Helicopters are ruining Shakespeare in the Park
Source: New York Post
Read about how helicopters disrupt theater-goers in New York City’s Central Park.
Arts & Entertainment
Pigs Can Learn to Play Video Games When Tempted by Treats
Source: Smithsonian Magazine
With the right incentive, pigs can be taught to play simple video games. Will this experiment pave the way for swine-filled gaming lobbies in your next online multiplayer experience?
Not Even Science Can Figure Out Which Horror Film is The Scariest Ever Made
Source: Syfy
People’s varying fears and fear responses mean that any methodology used to find “the scariest movie” is going to be flawed. Read on to learn more about the trials and errors made in scientists’ quest to find the scariest movie.
Laughing at the Expense of Labor and Capital
Source: PBS
For nearly fifty years, the American humor magazine Puck sent up politicians, industrialists, capitalists, and even laborers in sophisticated, thought-provoking cartoons. View this gallery of cartoons lampooning the extravagance of the gilded age.
The Time Shakespeare Caused a Riot in New York City
Source: Literary Hub
Can you imagine a riot breaking out in response to a disagreement about which actor did a better job in the role of Macbeth? That’s what happened in 1849 in New York. Click to learn more.
Photography and the Civil War, 1861–1865
Source: The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Read about the work of Civil War photographers, who mostly shot post-battle scenes and camp life, because the laborious process prohibited them from safely documenting the action of battle. Click the image at the top to view a slideshow of photos from the time.
Listening Is an Act of Love
Source: StoryCorps
Do you know someone whose story should be heard—and remembered? StoryCorps is a spectacular project in which people just like you, your family, and your friends sit down to chat and record stories from their lives. Visit the site to hear some amazing tales and watch a few videos. When you’ve finished, click the “Record Your Story” link to find out how you, too, can see to it that the stories of your family and friends get heard.
Why Shakespeare’s Stories Still Resonate
Source: Folger Shakespeare Library
In this podcast, two Shakespeare scholars dig into why we still care about the characters and situations crafted by an Englishman who lived four centuries ago.
An A.I. Bot Named “Shelley” Is Generating Spooky Stories on Twitter
Source: Smithsonian Magazine
While “Shelley” won’t be winning any storytelling awards anytime soon with its quirky and at times nonsensical writing, the story-writing bot is a fun experiment.
How to read Shakespeare for pleasure
Source: The Conversation
Read small sections. Think like a director. Click this link for these and other tips on how to get the most out of your reading of Shakespeare’s plays.