’t let children pray in schools
Violent crimes begin to rise
The grades went low and the kids got high
It sums it all up so well.
Carman (feat. Petra) | 1991 | Our Turn Now (Official Music Video) [HD]
YouTube video by Petra Band
www.youtube.com
November 6, 2025 at 12:16 PM
I found a way to include some the lyrics from Carman and Petra's Our Turn Now to this article on religion in schools.
The ball got dropped in 62
They wouldn’t let children pray in schools
Violent crimes begin to rise
The grades went low and the kids got high
It sums it all up so well.
The ball got dropped in 62
They wouldn’t let children pray in schools
Violent crimes begin to rise
The grades went low and the kids got high
It sums it all up so well.
This is irresponsible.
September 16, 2025 at 5:12 PM
This is irresponsible.
Reposted by Hilde Løvdal Stephens
In all seriousness, I'd love to see a reporter try to get comments from all of these people about their initial impulse to declare a literal war on half of their fellow citizens and to see if any of them regret it, apologized for it or learned anything at all from it.
like this is the most irresponsible level of hysteria i’ve ever seen. most of these people are either paid by the republican party, or are high level advisors and allies. this is insane
September 12, 2025 at 6:24 PM
In all seriousness, I'd love to see a reporter try to get comments from all of these people about their initial impulse to declare a literal war on half of their fellow citizens and to see if any of them regret it, apologized for it or learned anything at all from it.
Reposted by Hilde Løvdal Stephens
Wow! Listen to this list of acts of political violence. It’s not even complete, but sobering AF.
Now, Charlie Kirk was shot and killed in front of a crowd, and the video is all over social media. This needs to stop.
Now, Charlie Kirk was shot and killed in front of a crowd, and the video is all over social media. This needs to stop.
September 10, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Wow! Listen to this list of acts of political violence. It’s not even complete, but sobering AF.
Now, Charlie Kirk was shot and killed in front of a crowd, and the video is all over social media. This needs to stop.
Now, Charlie Kirk was shot and killed in front of a crowd, and the video is all over social media. This needs to stop.
Kirk died, per the NYT. This is so bad, in so many ways.
September 10, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Kirk died, per the NYT. This is so bad, in so many ways.
Reposted by Hilde Løvdal Stephens
Breaking news: Right-wing activist Charlie Kirk was shot at a Utah Valley University event.
A suspect is in custody, according to parents whose children received an email from the university.
Follow live updates:
A suspect is in custody, according to parents whose children received an email from the university.
Follow live updates:
Right-wing activist Charlie Kirk shot at Utah event
Kirk is the co-founder of Turning Point USA, which advocates for conservative politics at high schools and colleges.
www.washingtonpost.com
September 10, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Breaking news: Right-wing activist Charlie Kirk was shot at a Utah Valley University event.
A suspect is in custody, according to parents whose children received an email from the university.
Follow live updates:
A suspect is in custody, according to parents whose children received an email from the university.
Follow live updates:
Reposted by Hilde Løvdal Stephens
Let’s kick off a new semester & season with my 240th #ScholarSunday thread of great public scholarly writing & work, podcast episodes, new & forthcoming books from the last week. Add more below, please share as widely as possible, & enjoy, all! 🗃️
americanstudier.substack.com/p/scholarsun...
americanstudier.substack.com/p/scholarsun...
#ScholarSunday Thread 240
Published on September 7, 2025
americanstudier.substack.com
September 7, 2025 at 12:11 PM
Let’s kick off a new semester & season with my 240th #ScholarSunday thread of great public scholarly writing & work, podcast episodes, new & forthcoming books from the last week. Add more below, please share as widely as possible, & enjoy, all! 🗃️
americanstudier.substack.com/p/scholarsun...
americanstudier.substack.com/p/scholarsun...
When I was 16, we learned about Australia in school. Here is the extent of the notes I took one day.
September 5, 2025 at 4:42 PM
When I was 16, we learned about Australia in school. Here is the extent of the notes I took one day.
Reposted by Hilde Løvdal Stephens
I did a little interview about the problems with students using AI in the humanities and the limits to our response.
Åtvarar mot bruk av KI: – Det skapar ein sprekk i heile utdanningsprosessen
- Uniforum
UiO-professor i amerikanske og britiske studiar Randall James Stephens meiner at når mange studentar tar i bruk kunstig intelligens for å løysa oppgåvene for seg, vert hovudformålet med å ta høgare ut...
www.uniforum.uio.no
September 4, 2025 at 3:00 PM
I did a little interview about the problems with students using AI in the humanities and the limits to our response.
This was a great experience! Glad to get a chance to talk about Dobson and his legacy. Thanks @kellyjbaker.bsky.social and @johnbrooks.bsky.social for inviting me.
(Sorry about the audio on this one!)
@kellyjbaker.bsky.social and @johnbrooks.bsky.social were delighted to have @hildelstephens.bsky.social talk to us about the life and legacy of the late James Dobson.
Here or wherever you get podcasts!
@kellyjbaker.bsky.social and @johnbrooks.bsky.social were delighted to have @hildelstephens.bsky.social talk to us about the life and legacy of the late James Dobson.
Here or wherever you get podcasts!
Pod Only Knows #054 – James Dobson - with Hilde Løvdal Stephens
(Sorry about John's audio quality in this one!) Hilde Løvdal Stephens joins Kelly and John to talk about the life and times of James Dobson.
www.cageclub.me
September 2, 2025 at 6:27 PM
This was a great experience! Glad to get a chance to talk about Dobson and his legacy. Thanks @kellyjbaker.bsky.social and @johnbrooks.bsky.social for inviting me.
CFP: American Studies Association of Norway's 2026 conference "Constituting the US in the 21st Century." Deadline Oct. 15, 2025. asanor.org/2026-confere...
2026 Conference
Proposal deadline: October 15, 2025All presenters also need to be registered members of ASANOR. Click here for information on how to join us. The 2026 American Studies Association of Norway Confere…
asanor.org
September 1, 2025 at 2:41 PM
CFP: American Studies Association of Norway's 2026 conference "Constituting the US in the 21st Century." Deadline Oct. 15, 2025. asanor.org/2026-confere...
I just learned that NAR-preacher Cindy Jacobs will be in Oslo next week visiitng a pentecostal church in central Oslo. I am hoping for some solid reporting about the event, if possible. dayandnight.no/2025/05/05/l...
Lederdag 2025 - Day&Night
Lederdag med Cindy Jacobs ℹ️Påmelding: checkin.no (klikk her) Lederdagen med Cindy Jacobs finner sted som en del av konferansen «Bønn for Norge & European Prayer Summit». ℹ️ DETALJERT PROGRAM 🗓 5. sep...
dayandnight.no
August 30, 2025 at 7:20 PM
I just learned that NAR-preacher Cindy Jacobs will be in Oslo next week visiitng a pentecostal church in central Oslo. I am hoping for some solid reporting about the event, if possible. dayandnight.no/2025/05/05/l...
Reposted by Hilde Løvdal Stephens
I did an interview with Chris Stevenson on the Religion in American Experience podcast. We talked about religion and the roots of rock ‘n’ roll, the Beatles, Explo ‘72 in Dallas, pentecostalism, and more.
Religion and Rock 'n' Roll
Podcast Episode · Religion in the American Experience · 25/08/2025 · 55m
podcasts.apple.com
August 25, 2025 at 3:53 PM
I did an interview with Chris Stevenson on the Religion in American Experience podcast. We talked about religion and the roots of rock ‘n’ roll, the Beatles, Explo ‘72 in Dallas, pentecostalism, and more.
So this happened today. The man whose work I’ve spent years stdying is gone. He was so influential ans powerful at the height of his career. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/21/u....
James Dobson, Influential Leader of the Religious Right, Dies at 89
www.nytimes.com
August 21, 2025 at 2:34 PM
So this happened today. The man whose work I’ve spent years stdying is gone. He was so influential ans powerful at the height of his career. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/21/u....
Reposted by Hilde Løvdal Stephens
Here’s last night’s story about the “Make America Healthy Again” movement, what they have and haven’t accomplished so far, and a fun new idea for doctors who are looking to quit in style. youtu.be/3lzfH86avIc
Make America Healthy Again: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)
YouTube video by LastWeekTonight
youtu.be
August 18, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Here’s last night’s story about the “Make America Healthy Again” movement, what they have and haven’t accomplished so far, and a fun new idea for doctors who are looking to quit in style. youtu.be/3lzfH86avIc
A brand new article out by Uni of Oslo's very own @samuelklee.bsky.social!
Ahead of new print alert! You can now read Samuel J. Klee's "Drawing Barbed Wire: The Tule Lake Scrapbook of 1942" from the October 2025 issue. #envhist #envhum
www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/...
www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/...
Drawing Barbed Wire: The Tule Lake Scrapbook of 1942 | Environmental History
Abstract In December 1942, teachers and Japanese Americans at the Tule Lake Relocation Center created a scrapbook for Elmer Shirrell, the camp’s outgoing director. The scrapbook reveals Tule Lake teac...
www.journals.uchicago.edu
August 15, 2025 at 3:10 PM
A brand new article out by Uni of Oslo's very own @samuelklee.bsky.social!
I just ordered what looks like a really important book by @hollybfletcher.bsky.social. MKs are such an understudied part of American (and other) evangelicalism. www.broadleafbooks.com/store/produc...
The Missionary Kids: Unmasking the Myths of White Evangelicalism
What do we learn about white evangelicalism from those raised by its heroes? Written by historian Holly Berkley Fletcher, The Missionary Kids is a first-of-its-kind look at how the experiences of chil...
www.broadleafbooks.com
August 12, 2025 at 3:22 PM
I just ordered what looks like a really important book by @hollybfletcher.bsky.social. MKs are such an understudied part of American (and other) evangelicalism. www.broadleafbooks.com/store/produc...
Norwegian low-church aesthetics. I don’t know how many gatherings I’ve been here for over the years. Confirmations. Funerals. Birthday parties. Christmas parties. And more. It’s such an important place for small, rural communities like the one where I grew up.
August 8, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Norwegian low-church aesthetics. I don’t know how many gatherings I’ve been here for over the years. Confirmations. Funerals. Birthday parties. Christmas parties. And more. It’s such an important place for small, rural communities like the one where I grew up.
Great piece on the fallout of the Sold a Story podcast and Lucy Calkins' legacy. www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arc...
How One Woman Became the Scapegoat for America’s Reading Crisis
Lucy Calkins was an education superstar. Now she’s cast as the reason a generation of students struggles to read. Can she reclaim her good name?
www.theatlantic.com
August 5, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Great piece on the fallout of the Sold a Story podcast and Lucy Calkins' legacy. www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arc...
I am pretty happy with the new artwork for my office. Purchased at a suburban antique mall in Kansas this summer. I just love the artwork in magazines from back then.
July 31, 2025 at 11:19 AM
I am pretty happy with the new artwork for my office. Purchased at a suburban antique mall in Kansas this summer. I just love the artwork in magazines from back then.
Fun piece about a teen trying to disprove his English teacher. The Paris Review, Dec. 2011 shorturl.at/xsL5z
Document: The Symbolism Survey by Sarah Funke Butler
December 5, 2011 – In 1963, a sixteen-year-old San Diego high school student named Bruce McAllister sent a four-question mimeographed survey to 150 well-known authors of
shorturl.at
July 31, 2025 at 10:26 AM
Fun piece about a teen trying to disprove his English teacher. The Paris Review, Dec. 2011 shorturl.at/xsL5z
My latest piece about Sanger in an exchange with a medical doctor who has offered some now so nuanced takes on her legacy with little evidence to back up his claims. (I’ve also read the footnotes in his book, and I am not so convinced he has read up on things.) www.vl.no/meninger/uli...
(+) «Det er en ukontroversielt å påpeke hennes støtte til tvangssterilisering»
KVINNEPIONER: Ja, Sangers virke bør diskuteres kritisk. Men Saugstads måte å fremstille historien på, gjør en slik diskusjon vanskeligere å gjennomføre konstruktivt.
www.vl.no
July 31, 2025 at 7:27 AM
My latest piece about Sanger in an exchange with a medical doctor who has offered some now so nuanced takes on her legacy with little evidence to back up his claims. (I’ve also read the footnotes in his book, and I am not so convinced he has read up on things.) www.vl.no/meninger/uli...