A new book from Eric Foner, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian, based on the discovery of journals containing interviews with fugitive slaves, sheds light on how the Underground Railroad really worked. Read about it here.
Tag Archives: Arts & Entertainment
The Thrill of Being Scared Keeps Fright Industry Going
Read about why horror is always going to mean big business.
How your brain sees the world, according to Kepler
A new book looks at a pivotal moment in scientific history that changed the way we understood sight and perception.
‘Wild’ film prompts surge in interest in Pacific Crest Trail
In the film Wild, based on Cheryl Strayed’s memoir and starring Reese Witherspoon, a woman rediscovers herself as she hikes the Pacific Crest Trail alone. It has inspired others to attempt the journey.
Studies in Scale: Excerpts from The Gorgeous Nothings
Jen Bervin talks about how she was inspired by the physical nature of Emily Dickinson’s poems when putting together The Gorgeous Nothings, her recent collection of work by the poet. Scroll to the bottom of the article to see examples of the poems, which were written on envelopes.
Harriet Beecher Stowe
In 1833, Harriet Beecher Stowe witnessed the brutality of slavery on her first trip to the South. What she saw changed her and led to her writing her famous anti-slavery novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin, in 1852. Listen to a discussion about her legacy here.
Why do some of us love to be scared?
Are you a Thrillseeker? New research shows people differ in their chemical response to thrilling situations. Read about why some of us enjoy being scared, while others don’t.
Home? Teen Refugees and Immigrants Explore Their Tucson
Read about, and view some of the material from, this exhibit in which student refugees and immigrants in Tuscon, AZ, explore the concept of home.
‘Next Stop Is Vietnam’: A War In Song
In this radio piece, NPR looks back at the music written during and about the Vietnam War. Many musicians used protest songs to voice their opposition to the war.
What’s Wrong With This Picture?
John Trumbull’s famous painting of the signing of the Declaration of Independence portrays a scene that did not happen. Read the article to learn about the inaccuracies, and click the online extra to explore the painting by hovering over faces to see who is depicted.
The strange fates of the Shakespeare First Folio
Chair of the English department at University of Nevado, Reno, Eric Rasmussen recently authenticated a Shakespeare First Folio found in France. He discusses the searches lead over the years to find copies of this first collection of William Shakespeare’s plays, which includes The Tempest.
Shakespeare in Love
The 1998 film Shakespeare in Love, winner of the Academy Award for Best Picture, presented a fictionalized young William Shakespeare in the process of writing The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. Get a sneak peek by reading legendary film critic Roger Ebert’s review.
Fairy Tales: Help or Hinder?
In fairy tales about knights, dragons, princes, and princesses, good wins over evil. But should children think that nothing bad happens in real life? Should fairy tales be read to children today? Read the author’s opinion and decide whether or not you agree with what fairy tales really tell.
Ramsey Campbell and Stephen King on why Rupert Bear and Bambi are truly terrifying
Horror writers discuss their surprising inspirations and the particular pleasure derived from fear in the horror genre.
Photographing on Top of the World
Joe McNally takes photographs in hard-to-reach and risky places. Recently, he made it to the top of the world’s tallest building in Dubai to take a photo of the view. Read about it, and watch a video of how he did it, here.
Nik Wallenda completes wire walk across Chicago skyline
Read about how daredevil Nik Wallenda broke two records tightrope walking on a steel wire more than 50 stories above the Chicago river.
Why Shakespeare Matters
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?
Are All Movie Heroes the Same Person?
If you’ve ever watched a movie and thought, This hero reminds me of a hero in another movie, you’re not alone. Author Joseph Campbell explored myths and stories about heroes from around the world and found that they have much in common; his work in turn inspired the creation of new movie heroes, including the heroes of the Star Wars series.
Amid Tensions, a New Portrayal of Anne Frank
Although the story of Anne Frank has been told in a movie and two plays, a fresh version of her story was recently written and performed on stage in Amsterdam. The new play covers some of Anne’s life before the war and after the discovery of the Secret Annex.
Good Art Is Popular Because It’s Good. Right?
In an effort to find out why certain pieces of art are successful, a Princeton professor designed a study that concluded that chance has a lot to do with it.