▁made ▁on ▁it ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 9 2 0 s ▁influenced ▁and ▁inspired ▁contemporary ▁music . ▁The ▁film ▁involved ▁a ▁de cade ▁of ▁work ▁rest oring ▁the ▁machine , ▁which ▁was ▁pie ced ▁together ▁from ▁spare ▁parts ▁scattered ▁across ▁the ▁glo be , ▁in ▁order ▁to ▁better ▁understand ▁the ▁orig ins ▁of ▁modern ▁recording ▁technology , ▁and ▁the ▁influence ▁the ▁machine ▁had ▁on ▁world ▁culture . ▁The ▁film ▁received ▁w ides p read ▁acc laim ▁for ▁its ▁direction , ▁musical ▁performances , ▁sound ▁and ▁cinemat ography . ▁ ▁In ▁September ▁ 2 0 1 7 ▁the ▁University ▁of ▁Chicago ▁Labor atory ▁School s ▁announced ▁a ▁nine - month ▁pr esch ool ▁to ▁high ▁school ▁educational ▁program ▁based ▁on ▁Mac M ah on ' s ▁American ▁Ep ic ▁films ▁beginning ▁on ▁October ▁ 6 , ▁ 2 0 1 7 . ▁The ▁school ▁founded ▁by ▁American ▁educ ator ▁John ▁De we y ▁in ▁ 1 8 9 6 ▁has ▁over ▁ 2 , 0 1 5 ▁students ▁en rolled ▁in ▁ 1 5 ▁gr ades . ▁The ▁program ▁featured ▁Mac M ah on ▁and ▁producer ▁and ▁co - writer ▁All ison ▁McG our ty ▁as ▁Art ists - in - Res idence . ▁ ▁Mac M ah on ▁draw s ▁and ▁pain ts ▁detailed ▁story boards ▁and ▁light ing ▁designs ▁in ▁advance ▁of ▁production , ▁and ▁has ▁stated ▁that ▁he ▁was ▁influenced ▁by ▁the ▁cinemat ography ▁of ▁John ▁J . ▁Mes call ▁and ▁the ▁painting ▁of ▁Diego ▁Vel áz quez . ▁He ▁is