The Thrill of Being Scared Keeps Fright Industry Going
Source: The New York Times
Read about why horror is always going to mean big business.
Arts & Entertainment
How your brain sees the world, according to Kepler
Source: The Boston Globe
A new book looks at a pivotal moment in scientific history that changed the way we understood sight and perception.
‘Wild’ film prompts surge in interest in Pacific Crest Trail
Source: Telegraph
In the film Wild, based on Cheryl Strayed’s memoir and starring Reese Witherspoon, a woman rediscovers herself as she hikes the Pacific Crest Trail alone. It has inspired others to attempt the journey.
Studies in Scale: Excerpts from The Gorgeous Nothings
Source: Poetry Foundation
Jen Bervin talks about how she was inspired by the physical nature of Emily Dickinson’s poems when putting together The Gorgeous Nothings, her recent collection of work by the poet. Scroll to the bottom of the article to see examples of the poems, which were written on envelopes.
Harriet Beecher Stowe
Source: NPR
In 1833, Harriet Beecher Stowe witnessed the brutality of slavery on her first trip to the South. What she saw changed her and led to her writing her famous anti-slavery novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin, in 1852. Listen to a discussion about her legacy here.
Why do some of us love to be scared?
Source: The Philadelphia Inquirer
Are you a Thrillseeker? New research shows people differ in their chemical response to thrilling situations. Read about why some of us enjoy being scared, while others don’t.
Home? Teen Refugees and Immigrants Explore Their Tucson
Source: What Kids Can Do
Read about, and view some of the material from, this exhibit in which student refugees and immigrants in Tuscon, AZ, explore the concept of home.
‘Next Stop Is Vietnam’: A War In Song
Source: NPR
In this radio piece, NPR looks back at the music written during and about the Vietnam War. Many musicians used protest songs to voice their opposition to the war.
What’s Wrong With This Picture?
Source: Colonial Williamsburg Journal
John Trumbull’s famous painting of the signing of the Declaration of Independence portrays a scene that did not happen. Read the article to learn about the inaccuracies, and click the online extra to explore the painting by hovering over faces to see who is depicted.
The strange fates of the Shakespeare First Folio
Source: The Conversation
Chair of the English department at University of Nevado, Reno, Eric Rasmussen recently authenticated a Shakespeare First Folio found in France. He discusses the searches lead over the years to find copies of this first collection of William Shakespeare’s plays, which includes The Tempest.