In the 1970s, the Khmer Rouge, led by the dictator Pol Pot, took over the southeast Asian nation of Cambodia. The regime uprooted and destroyed countless lives, killing nearly two million of its own people. Cambodians today have yet to come to terms with the horrors of that time.
Ukranians oppressed by the Soviet Stalin regime managed to smuggle in a translation of George Orwell’s indictment of Stalinism.
Ten years after the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina, the recovery of New Orleans continues. See the progress from 2005 to 2015 in this photo essay.
Among the many resettings of Shakepeare’s powerful exploration of ambition at all costs is a BBC version set in the kitchen of a modern high-end restaurant. How well does a tale of medieval regicide translate to 21st-century TV chef wars? Find out in this review.
In 1605, a group of Catholic conspirators frustrated by religious oppression plotted to assassinate King James in the hope of returning a Catholic leader to the throne. The plot was thwarted but is recalled annually on Guy Fawkes Day, an occasion for fireworks and bonfires in England.
The Mongol ruler Genghis Khan, who lived during the time of Macbeth, could have taught Shakespeare’s Scot a few things about ruthlessness. Get the full picture of one of the most powerful men in history.
The Tragedy of Macbeth has been produced for the stage and screen innumerable times in the past 400 years. Perhaps the most powerful version so far has been an adaptation by famed Japanese director Akira Kurosawa. Find out how “the Scottish play” translates to an ancient samurai setting.
In a life worthy of a Shakespeare play, during the era in which Macbeth was set, Eleanor of Aquitaine was one of the most powerful and influential women in the world.
A sense of powerlessness may make you feel unhappy, but it also has documented physical effects. Here are the results of a study that shows one way a feeling of powerlessness affects your perception of the world in a measurable way.
In 1989, many Chinese citizens participated in nonviolent protests favoring a change to democracy. The Chinese government quickly used its military power to put a stop to the protests. The iconic image that exemplifies this brief era is of a lone man confronting a long line of army tanks in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square. This Frontline documentary explores the Tank Man’s impact and legacy.
The Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C., houses one of the richest collections of materials related to William Shakespeare and fosters research, productions, and educational outreach. Why devote so much effort to works over 400 years old, by an author from another country?
Holding a position of power doesn’t have to equate with ruthlessness. These profiles of 50 modern leaders reveal the positive aspects of power.
It may sometimes seem that people in power act in unscrupulous ways, but do those represent isolated incidents or a clear pattern? Researchers recently took a look at how people react to having power over others.
As Lady Macbeth illustrates, sometimes the greatest power people have over others is not force but persuasion. In this article, a noted psychological expert pinpoints the most effective techniques used to sway us.
