9 Intrepid Women Explorers
Source: History
Read about the extraordinary lives and feats of 9 remarkable women.
Arts & Entertainment
Understanding Arabic Music
Source: Kennedy Center
Music is an essential part of life and culture around the world. Learn about Arabic music and what makes it unique.
Misconceptions about Mythology
Source: Mental Floss (on YouTube)
You may know a lot about mythology, but is evertying you think you know correct? Mental Floss discusses some of the most common misconceptions people have about Greek and Roman myths.
Theater Experience in Shakespeare’s Lifetime
Source: ThoughtCo.
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.
“Yankee Doodle” – Traditional: History of an American folk song
Source: Live About
British soldiers sang “Yankee Doodle” to mock the Americans, who eventually turned the song into a source of pride and anthem of their own.
Origins of some famous stories go back thousands of years
Source: Science News
Have you ever read a story and thought it sounded familiar? Well some of your favorite stories may be older than you think!
The Comfort in Horror
Source: Grimdark Magazine
Read about how horror builds resilience in people by providing a safe avenue for facing fear. Consider these benefits the next time you watch a horror movie or play a frightful game.
10 Ways Shakespeare Changed the Way You Talk
Source: History
Some of the words and phrases we use everyday were invented by Shakespeare! Learn about the history of these words and the plays that debuted them.
Artist M.C. Escher Spent a Lifetime Distorting Perspective
Source: PBS NewsHour
M.C. Escher was a Dutch graphic designer known for his innovative optical illusions, impossible drawings, and transforming tessellations, or interlocking tiles that slowly morphed from images like squares to fish to birds and back again. This video is from an exhibition of Escher’s art, which is no longer on display, but it nicely summarizes both his distinctive style and his continuing impact on popular culture.
The Joy and Misery of Hunting for Video Game Trophies
Source: Wired
Many modern video games include a list of achievements that players can earn as they play. These trophies often reward the player for taking actions beyond the normal plot or path of the basic story. For some, achievements reward creative gameplay, add replayability, and encourage exploration. For others, they are annoying, repetitive distractions that artificially make a game seem bigger or more complex than it is. What do you think? Do achievements make games feel more or less enjoyable?