Sophie Barry

Thesis Title: “Make America Fit Again”: SUPERMAN #170 and the Rise of Youth Fitness Culture in Cold War America, 1953-1964

What Now: VP of Development, Tricky Knot 

Follow Me: @sophierosebarry (Instagram)

In so many ways, I owe the Hist & Lit department for helping me realize the vast opportunities that exist in the entertainment industry. Film, TV, and all types of pop culture are widely telling of the cultural and historical moments they play in, and having the opportunity to look at comic books and films through a historical lens fueled my passion to pursue a career in the entertainment industry, and I have no regrets because every day I get to do what I love. While what I studied at Harvard was niche (comic books/film during wartimes in 20th century America), it is wild how the sources read, relationships made, and critical skills play a part in my role as VP of Development at a film startup. In creative development, I am constantly looking into IP and scripts that will speak to a large and ready audience. Hist & Lit gave me such a deep foundational knowledge of the types of stories out in the world, and I constantly use the skills I learned at the Barker Center as I craft projects on the micro and macro levels.