Arthur Banton

Arthur Banton

 Arthur Banton, Ph.D., assistant professor of history at Tennessee Tech University, has long been drawn to the study of the past, though he admits he didn’t always recognize its value as a young student. Today, he aims to help his own students make the same journey, developing a deeper understanding of history and, ideally, discovering a passion for it.
“One of the things that I do is try to identify a contemporary issue and connect it to a historical event that could serve as a solution,” he said. “This is one of great things about history, it is full of solutions, we just have to identify the current problem.”

One of the ways Banton is able to do this is through his MFA in media arts that has given him knowledge of how to incorporate moving images into the study of history.

“I originally wanted to study non-fiction or documentary filmmaking, which interestingly guided me back to the field of history,” he said.

Banton recently offered students in his class, Roots of Hip-Hop Culture, the option of producing a short documentary in place of a traditional final paper. The result was a kind of historical literacy that trains students to read images as carefully as texts. Students who chose the video option said the format changed how they engaged with the work. 

“This was a very fun change in format for a final project, and I’m glad I was given the option to do this. The class has been wonderful,” said student Trenier Phillips. “The most challenging part was sourcing the videos to be used in the footage. I realized in hindsight that my script called for various one shots that would be a burden to note down when I was putting together my bibliography.” 

“I am a history major, and what I felt was the most compelling about my project was comparing the art to the artist,” saidAbbey Hoover, another student. “Viewing an artist's work against what the artist was going through compelled me the most when working through my topic.”

“In general, I look at history like a TV show,” said student Owen McClister. “It helps me remember these people and events if I think about them like characters and plot lines. So, digging deeper and looking at them under a microscope helped me truly see them as more than a character that changed their worlds for the better. … I really loved this project and this class. I think it has had a real impact on me, and I will never take this era of music and how important these pioneers were for granted anymore.”

Banton said he has found that his students have overwhelmingly loved the video project, despite the time and effort involved in the research and composition of the final product.

“My favorite part of the project is the end results,” he said. “A majority of the students are really excited about this assignment because the opportunity to do this type of project – and build visual literacy –  is rare, but it could also be an experience that could very well help them professionally and something they could address during a job interview or put on a resume.” 

He has also begun to allow the students to experiment with how artificial intelligence can be utilized to create research ideas for their projects.

“As you probably know, many students are using artificial intelligence in high school for both academic and recreational use, so many of them are familiar with it, and I think it's important that we try to give students an opportunity to utilize it in their studies as a productivity tool in helping them with their projects,” Banton said. “If students are utilizing AI in a structed environment – with parameters, of course –  it can prepare them for the ‘real world.’” 

After seeing success with combining his knowledge of technology with his teaching practices, Banton says he encourages his fellow professors to take advantage of the resources that can produce creativity in the classroom.

“Try and understand this new technology and embrace it, because it’s part of the future,” he said. “I think it’s a good idea that professors also make some adjustments and adapt to different modes of learning and also instruction. Don’t be afraid to take risks, adjust your pedagogy for where you want your students to go, as opposed to just relying on dated modes of learning.”

Banton has been teaching at Tech since 2018, after also having taught at Middle Tennessee State University, Purdue University in Indiana and Baruch College in New York.

“I chose Tech, because it’s close to my family in the Tennessee Valley and it has a great reputation for developing students into young professionals. Its proximity to Nashville was also a plus,” he said. 
In addition to teaching, Banton’s own research focuses on sports and social change. He is in the process of finishing a book examining racial integration in intercollegiate basketball and how the sport became a vehicle for social mobility – especially for African Americans.

“I was drawn to the topic because I was reflective on my own experience as a former college athlete who was able to bond with other young men from across the country while also getting an education,” he said. “The opportunity helped me get an education, and that education helped me get into the position where I am today and where I am going tomorrow.”