Documentary filmmaker Ken Burns said his films have a running subplot of race, but his main focus in creating them is to remind people of how history and culture unite us.
Burns drew from his experiences making documentaries in two campus addresses on Monday.
"We live in a society where everything is divided," he said. "For all our flaws, and they are gigantic … we still offer a brand of freedom that is the envy of the world."
About 100 students and faculty turned out to listen to Burns field questions at the Communication Arts and Sciences Building, a precursor to a lecture he gave later that evening at the Wharton Center.
The lecture is part of the Wharton Center's "World View" lecture series, which in past years has featured author Salman Rushdie and former U.S. ambassador to Iraq Paul Bremer. On Nov. 2, "Freakonomics" author Stephen Dubner is scheduled to speak as part of the series.
About midway through the question-and-answer session, a hand shot up from the back of the room.
An audience member asked Burns if he could meet any historical figure, who it would be.
Burns' response might have sounded typical - Louis Armstrong, Abraham Lincoln, Jackie Robinson, in that order.
But those three men are figures for whom Burns has had more than just a passing admiration. They're the stars of three landmark, award-winning documentary series Burns has produced - "Jazz," "The Civil War" and "Baseball," respectively.
"All of the films I've done, they're all in American history. They're concerned with American identity and American meaning," Burns said of his work. "To me, it's just about telling stories … I just happen to use American history to do that. We try to take this raw material and find a way to tell it."
Burns has been making documentaries for more than 20 years - but in his 50s, he could pass for 35 with his mop of a haircut and eyes that light up with enthusiasm when he talks about his work.
"People always talk about history repeating itself or history being in cycles. I don't think I really believe that as much as I believe that human nature doesn't change," he said. "What history provides us with is a kind of mirror of what human nature is like. It's inevitable that in almost every historical investigation, it speaks constantly to who we are today."
Burns' visit was co-sponsored by the College of Communication Arts and Sciences as part of its 50th anniversary celebration.
"We're trying to bring in the best and the brightest from the industry," said Dean Charles Salmon. "It's not every day you get a chance to ask whatever question pops into your mind and ask someone of Ken Burns' stature."
Several students leaving the question-and-answer session said Burns' comments gave them confidence to pursue their own projects.
"After seeing him I'm really glad I took the time off of work," said Mandy Messer, a telecommunication, information studies and media graduate student, who added she had been introduced to Burns' documentaries only a few weeks ago.
"Now, I'm just inspired to see his work," Messer said.
Burns is working on a seven-part series chronicling U.S. involvement in World War II.
But Burns, who grew up in Ann Arbor and is an avid University of Michigan fan, said his loyalties are preventing him from doing a film on MSU any time soon.
