Why ‘Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark’ Frightened So Many Parents in the 1990s
Source: Smithsonian Magazine
Read about the story behind one of the most banned books for children.
Arts & Entertainment
The dead we honor: Shakespeare’s apt words for Memorial Day
Source: New York Post
Centuries after they were written, Shakespeare’s words remain poignant as we honor veterans on Memorial Day.
9 Legends of American Folklore
Source: How Stuff Works
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
Source: ThoughtCo.
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
Source: The Guardian
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
Source: CBS
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?
Source: TED Education
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
Source: USA Today
Celia Cruz, a Cuban American Salsa legend, continues to make her mark on American History.
Talos the First Robot
Source: Staellinika (via YouTube)
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
Source: NPR
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?