Find out what inspired author Sandra Cisneros’ special voice by reading or listening to this National Public Radio interview.
Tag Archives: Arts & Entertainment
Auden’s Musée des Beaux Arts
Auden’s poem is only partly about the painting “Landscape with the Fall of Icarus.” In this article, Scott Horton discusses the other source for Auden’s images and provides historical context for both the poem and the art: Breughel’s “The Census at Bethlehem.”
Odysseus’ Journey
Using this interactive map, you can follow Odysseus on his travels and learn about each destination on his 20-year-long journey.
All the World’s a Stage for Shakespeare, But We No Longer Understand Him
The director of England’s National Theatre admits that even he doesn’t always understand Shakespeare’s language. Read the article to find out why.
The Perilous Lure of the Underground Railroad
Journalist Kathryn Shulz examines fictional accounts of fugitive slaves navigating the underground railroad, the accuracy of those accounts, and why we are drawn to them.
Nature in Chinese Culture
Throughout history, nature has inspired Chinese artwork. Read the article to learn about the country’s connection to nature and click some of the images in the slideshow to view specific art pieces.
10 Things You May Not Know About Nathaniel Hawthorne
Did you know Nathaniel Hawthorne served as an American diplomat and had a daughter who has been proposed for sainthood? Learn these and more little-known facts about the famous author.
From Bruce Springsteen to Tyson Fury, men are opening up about depression
A number of male celebrities have recently opened up about their mental health struggles, sparking conversations about male depression.
The Castle of Otranto: The creepy tale that launched gothic fiction
Horace Walpole’s novel The Castle of Otranto is considered by many to be the first example of gothic horror fiction. This article discusses the lasting influence the book has had on the horror genre.
What can Shakespeare teach us about freedom?
One scholar explains how Shakespeare’s characters can inspire us to be our truest selves.
Overlooked but Undeterred, a 101-Year-Old Artist Finally Gets Her Due
Carmen Herrera has been creating innovative paintings and sculptures for decades. Gain insight into her striking vision and why her work went largely unnoticed until she was well past the age at which most people retire.
An animated lesson full of adorable animals made of autumn leaves
You are what you eat! What about the stuff you don’t know you are eating, like dried plant matter that becomes part of the food chain? Here’s an interesting angle on the subject through a creative animation.
Edith Wharton: Why the Age of Innocence author is vanishing from New York City
Read this article to learn about what New York City streets looked like in the time of author Edith Wharton.
Aziz Ansari Goes to India
In this essay, actor and comedian Aziz Ansari contemplates his American and Indian identities.
Where Our Magic Lives: An Introduction to Magical Realism
Author Anna-Marie McLemore argues that magical realism is less a literary genre than a lens through which to view the world.
Kafka’s ‘Metamorphosis’ Turns 100
Franz Kafka’s disturbing novella about how a family responds to a drastic change still influences writers over a century after its first publication.
Hip-Hop and Shakespeare
Explore the connections between the rhythms and ideas in Shakespeare’s plays and hip-hop music with British MC Akala, artistic director of The Hip-Hop Shakespeare Company.
Video games’ visual effects leaking into our reality
When video game environments and real life start to merge maybe it’s a sign for computer time out! The information in this article is based on a study that investigates the experiences of hardcore gamers when they stepped away from that environment and back to “reality”.
Rick Bass on his new story collection, ‘For a Little While’
In this Q&A, author Rick Bass pushes back on the label of “environmental writer,” arguing that he sees his characters as the driving force of his stories.
At American Art: A New Look on How Artists Recorded the Civil War
This article analyzes an art exhibition that featured paintings and photographs created during the Civil War. It examines the metaphorical landscapes and realistic depictions of everyday life.