Everyone knows that ghosts aren’t real. But that doesn’t mean that there aren’t plenty of ghost stories to go around. This site lists a few of those stories, describing tales sometimes told about the nation’s most famous ghosts.
Tag Archives: Arts & Entertainment
Asian Dragons
Dragons are creatures of power in the tales of many cultures. In Asian legends, dragons are wise, protect people, and control the water of the earth.
Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales 2012 – a multimedia pilgrimage
In 2012, a group of people retraced the route of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales pilgrims in a four-day trek. Listen to the audio and watch the videos embedded throughout the article to hear the participants recite pieces from the work.
Eugene O’Neill Biography
Over the course of his career, Nobel Prize-winning writer Eugene O’Neill used his struggles as inspiration for his moving plays. Read about his life in this biography.
In northern Mali, music silenced as Islamists drive out artists
The west African nation of Mali stretches from arid desert to lush tropics and is home to rich cultural traditions in music, architecture, and ancient scholarship. Recently, though, its renowned musicians have faced threats that have sent them into hiding or across the globe in search of freedom.
Artful Animals
Through the years, African artists have crafted animal artifacts as symbols of specific ideas and traits. Explore the many links on this site to view some artifacts and to discover how the traits of various animals play a key role in African folktales.
‘Beyond Bollywood’: Inside the Smithsonian’s exhibition on Indian Americans
The new Smithsonian exhibition, “Beyond Bollywood: Indian Americans Shape the Nation,” is meant to show the imprint Indian Americans have made in United States culture throughout the centuries. Take a look inside the exhibition.
A Song for the Horse Nation
The arrival of the horse in North America changed life for many American Indian groups. Learn about the amazing relationship between Native peoples and horses, and examine artifacts from throughout their history.
Georgia Douglas Johnson
Georgia Douglas Johnson wrote a poem about taking a risk and soaring into the sky. Learn about the life of this important writer of poems, plays, and stories.
Technology firms explore ‘second screen’ opportunity
Software developers are seeking ways to connect people’s tablets and smartphones with what they are watching on television screens. But how useful is it?
Anne Frank at 85: What would she have become had she lived?
This year, Anne Frank would have been 85 years old. Though her short life still reverberates through the world, it’s hard not to wonder what it would have been like if she had lived longer. This article looks at some of the ways Anne Frank affected the world around her, and offers some ideas about the woman she may have become.
Remembering Nina Simone as a Siren and Powerful Civil Rights Activist
Nina Simone was a popular pianist and jazz singer with an unmistakable voice. Some of her later songs are considered by many to be anthems of the civil rights movement. Read this brief introduction to Simone and listen to the two clips of her work.
Mark Twain
The Prince and the Pauper was just one of many famous stories written by Mark Twain. Learn about the author’s life, the struggles he faced, and the tales that brought him worldwide fame.
Drawing Geometric Perspective
You may not be an art expert, but you can tell when the perspective in a drawing or painting is wrong: the work may look off-balance or childish. Here’s a look at the techniques artists use to get the perspective right.
The Female Thor and the Female Comic-Book Reader
Comic book superheroes are evolving to reflect a more diverse audience. One famous character is being reintroduced a woman.
Frankenstein: Penetrating the Secrets of Nature
This site offers a wide variety of information related to Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Starting with “The Birth of Frankenstein,” use the table of contents on the left side of the page to browse topics ranging from historical and scientific background information to the story’s modern influences on film, culture, and research.
Pablo Neruda
Pablo Neruda wrote poems about nature, but he his also famous for his poems about love, as well as many other subjects. Read this biography about the renowned poet’s career.
Revising Himself: Walt Whitman and Leaves of Grass
This companion website to a 2005 Library of Congress exhibit provides glimpses of the items that were displayed as well as background information on Whitman’s life, career, and legacy. Take a look at the “Leaves of Grass” section to learn more about the history surrounding one of America’s most influential books of poetry.
Movie Monsters, Monster Movies And Why ‘Godzilla’ Endures
There’s no question about the appeal of a good monster movie. But what is it about certain movie monsters that makes them such enduring stars? Listen to this story about Godzilla to learn more about one of cinema’s most legendary monsters.
Maya Angelou’s Great Legacy
After the recent passing of Maya Angelou, the media was flooded with tributes, personal stories, and other works meant to honor her and her legacy. This tribute comes from Clarence G. Newsome, President of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.