Ken Burns

Ken Burns's Speech Descriptions

Ken brings his immense historical knowledge and passion for both the history and the ideals of America to every speech. Audiences are guaranteed an enthralling, humorous and fascinating exploration of American history and culture, and new philosophical insights into the power of history and the art of storytelling.

The National Parks—A Treasure House of Nature's Superlatives
In this unusually moving and personal lecture, filmmaker Burns discusses the great gift of our national parks. Both “the immensity and the intimacy of time” merge, as we appreciate what the parks have added to our collective and individual spirit. He begins the talk with a 13-minute clip—the intro to “The National Parks: America’s Best Idea.”

Sharing the American Experience
Burns reminds the audience of the timeless lessons of history and the enduring greatness and importance of the United States in the course of human events. Incorporating his documentaries “The Civil War,” “Baseball” and “Jazz,” Burns engages and celebrates what we share in common. No clips are utilized in this presentation.

No Ordinary Lives
Drawing on some of Abraham Lincoln's most stirring words as inspiration, this speech engages the paradox of war by following the powerful themes in two of Burns' best known works—“The Civil War,” his epic retelling of the most important event in American history, and “The War,” his intensely moving story of World War II told through the experiences of ordinary people from four American towns. The presentation opens with Norah Jones’ “American Anthem” clip (five minutes) from “The War.”

American Lives
This presentation combines the biographies of some of Burns' most fascinating subjects, including Thomas Jefferson, Lewis & Clark and Frank Lloyd Wright. He shares how biography works to provide insight into the storytelling process.

Prohibition
In this presentation, Burns takes audiences through the compelling saga of Prohibition's rise and fall that goes far beyond the tales of gangsters, rum runners, flappers, and speakeasies, to reveal a complicated and divided nation in the throes of momentous transformation. He discusses with audiences the vital questions raised by this era and the 18th Amendment, which are as relevant today as they were 100 years ago—about means and ends, individual rights and responsibilities, the proper role of government and finally, who is—and who is not—a real American.

Race in America
For more than 30 years, Burns has dealt with the theme of race in his uniquely American documentaries. Now, in the age of President Obama, he looks back from the perspective of monumental change in the United States to reflect where we’ve been. This presentation is best presented as a moderated Q&A with Burns to spark a meaningful and impactful conversation with the audience. He uses several clips from earlier films in this presentation.

Conversation with Ken Burns
This is for a less formal, conversational type of event. Burns addresses questions about all of his films, issues in history and contemporary American culture.