This article examines Shakespeare’s rise to greatness. It also features some interesting graphics that show trends in the popularity of his plays.
Author Archives: Chandler Gifford
Your Brain Perceives Reality By Hallucinating
Are our minds playing tricks on us all the time? Click this link to watch an animated video that explains what perception and hallucination have in common.
For America to Succeed, We Must Find Common Ground
The author of this article points out that humans are more successful when they cooperate. He urges Americans to unite under our nation’s flag, in spite of political differences.
8 Leaders Who Carry On Martin Luther King Jr.’s Legacy
This article highlights some of today’s leaders in the ongoing struggle for freedom and equality.
Healing the political divide
This article examines the reasons for the current level of political division in the United States and considers how we might go about trying to improve the situation.
The Infectious Pestilence Did Reign
This piece examines several ways Shakespeare was affected by the plague. It also points out how the plague plays an crucial role in the plot of Romeo and Juliet.
Many Black and Asian Americans Say They Have Experienced Discrimination Amid the COVID-19 Outbreak
According to a survey conducted by the Pew Research Center, Asian and Black Americans are experiencing racism and discrimination more frequently than they did prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Click this link to learn more about the results of the survey.
Study of 2020 Protests Shows Difference Between Reality and Perception
Many Americans believe the majority of the social justice protests of 2020 were violent. The data collected by the political science professor featured in this article suggests otherwise.
What Shakespeare can — and can’t — teach us about Covid-19
What does Shakespeare have to do with the coronavirus pandemic? Read this article to find out.
Why time feels so weird in 2020
Check out this link to try out some cool interactive perception tests that demonstrate how our sense of time can be distorted.
Anne Frank’s arrest might not have stemmed from betrayal
New research from the Anne Frank House suggests that Anne and her family may have not in fact been betrayed by someone who knew about their hiding place. Read to learn more.
Without the Right to Protest, America Is Doomed to Fail
The author of this opinion piece wants to remind those who call for an end to Black Lives Matter protests that the right to protest is crucial to the health of American democracy.
First Collection of Shakespeare’s Plays Sells for Almost $10 Million
Click this link to read about the record-breaking auction sale of a copy of the “First Folio,” the book that originally collected Shakespeare’s plays.
“Reality” is constructed by your brain. Here’s what that means, and why it matters.
How do we know what is real? This article includes some striking visual illusions and explains how they serve as a good reminder that our perception of reality is not always accurate.
The surprising downsides of empathy
Empathy—the ability to understand the feelings of others—is an important aspect of emotional intelligence. However, the author of this piece suggests that empathy can have negative effects. Click the link to learn more.
Emotional Intelligence
Check out this link for some information on developing emotional intelligence, which includes skills like being aware of your own emotions as well as understanding how others are feeling.
I’ve been fighting for freedom for years; now, I do it as an American citizen
Click on this link to read about an Egyptian political activist’s experience becoming an American citizen and his ongoing fight for democratic ideals.
Shakespeare Wrote His Best Works During a Plague
This article suggests that the shutdown of theaters due to the coronavirus could give dramatists the time and inspiration to write new plays.
Emily Dickinson is the unlikely hero of our time
Emily Dickinson confined herself to her home for much of her lifetime. She also experienced a series of deaths of people who were important to her. The author of this piece suggests that Dickinson’s ways of dealing with solitude and grief make her particularly relevant in the era of coronavirus.
Why do people react differently when confronting the same threat?
Panic buying? Hoarding toilet paper? This article explores the different ways people have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic.