For students of the humanities…
In writing, clarity is the most important thing. In this article from BigThink, the author discusses the idea that simple language is more successful at getting your point across than more complicated (and arguably more impressive) words. Take a look and see if you agree... link to Using Big Words Doesn't Make You Sound Smarter
People have long tried to explain stories about sea monsters. This article from CNN goes in an interesting direction as it tries to find an explanation that is palatable to modern science, while not discrediting the original sources. link to Sea monsters? This bizarre whale feeding technique may explain some ancient folklore
J.R.R. Tolkien was a brilliant author (and important contributer to the Oxford English Dictionary), but did you know he was also an artist? This article from the Smithsonian Magazine showcases some of the art he created for The Lord of the Rings. It's always interesting when an author is also an artist because it allows… Continue reading Article: Rarely Seen Paintings by J.R.R. Tolkien Portray a Lusch ‘Lord of the Rings’ Landscape
Drying or pressing flowers has long been a popular pastime. However, there is a new spin on this old tradition: hammering flowers. This artform works by choosing flowers, placing them on paper, and hitting them with a hammer.... The result is actually quite lovely. This YouTube Channel: HammerFlower shows many examples of the artform, with… Continue reading Video: HammerFlower
People have long studied the sky, and sometimes they are surprised and confused by what they say. The Medieval and Renaissance worlds are no exception to this. This article details several well documented incidents involving flying objects that have not been identified. link to The Mysterious 1561 Nuremberg Event ‘UFO Battle’
As the February 2023 Turkey earthquake reminded us, there are many irreplaceable cultural treasures in earthquake zones (in addition to the even more precious and irreplaceable humans) around the world. The Hagia Sophia is one such treasure, located in Western Turkey. This article from Nature discusses Hagia Sophia's durability in the face of natural disasters… Continue reading Article: Hagia Sophia: Shaken, not stirred
Even though it's not as famous as oil paint, tempera paint was a very popular medium in the Italian Renaissance. Traditionally made by combining egg with pigment, tempera is a bit more forgiving than watercolor, but much more delicate than oils. For this reason, it has been the medium of chose for many artistic masters… Continue reading Article: Italian Renaissance Art: Tempera Painting
Do you ever wonder how ancient Roman concrete buildings still look amazing, while our concrete sidewalks quickly crack? If so, then this article will help answer your questions. The Smithsonian talks about the innovations the Romans included that has allowed a number of their concrete structures to survive through to today. link to "Self Healing"… Continue reading Article: “Self Healing” Concrete May Have Preserved Ancient Roman Structures
This video from the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston presents a fun take on the process the Greeks may have used in making red-figure pottery. If you're interested in pottery or ancient Greece, then you may find this both enjoyable and helpful. link to Figures in Red: Red-figure technique in ancient vase painting
Buildings are an integral part of our history, and the older the building is, the more it can tellus about our past. In Ireland, there is a pub that is currently called Sean's Bar, and it is believed that it was first built in 900AD. This article discusses its status as the oldest pub in… Continue reading Article: Sean’s Bar Is The Oldest Pub In Ireland, And Possibly The World
This article from Hyperallergic discusses the art of Ha Chong-Hyun (one of the leading figures of South Korea’s Tansaekhwa Movement). If you've never heard of this movement, this is a great way to get started exploring it. Ha Chong-Hyun showcases art that uses unusual materials (like barbed wire) and paint that is pushed through fabric.… Continue reading Article: What Ha Chong-Hyun’s Painting Confirmed for Me
Marbling paper or other materials can be fun, but the process can also be surprisingly complex. This website discusses the process and shows many examples. If you’re interested in either marbling or Japanese art in general, this site is a good place to start. link to Suminagashi: The Ancient Art of Japanese Marbling
Be careful when you clean out your garage. That dusty old painting could be worth a lot of money. This article from azcentral.com discusses the possible fortune an Arizona man may have found in his garage. The painting will be going up for auction, so how much it is actually worth remains to be seen.… Continue reading Article: Painting Pulled from Arizona Garage may be a Jackson Pollack worth $10 million
The village is an integral part of many detective stories—from the literary stories of Agatha Christie to the televised Midsomer Murders. This article focuses on the village as a setting and a community in Agatha Christie’s stories specifically. Link to The Village in Crime Fiction
Printmaking can be a bit of a complicated and confusing process to study. If you need more information on printmaking--in particular lithography and relief printing--then you may find this article helpful link to Lithography and Relief Printing
Humanities Scholars 