Tag Archives: Arts & Entertainment

Tales of Migration Explore Modern-Day Odysseys and ‘Hyphenated Identities’

Many contemporary authors are inspired to explore the themes of immigration. Often drawing from their own experiences, they write about meeting different kinds of people and reconciling the past with the future.

Why ‘Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark’ Frightened So Many Parents in the 1990s

Read about the story behind one of the most banned books for children.

The dead we honor: Shakespeare’s apt words for Memorial Day

Centuries after they were written, Shakespeare’s words remain poignant as we honor veterans on Memorial Day.

9 Legends of American Folklore

Words like “myth” and “legend” often make you think of stories from thousands of years ago, but new legends are always being created. America is no exception, with a number of popular myths spreading during the 1800s as the country expanded westward. This article provides a high-level summary of nine of the most well-known American frontier legends–some entirely fictional, but some based on exaggerations around real people and events.

A Brief Introduction to Gothic Literature

You may have heard of ‘Gothic horror,’ but do you know what makes a story ‘Gothic’ or not? This resources provides a quick, high-level breakdown of key elements, themes, and techniques that can earn a story the label of ‘Gothic,’ as well as a few examples of famous Gothic horror stories you can read on your own.

Surviving copies of Shakespeare’s First Folio to go on show

Many of Shakespeare’s works might be lost to us forever had they not been preserved in a collection of published manuscripts known as the First Folio.

1776 Musical brings vibrant nontraditional casting of founding fathers to stage at DCPA

Read about how 1776, a musical about the founding fathers, takes on a modern and thought-provoking twist through its most diverse cast to date.

What is imposter syndrome and how can you combat it?

Feelings that one is a fraud who doesn’t deserve their success, known as imposter syndrome, is an extremely common phenomenon. Why can’t so many of us shake feelings that our ideas and skills aren’t worthy of others’ attention?

‘Queen of Salsa’ has her own US quarter

Celia Cruz, a Cuban American Salsa legend, continues to make her mark on American History.

Talos the First Robot

There’s a lot of talk in the news these days about advances in robotics and artificial intelligence. But, while the technology is new, the ideas for it are not. Many scholars consider the Greek myth of Talos to be the first representation of a robot in literature and art. Watch this video to learn more about this ancient, and powerful, mechanical man.

The zombie fungus from ‘The Last Of Us’ is real — but not nearly as deadly

There’s been a lot of fungus talk in the news after the popular Last of Us video game became a popular TV show. In the show, people are turned into zombies by a new form of fungus that takes over their brains. And guess what? It’s real! Well, sort of–it’s only real for insects. Should we be worried? Or do fungi do more to help humans than harm them?

Adventures in 21st Century Copyright — AI-generated comic artwork loses US Copyright protection

It seems artificial intelligence is everywhere these days, and the world of art is no exception. This has led to many questions, such as “can AI-generated art be copyrighted?” Courts have started to weigh-in and so far, the answer seems to be that machine generated art should not get the same protections as human-created images.

‘Evil Genius’: Mind-Bending Illusion Built Into Skyline Confuses Internet

Don’t let this optical illusion fool you. You won’t need to press play when you see this skyline illusion.

From Biggie to Kendrick: super-producer Pete Rock on hip-hop’s golden ages

Learn about all about music producer Pete Rock’s incredible career and influence in the music industry.

Pigcasso: Pot-Bellied Pig Produces Award-Winning Art In Mokelumne Hill

Pigs are known for being highly intelligent animals, but this pig is known for her creativity, too.

Theater Experience in Shakespeare’s Lifetime

Today we study Shakespeare in school and often see his plays in formal settings, but is that how they were meant to be experienced? Learn more about what going to see a play was really like when Shakespeare’s theater company put them on stage for the first time.

Edgar Allan Poe’s ‘The Lake’

Many people know Edgar Allen Poe for his short stories, but did you know he was a poet, as well? Many of his poems play with the same themes as his stories, including one he dedicated to an unknown person and that scholars believe was written about a real-life haunted lake…

Half Human, Half Beast: Mythological Figures of Ancient Times

Mythology from around the world is full of creatures that are half-animal and half-human. It is the perfect blend of mankind and nature. Here are 10 examples of half-human monsters from mythology and how they originated.