A local council of Alaska Native groups took a story passed down by generations of the Inupiaq tribe and turned it into a video game. The game has already won several awards and has introduced the culture to a wider audience.
Tag Archives: Arts & Entertainment
Pop Culture’s Undying Edgar Allan Poe Obsession
There’s no question that Edgar Allan Poe has made a lasting impression on American popular culture. This article uses the release of a movie about a dangerous obsession with Poe to take a look back at the author’s pop culture legacy.
Emily Dickinson’s mystifying in-sight
Imagery of vision and eyes permeates Emily Dickinson’s poetry. In this article, humanities professor and physician Larry Zaroff (with Tony Chan) provides a medical rationale for one of Dickinson’s most powerful metaphors.
About the Brothers Grimm and Fairytales
Once upon a time, fairy tales weren’t for children. They weren’t even written down. Read this history to learn how much fairy tales—even the ones with which we’re most familiar—have changed over time. Be sure to follow the links to older versions of the tales, and find out for yourself!
The “Lottery” Letters
The 1948 publication of Shirley Jackson’s short story “The Lottery” in The New Yorker magazine inspired subscribers to send a record number of letters, nearly all of them negative. Why all the fuss? Book critic and author Ruth Franklin considers these responses and Jackson’s own reaction to them.
An Animated Adventure, Drawn from Life
Persepolis, Marjane Satrapi’s autobiographical graphic novel, became a critically-acclaimed film in 2007. Learn about the creative process behind the depiction of one young woman’s struggle for personal and political freedom.
Shakespeare and the Classics: Plutarch, Ovid, and Inspiration
Like many of his contemporaries, Shakespeare drew on a variety of resources for his astounding output of plays.
Tall storeys: Lucinda Grange’s daredevil photography
Lucinda Grange is a photographer with a love of adventure. She scales skyscrapers and monuments to take unbelievable photographers. Check out this photo essay of her work.
The Full Nelson
As many athletes and fans know, sports can unify people who don’t have much in common otherwise. This article explains how Nelson Mandela used rugby and other sports to help unify the people of South Africa after years of racial segregation.
Odysseus’ Journey
The Odyssey is one of the most exciting stories ever told, of a long and complicated heroic journey. This interactive story map summarizes Odysseus’s journey using a modern-day map and representations in art.
Bringing Traditional Themes Into Contemporary Writing
Frank Stasio, host of radio program The State of Things, talks to poet Joy Harjo about her latest collection, Conflict Resolution for Holy Beings.
Phillis Wheatley Biography
This biography outlines the life of Phillis Wheatley, who became a published poet despite being enslaved.
The art of 9/11
Tom Sutcliffe, who writes about the arts and media, examines artists’ struggle to make works relating to 9/11.
The Oscars’ Biggest Win? Acknowledging the Power of Genre Movies
According to the author of this article, movies in genres such as horror and science fiction are being recognized as part of the mainstream because audiences connect with them in meaningful ways.
A Close, Intimate Look at Walt Whitman
What can the camera tell us about the lives and work of famous authors? In this article, poet Mark Strand examines an 1891 photograph of Walt Whitman.
How To View Art: However You Want To
A museum educator gives some practical tips for viewing art and refutes the idea that museum visitors need to study ahead of time or follow a prescribed approach.
The Chilling True Story Behind the Pied Piper of Hamelin
Where do fairy tales and legends come from? At least one well-known tale is rooted in a real historic event.
Toil and Trouble: A Troubling Turn on Shakespeare’s Macbeth
Shakespeare and puppets may not seem like a natural combination, but this theater review makes the case that puppets are the perfect metaphor for the couple at the forefront of The Tragedy of Macbeth.
Five protest poets all demonstrators should read
Read about five poets who used poetry as a means of protest.
See Why Thoreau’s Walden Still Inspires
Writer Kennedy Warne reflects on his admiration of Henry David Thoreau after a day spent at Walden Pond. View the image gallery at the top of the article to see the inspirational location.