In this Fresh Air interview, author Colson Whitehead talks about how he re-imagined the escape from enslavement.
Tag Archives: Arts & Entertainment
How we showed Homer’s Odyssey is not pure fiction, with a little help from Facebook
Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey may seem like pure fiction, but social media tools reveal that they’re at least partly based in fact.
How the Hidden Sounds of Horror Movie Soundtracks Freak You Out
Sometimes when you’re watching a scary movie, you feel dread even though nothing you see is terrifying. Learn how movie soundtracks can manipulate our emotions.
9 Legends of American Folklore
Folktales show us a lot about who we once were and still are. Check out these descriptions of nine classic characters from American folklore: Paul Bunyan, John Henry, Sally Ann Thunder, Johnny Appleseed, Mike Fink, Pecos Bill, Geronimo, and Old Stormalong. Why were they so famous? Why are they still famous today?
Shakespeare in lockdown: Did he write King Lear in plague quarantine?
One silver lining of shelter-in-place orders is that they might give rise to creativity. Learn more about a popular idea that sets the bar high.
Katy Perry, Michael Jordan, Bill Gates, and others share what they wish they’d known as a teenager
Check out this link to learn what advice some of the most famous and successful people in the world have for teenagers.
Shakespeare, Lincoln, and Ambition
Abraham Lincoln once wrote, “I think nothing equals Macbeth.” Learn about how Shakespeare’s dramatic exploration of ambition may have affected how Lincoln acted on his own ambition.
A Fairy Tale Influence
In this interview, fairy tale author Jack Zipes discusses why fairy tales matter, who their audience is, and how they influence the horror genre.
About Mark Twain
Learn about Mark Twain’s life through this collection of texts, photos, illustrations, and other media.
How Much Sleep Are We Losing to Our Electronic Devices?
Did you know that most Americans sleep with some sort of electronic device in their rooms at night? Do you? Find out how this habit might be affecting your sleep.
Can you be scared to death?
The fear of spiders, heights, claustrophobia, and the fear of needles are the most common fears we experience. Read about how the fight-or flight-response affects the heart when we’re scared.
Molly Shannon’s Emily Dickinson Is No Reclusive Spinster
Emily Dickinson is often thought of as a solitary figure who never intended for her poetry to be published. Click this link to read about a 2018 dramatic comedy that challenges these notions.
‘Hamlet’ in Virtual Reality Casts the Viewer in the Play
A recent production of Shakespeare’s great tragedy puts the viewer at the center of the intrigue and revenge.
The Most “Realistic” Civil War Novel Was Written Three Decades After It Ended
Stephen Crane’s novel The Red Badge of Courage is so realistic that readers tend to assume it’s based on his own experiences in the war. Spoiler alert: It isn’t.
Why Godzilla is the perfect monster for our age of environmental destruction
Even though the first Godzilla movie was made over half a century ago, this hulking monster has staying power because it can represent the most modern of threats.
Matty Benedetto is the master of unnecessary inventions
Normally, an inventor strives to create products that fill a need and solve a problem. Matty Benedetto does the opposite. Watch a video showing his delightfully useless creations.
Nature Poems
Read this short history of poems about nature.
Mary Wollstonecraft Biography
Feminist Mary Wollstonecraft, who wrote A Vindication of the Rights of Woman in 1792, advocated for the education of women.
Literary thrills and chills: the rising trend of terror for teens
In this article, author Amy Lukavics explains the value she sees in horror fiction and argues that “true terror” should not have to be toned down for young adult readers.
Why do we like being scared?
Rollercoasters, haunted houses, scary movies — we enjoy being scared, but have you ever wondered why? Some scientists think being scared is good for us!