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.
Like Mark Twain, Jane Austen wrote tales that made her one of the most popular writers in her day. Find out what other female authors became popular in their day and some little-known facts about each one.
How were movies advertised before the internet existed? This article looks at the important role that movie posters played in spreading the word about the latest, scariest horror movie.
M. C. Escher was a Dutch graphic artist specializing in woodcuts, mezzotints, and lithographs inspired by mathematical principles. “Waterfall” is a lithograph first printed in October 1961 creating an optical illusion which Escher was famous for. Select the link in the article to see the original lithograph and more of Escher’s amazing work.
Read about the history of modernism in literature.
Stephen Lucas, a professor of humanities, analyzes the language of the Declaration of Independence.
Two writers argue that works of fiction can trigger political change, sometimes directly, but more often, indirectly. Upton Sinclair, author of The Jungle, is one example.
Franz Kafka’s novella “The Metamorphosis” baffled readers when it first appeared in print a century ago. A new radio series explores its continuing influence.
Julian Beever and other 3D sidewalk artists use perspective to their advantage to help them fool the eyes of viewers. Learn about the techniques that create such convincing illusions.
Film producer Peter Katz experiments with the use of brain scans to find out just how scary his movies are. Do you think that using medical science in this way interferes with the art of making horror movies?
In this interview, John Stauffer, author of the book Giants: The Parallel Lives of Frederick Douglass and Abraham LIncoln, discusses the two men’s friendship and their mutual respect for each other.
The story of Cinderella has been told for centuries. James Deutsch, a professor of folklore, explains why Americans are particularly drawn to the tale.
Editor Ron Charles critiques a new book about Edgar Allan Poe and ponders over the writer’s popularity with audiences and his scorn from academics.
In this radio interview, author Chimamanda Adichie discusses the benefits of hearing stories from multiple points of views. Her original TED Talk on the subject is also included.
Jonathan Swift, the 18th-century Irish writer and satirist, worked in many professions and eventually became a man of some influence.
Researchers record the reactions of audiences in Africa to a production of Hamlet by a Shakespeare Globe theater troupe.
What are your scariest movies? Here’s a pick of the top ten scariest movies of all time. See if you agree!
Chilean American author Isabel Allende answers the question why writers write. Read why she shows up every day to make her voice heard.
Author Samuel Clemens used the pen name Mark Twain. Find out about why and how his work shaped his literary life.
Read about Hollywood’s recent trend of casting women in roles made famous by men, including in the re-make of the 1980s blockbuster Ghostbusters.
