For students of the humanities…
Time can be unkind to art, and this was particularly apparent during World War II. Many amazing (and culturally significant) works of art were destroyed in a conflict that leveled cities and destroyed countless lives. Additionally, beyond horrific human cost, World War II was the largest art heist the world has ever seen. Although it… Continue reading Article: The True Story of the Monuments Men
Those who care about art face difficult choices when war strikes. In Ukraine, museum staff and art lovers have had to decide what they can do to protect their country's artistic and cultural heritage from destruction. link to "Cultural Catastrophe": Ukrainians Fear for Art and Monuments Amid Onslaught
Unfortunately, a great deal of art that existed before World War II was destroyed before the war was over. The Louvre was not willing to let that happen to their collections. Particular attention was given to ensuring the survival of the Mona Lisa. This article from Mental Floss details the work done to save the… Continue reading Article: How the Mona Lisa Escaped Destruction During World War II
In 1937, Pablo Picasso painted Guernica to illustrate his reaction to the Nazi bombing in Spain during the Spanish Civil War. This work is part of a long tradition of artists reacting to current events in general and war in particular. Visuals of this type often have a significant impact on their viewers and help… Continue reading Article: 10 Facts About Guernica by Pablo Picasso
Musicians, artists, and other creators of the Humanities often respond to current events in their work. In this article, Newsweek discusses the internet's response to John Ondrasik's (Five for Fighting) song about the impact that the President of Ukraine is having on the world. link to "Can One Man Save the World" Song About Zelensky… Continue reading Article: “Can One Man Save the World” Song About Zelensky Takes the Internet by Storm
In this article from 2017, ArtNet details the destruction (that was at that time still ongoing) of cultural heritage sites by ISIS. Stories like this show the destructive affect of war on art and culture (in addition to its painful consequences for people's lives and families). link to A Monumental Loss...
Duolingo offers both free and paid online language classes in numerous languages. As such, they know a great deal about how language works and what hidden messages it can contain. In this article from their blog, Duolingo explains the differences between the Ukrainian and Russian languages and talks about how language can be political. This… Continue reading Article: Language matters: What learners need to know about Ukrainian
Wars destroy people's lives and homes, and they also destroy their art and culture. This article from Architectural Digest provides an insight into how the art world (both inside and out of Ukraine) has tried to respond. link to How the Art World is Responding to the Russian Invasion of Ukraine
Art allows people to express their feelings, to draw attention to causes, and to promote social justice. The artistic response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine showcases how those artistic aspects manifest within contemporary art. link to Artists Are Expressing Their Support for Ukraine in Emotional Illustrations
The brave men and women of Ukraine have been in the news in ways they never could have imagined over the last few days, but how much do you know about their culture? For those who are interested in finding out more about these brave people, this article gives an excellent overview of their rich… Continue reading Article: Internet Encyclopedia of Ukraine’s Featured Topics in Ukrainian Art and Architecture
Humanities Scholars 