Trading Places: The East India Company and Asia 1600-1834. 'Imagine
an England without tea in china cups, without pepper, chintz or chutney;
imagine an India without cricket or gin and tonic, a world without Bombay
or Singapore.'
'Interested in finding out more about the East India Company and its
effects on life in Asia and Britain? Then go on a Journey of Discovery
... '
British World War II Posters Gallery.
'Magazine illustrations, advertisements and government information
posters, published during World War Two, offer a fascinating insight into social attitudes of the time - as well as the impact of wartime austerity. Equally, the War Savings posters reveal aspects of the propaganda war, in the appeals of the British and US governments to the patriotism of their respective peoples.'
'UK War Savings Certificates, or War Bonds, were first introduced during
World War One to allow the government to borrow more money. They proved
a huge success. Although the scheme continued during the inter-war years,
it saw its second period of massive growth during World War Two. By the
end of 1945, it had reached the amazing figure of £1,754 million ... '
Tibetan
Buddhist Art. 'Buddhism was introduced to Tibet by
the seventh century and was proclaimed the state
religion by the end of the eighth century. Although
Buddhist influence waned during persecutions between
838 and 942, the religion saw a revival beginning in
the late tenth century. It rapidly became dominant,
inaugurating what is known as the "later diffusion of
the Buddhist faith." During the first few hundred
years of this renewed interest, many monks from Tibet
traveled abroad to India ... '
Maiolica.
'Maiolica, the refined, white-glazed pottery of the
Italian Renaissance, was adapted to all objects that
were traditionally ceramic, such as dishes, bowls,
serving vessels, and jugs of all shapes and sizes. It
was also used as a medium for sculpture and sculptural
reliefs, as well as floor and ceiling tiles. The
latter were rectangular, laid side by side across
specially adapted joists ... '
Manuscript
Illumination in Italy. 'During the early
Renaissance, the art of manuscript illumination
flourished in Italy, alongside that of painting, with
the formation of regional schools and centers of
production.'
The Legacy of Genghis Khan.
'Genghis Khan (ca. 1162-1227) and the Mongols are invariably associated
with terrible tales of conquest, destruction, and bloodshed. This famed
clan leader and his immediate successors created the largest empire ever
to exist, spanning the entire Asian continent from the Pacific Ocean to
modern-day Hungary in Europe. Such an empire could not have been shaped
without visionary leadership, superior organizational skills, the
swiftest and most resilient cavalry ever known, an army of superb
archers (the "devil's horsemen" in Western sources), the existence of
politically weakened states across Asia, and, of course, havoc and
devastation.'
'Yet, the legacy of Genghis Khan, his sons, and grandsons is also one of
cultural development, artistic achievement, a courtly way of life, and
an entire continent united under the so-called Pax Mongolica ("Mongolian
Peace"). Few people realize that the Yuan dynasty in China (1279-1368)
is part of Genghis Khan's legacy through its founder, his grandson
Kublai Khan (r. 1260-95). The Mongol empire was at its largest two
generations after Genghis Khan and was divided into four main branches,
the Yuan (empire of the Great Khan) being the central and most
important. The other Mongol states were the Chaghatay khanate in Central
Asia (ca. 1227-1363), the Golden Horde in southern Russia extending into
Europe (ca. 1227-1502), and the Ilkhanid dynasty in Greater Iran
(1256-1353) ... '
Art from Oaxaca.
'Long renowned as a center for folk art production, the mountainous
southern Mexico state of Oaxaca has a growing reputation for the fine
arts as well. Birthplace of the late master Rufino Tamayo, Oaxaca has
also produced such leading Mexican artists as Francisco Toledo, Rodolfo
Nieto and Rodolfo Morales. But it is the vitality of the younger
generation of Oaxaca artists, such as Enrique Flores, Leovigildo
Martinez, Fernando Olivera, and Carlomagno Pedro that has led critics to
identify a distinct Oaxaca School of Mexican art. Oaxacan art draws its
strength from native Indian culture, myths and legends. It is suffused
with "magic realism" a folk surrealism in which people fly and
mysterious juxtapositions are the norm. As poet Alberto Blanco has
written, the artists of Oaxaca "all tend to depict one theme: the
appearance in our history of another time and place. A space within
another space. A time within another time." ... '
The Easter Rising.
'The 1916 Easter Rising and the War of Independence that followed in
1919-21 transformed the political landscape in Ireland. You can explore
the events leading up to 1916, the Insurrection itself and its
aftermath, through essays, photographs, sound archive, music and
newspapers from the period.'
Rudy Park. Online comic.
'Modern life has its complications. Entire romances take place online
(including the naughty parts); twelve-year-olds are preoccupied with
balancing their portfolios; the desire to own the world's largest SUV is
almost as urgent as the desire to own the world's smallest cellular
phone. In short, this culture needs to take a good, hard laugh at
itself. Rudy Park, a comic strip by Darrin Bell and Theron Heir, brings
a unique point of view to the comics pages and the Web (at
www.comics.com). Rudy Park appears in 60 newspapers worldwide, including
the Chicago Sun-Times, Detroit Free Press, Minneapolis Star Tribune, The
Seattle Times and Denver Rocky Mountain News. '
'Rudy Park lampoons consumerism, technology and culture. The strip is
not afraid to ask the tough questions, like whether it really,
absolutely, positively has to be there overnight. And, if technology's
so great, how come we still can't program the VCR? '
Frank & Ernest. Online comic.
'Bob Thaves' innovative comic panel stars Frank and Ernest, playful
punsters with the ability to appear as any person, place or thing in any
time period, past, present or future. They can appear as plants, bugs,
angels, planets, Roman gladiators, Medieval knights, clowns, robots --
the list is as long as Thaves' imagination. The only constant element is
the pair's "frank and earnest" iconoclastic attitude. '
Jest Sports.
'Jest Sports is the belly-busting comic that shows us what happens when
the wacky world of sports collides with life.'
Bulls N Bears. Online comic.
'The workers in "Executive Suite" have made a career shift from making
tools to maki ng trades. "Executive Suite," by William Wells and Jack
Lindstrom, has been renamed Bulls N Bears,as familiar characters
Jonathan Stone and company open a new brokerage firm and navigate the
unpredictable business of stock trading and investments. Oblivious
managing director Jonathan Stone, smart and witty executive assistant
Helen Hopkins and the rest of the cast of "Executive Suite" continue to
work together in the new Bulls N Bears Brokerage. With the same office
humor that gave readers a parody of their own workdays in "Executive
Suite," Bulls N Bears takes on WallStreet from a Main Street
perspective. Bulls N Bears is a stock brokerage firm in a town where,as
in most places, investing has become an obsession.'
The
Art of Zen Buddhism. 'The essential element of Zen
Buddhism is found in its name, for Zen means
"meditation." Zen teaches that enlightenment is
achieved through the profound realization that one is
already an enlightened being. This awakening can
happen gradually or in a flash of insight (as
emphasized by the Soto and Rinzai schools,
respectively). But in either case, it is the result of
one's own efforts. Deities and scriptures can offer
only limited assistance.'
Renaissance
Drawings: Material and Function. 'During the late
fourteenth century, artists began to use paper more
and more to explore their ideas for the design of
paintings and sculptures, rather than simply to copy
or record finished works of art. This exploratory type
of drawing offers a vivid and intimate glimpse of the
artist creatively thinking on paper ... '
Music
in the Renaissance. 'Music was an essential part
of civic, religious, and courtly life in the
Renaissance. The rich interchange of ideas in Europe,
as well as political, economic, and religious events
in the period 1400–1600 led to major changes in styles
of composing, methods of disseminating music, new
musical genres, and the development of musical
instruments. The most important music of the early
Renaissance was composed for use by the
church—polyphonic (made up of several simultaneous
melodies) masses and motets in Latin for important
churches and court chapels. By the end of the
sixteenth century, however, patronage was split among
many areas: the Catholic Church, Protestant churches
and courts, wealthy amateurs, and music printing—all
were sources of income for composers ... '
David
Cortner. Personal astrophotography site. 'This
site consists mostly of astrophotographs and other
stuff of an astronomical bent.'
Slowpoke
Blog. 'Jen Sorensen is the author and artist
behind "Slowpoke." Born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in
1974, Jen has been turning out drawings of a comical
nature for as long as she can remember. In high school
she honed her craft through incessant doodling, as
well as giving friends the occasional ballpoint pen
tattoo. She went on to attend the University of
Virginia, where she spent more time doodling in
notebooks and studying cultural anthropology. There
she also penned a popular daily strip entitled "Lil'
Gus."'
The Shashwati Women's Museum Collection.
'One of the best kept secrets of Bangalore city is the Shashwati
Women's Museum at the N.M.K.R.V. College. Founded by the great
educator/scholar C.N. Mangala ...
it showcases arts and artifacts depicting the life of women in India
though the ages. Artifacts include tools women used for household
chores, examples of women's art, handicrafts, ornaments, and means of
infant care. Here are some pictures from Shashwati (meaning durable
or inveterate) Museum Collection. '
Still Life: Bosschaert, Melendez and Peale.
'Today we take the idea of still life for granted: an arrangement of
fruit, flowers, and beautiful objects seems like a natural subject for
a painting. But this was not always the case. Still life emerged as an
independent subject around 1600, when a growing interest in the natural
world led to its simultaneous appearance in northern Europe, Italy,
and Spain. Ever since, it has played a prominent role in the history of
art ... '
Paris: Virtual Tours.
'Would you rather visit Paris walking around on your own, or do
you prefer a historical guided tour with comments? Or maybe visit
the Catacombs? '
Batman, Catman and a Kit Called Ginger: The Comic Book Invasion of
Australia.
'During the 1930s, 40s and 50s Australia had a small but extremely active
comic book industry which took its lead from the giant production houses
of America.
As well as publishing local reprints of such staple titles as Batman and
Superman, local publishers brought together vibrant and creative teams
of writers and artists who capitalised on the immense popularity of
overseas comic books by producing derivative, yet at times highly
sophisticated, titles of their own ... '
The Baton Rouge Bus Boycott of 1953.
'Baton Rouge was the site of the first successful bus boycott of the
1950s. This event became a blueprint for the more publicized boycott
to take place two years later in Montgomery, Alabama, and it set the
stage for desegregation in the Deep South. ' 'This exhibit includes
photographs, an historical timeline, and the personal recollections of
some of the major figures behind the Baton Rouge bus boycott. It
represents the combined efforts of students at McKinley High School
and Louisiana State University graduate students of EDCI 5880, Summer
Session 1998.'
Rimpa. 'Rimpa, a unique Japanese decorative style originated in the
first half of the seventeenth century by the artists Hon'ami Koetsu
(1558-1637) and Tawaraya Sotatsu (died ca. 1643). During the Edo period
(1615-1868), the style was continued by artists such as Ogata Korin
(1658-1716), Watanabe Shiko (1683-1775), Sakai Hoitsu (1761-1828),
Nakamura Hochu (late 18th - early 19th century), and Suzuki Kiitsu
(1796-1858). '
Gallery.
Country Cures. 'Country Cures is an interactive project to gather
information about the sometimes familiar, often surprising, use of
plants in traditional medicine. It is a tribute to herbal remedies, not
those from ancient books or old scientific journals, but those kept
alive by word of mouth between generations.'
Araucanian Royalist
Society. 'The Kingdom of Araucania and Patagonia founded in 1860 by
the Mapuche Indians in territory now occupied by the Republics of Chile
and Argentina. Orelie-Antoine de Tounens, a French lawyer living in
Araucania, was elected by the Mapuche to be the first King of Araucania
and Patagonia. In 1862, King Orelie-Antoine was kidnapped by Chilean
soldiers and deported to France. He mounted three expeditions to reclaim
his throne and rally the Mapuche against the Republic of Chile, which
was invading and colonizing Mapuche lands. In 1878, King Orelie-Antoine
died in Tourtoirac, France ... '
Islamic Spain (711-1492). 'Islamic Spain was a multi-cultural mix of
the people of three great monotheistic religions: Muslims, Christians,
and Jews.' 'For much of the time, the three groups managed to get
along together, and to benefit from the presence of each other. ' 'It
brought a degree of civilisation to Europe that matched the heights of
the Roman Empire and the Italian Renaissance ... '
The Hebrides. Images of the
Scottish Highlands and islands. 'This website features the photography
of Sam Maynard, who lived in the Hebrides from 1980 to 2000.'
An American Family: The Beecher Tradition. 'Families that have been
influential in American life and culture are often recognizable by their
signature names. The Beecher family is an example of one such family
whose deep religious convictions and social conscience spanned the
nineteenth century and made them prominent historical figures whose
impact on religion, education, abolition, reform movements, literature
and public life were exceptional. Biographer Milton Rugoff claims that
in "two generations the Beechers emerged, along with many other
Americans, from a God-centered, theology-ridden world concerned with the
fate of man's eternal soul into a man-centered society occupied mainly
with life on earth." ...'
The American Indian Observed: Sketches and Documents From the
Collections of
the Archives of American Art. 'Having amassed over thirteen million
items since its founding in 1954, the Archives of American Art is the
world's largest repository of material relating to American art and
artists. The professional and personal papers of artists, dealers,
critics, and art historians; the institutional records of art galleries,
museums, socieities and other organizations; and a thriving Oral History
Program, all provide documentation on a wide variety of artistic
styles, movements, and periods. '
link
22nd June
Popular Tales of the West Highlands,
1890. 'This is the first of four volumes of Campbell's collection of Scottish folklore. Campbell,
who was fluent in Gaelic, spent years in the field eliciting these stories from people in all walks
of life. This was a salvage project, as the stories and the storytellers were rapidly dying out. It
is because of Campbell's pioneering effort that we have a comprehensive record of this rich vein of
folklore. '
Icons and Iconoclasm in Byzantium.
'Icons (from the Greek eikones) are sacred images representing saints, Christ, and the Virgin, as
well as narrative scenes such as Christ's Crucifixion. While today the term is most closely
associated with wooden panel painting, in Byzantium icons could be crafted in all media, including
marble, ivory, gemstone, precious metal, enamel, and mosaic ... '
The Greek Slave. 'This
sculpture by Hiram Powers was perhaps the most popular American work of art at mid-century. Over one
hundred thousand people paid to see it during its 1847-1848 tour around the country. Powers himself
supplied this gloss on the statue's sensational subject--a woman on sale as a sexual object ... '
Stickball Hall of Fame. 'The game
of stickball, an early variant of baseball, was developed by city children whose playground was the
neighborhood street. From the 1880s to the 1920s, New York City's population swelled with new
immigrants. During the same period, baseball was developing into "America's favorite pastime," and
learning the game was considered one of the rituals of becoming an American. Undaunted by the lack
of ball fields in their increasingly crowded urban neighborhoods, African-American, Irish, Italian,
and Jewish children, recent arrivals to Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Manhattan, adapted the game to city
streets. Stickball became one of the most popular summer sports for boys during the Depression.
After World War II, many Puerto Ricans and other Latinos settled in New York and picked up the game
at a time when street games were declining due to increased traffic ... '
Coffee, Tea and Chocolate in Early
Colonial America. ' "Thank God for tea!" wrote the British clergyman and essayist Reverend
Sydney Smith (1771-1845), one of many to pay impassioned tribute to the world's most popular
infusion. Yet, prior to its importation to Europe by Dutch traders around 1610, tea was virtually
unknown to Westerners, who routinely began their day with a mug of beer or ale. Three exotic
beverages-coffee, tea, and chocolate-arrived in seventeenth-century Europe at a time of burgeoning
exploration and trade, and their arrival caused a near revolution in drinking habits. Celebrated by
some, deplored by others, these stimulating brews gave rise to a number of important social
institutions, such as the coffeehouse, the tea garden, and the ritual of afternoon tea. At first
valued for their curative powers, they were soon counted among the necessities of daily life, and
the utensils used in their
preparation and service became essential as well ... '
American Needlework in the 18th
Century. ' In eighteenth-century America, a girl was expected to grow up, get married, have
children, and take care of a home. Because of the limits of her sphere, a girl received a very
different education from that available to a boy. Indeed, before the advent of public education in
the mid-nineteenth century, in order to receive any education at all a boy or a girl had to be born
into the middle or upper classes and have parents who valued education enough to pay for it.
Usually, a boy would be taught traditional academic subjects, while a girl might be tutored in the
barest rudiments of reading and arithmetic. Instead of academic studies, girls were usually sent to
schools that taught an assortment of skills considered "female accomplishments"-music, watercolor
painting, comportment, manners, and sewing ... '
link
21st June
Baron von Mueller's Melbourne: Remarkable 19th Century
Germans.
'When we think of Germans in 19th century Australia, we probably think
first of their role in the opening of the vast sheep and wheat belts of
South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria, and the feats
of intrepid individuals such as Ludwig Leichhardt. We tend to overlook the
role of groups like Melbourne's small but distinguished band of Germans,
whose achievements in the sciences, arts, crafts, commerce, even
gymnastics, amounted to what has been described as "one of the high
points of Australian colonial culture"
... '
Kelly Culture: Reconstructing Ned Kelly.
'Kelly Culture: reconstructing Ned Kelly explores Australia's
fascination with Edward "Ned" Kelly and his enduring presence within
our literature, visual arts, cinema, performing arts, music and popular
culture. This exhibition presents the key historical artifacts associated
with Ned Kelly and his Gang together with paintings, posters, photographs,
manuscripts, textiles, music and moving image. In addition to the State
Library of Victoria's extensive holdings of Kelly-related material,
Kelly Culture brings together major loans from public and private
collections throughout Australia. '
'In recent years, with the release of Peter Carey's novel, True History
of the Kelly Gang, the opening ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games
and now a new feature film, Ned Kelly looms as large as ever on our
cultural horizon. Rather than debate whether he was a villain or a saint,
Kelly Culture reflects Ned Kelly's broad appeal throughout the decades
and our mythologising of Kelly at different times as a larrikin, criminal,
gentleman or hero ... '
The Barthelmy Collection of Tarascan Folklife.
'Richard Barthelemy and his wife, Margaret, lived in San Juan Nuevo
Parangaricutiro, Michoacan for over a decade, beginning in 1974. He took
photographs of the life of the people of San Juan Nuevo and neighboring
towns. Heidi, also an accomplished photographer, worked with her father
and contributed many of the images in this collection showing the
agricultural, industrial, and ceremonial life of the Tarascan
people. '
The Tarascan culture.
'he Purepecha, known to outsiders as Tarascans, are descendants
of a large and powerful nation-state unconquered by their Aztec neighbors.
They speak an isolate language unrelated to other native tongues of
Mexico. The Mexican State of Michoacan was drawn around the central part
of the Purepecha homeland. Most of the people live in towns and villages
located in the cold, rainy highlands between six and eight thousand feet
in elevation. It is from this region that the collection was assembled.'
Baseball Enlists.
'Only weeks after Pearl Harbor,
baseball commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis placed the fate of Major
League Baseball in the hands of President Franklin Roosevelt. "What do
you want [baseball] to do?" Landis asked FDR. "If you believe we ought
to close down for the duration of the war, we are ready to do so
immediately. If you feel we ought to continue, we would be delighted to
do so. We await your order."'
'Within two days, Landis had his answer. President Roosevelt stayed
baseball's demise and gave the game a valuable gift. In the "Green Light"
letter, FDR told Landis that he personally considered baseball "thoroughly
worthwhile." He further encouraged the commissioner to schedule more night
baseball games so day-shift workers could "see a game occasionally." With
"orders" from the president, baseball initiated an energetic campaign to
support the war in every conceivable way. Patriotism joined the roster.
Baseball had enlisted ... '
Maryland Historical Society: Online Quilt Tour.
'The Maryland Historical Society's textile and costume collection provides
insight to Maryland history from a distinctly different vantage point.
Women, those who most often made these textiles, wrote their lives in
this visual format. With added information from diaries, letters, and
other objects, 19th-century Maryland quilts unfold rich and varied stories
of life throughout the state.'
'One of the most distinctive textile forms in Maryland is the Baltimore
album quilt. The album quilt had early roots. The ultimate form-a quilt
made by many hands, each contributor providing an appliquéd or pieced
block inscribed with messages - evolved from skills and methods seen in
earlier quilts. '
Baltimore Architecture, Then and Now.
' "Baltimore Town" was officially created by an act of the Maryland
Colonial Assembly in 1729, including an area of 60 acres surveyed in 1730.
In 2001, very little remains of the pre-1800 town. At the beginning of
the 19th century, wealthy merchants built elegant country houses such as
Homewood, owned by Charles Carroll of Carrollton, and Montebello, built
by General John Smith. It was during this period that great architects
such as Benjamin Henry Latrobe and Maximillian Godefroy designed
buildings in the city. With immigration and economic growth, the
population of Baltimore grew in both numbers and wealth. It was also
at this time the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was founded linking the
city with the rich farmlands to the west ... '
The
Karl Liebknecht Archive. 'The son of Wilhelm
Liebknecht, one of the founders of the SPD, Karl
Liebknecht trained to be a lawyer and defended many
Social Democrats in political trials. He was also a
leading figure in the socialist youth movement and
thus became a leading figure in the struggle against
militarism ... ' '... Freed by the November
revolution he immediately threw himself into the
struggle and became with Rosa Luxemburg one of the
founders of the new Communist Party (KPD). Along with
Luxemburg he was murdered by military officers with
the tacit approval of the leaders of the SPD after the
suppression of the so-called "Spartacist Uprising" in
January 1919.'
The
Sacred Sites of Wales. ' "The Sacred Sites of
Wales" takes you on a journey around Wales, from
Tintern Abbey in the southeast, to the shrine of St.
Winifred in Holywell, in the northeast. It covers many
of the ancient burial grounds, but is mainly centered
on the six cathedrals of Wales: St. Woolos, Llandaff,
Brecon, St. David's, Bangor and St. Asaph. ;
Jacob
Lawrence: Storyteller. 'Jacob Lawrence was one of
the greatest painters of modern history, best known
for his series paintings based on Harriet Tubman and
the Great Migration. His works are often taught in
classrooms as examples of excellent artistic
achievement as well as wonderful ways to tell stories
about American history. '
John
Biggers Gallery. Art. More
on John Biggers. 'Welcome to The Web of Life: The
Art of John Biggers, an artsednet Talk online
exhibition and discussion that focuses on using
discipline-based art education (DBAE) in the
classroom. This program concentrates on the life and
work of the African American artist and art educator
John Biggers. It features information about Biggers,
teaching materials, activities for students, a
conversation with the artist, and examples of his
work. '
Allison Delarue Collection. Ballet history and the art of
ballet. 'Ballet in the nineteenth century was an ideal medium for the
manifestation of the Romantic movement. Expressionism, lyricism, and
inspiration took precedence over Classical ideals, and interest in the
supernatural and the exotic provided subject matter for some of the most
popular ballets of the period, among them La Sylphide and Giselle.
'
The Romantic ballet was dominated by female dancers. Marie Taglioni,
whose Parisian debut in 1827 essentially marks the beginning of the
period, was noted for her grace and strength. Her opposite in physique,
style, and temperament was Fanny Elssler; the two were defined by
Theophile Gautier as Christian and pagan dancers. Arthur Saint-Leon and
Jules Perrot were among the most famous of the male dancers, who
functioned as lesser partners and often became choreographers in
addition to appearing on stage. It was Perrot who choreographed the Pas
de Quatre with four stars of the era: Taglioni, Carlotta Grisi, Fanny
Cerrito, and Lucile Grahn ... ' 'The Delarue Collection offers not
only vignettes of this extraordinary time of artistry and grace, but
also a glimpse of the entire period portrayed as well. '
Zenga. 'Zen Buddhism, which originated in sixth-century China, began
to flourish in Japan in the twelfth century. Devoid of strict rules or
complex texts, it is based on the pursuit of personal enlightenment. The
term "Zenga" refers to the ink painting and calligraphy executed by Zen
monks of the Edo period (1615-1868) as a tool for meditation and
spiritual teaching. '
'These simple sketch-like paintings derive from an introspective,
meditative view of reality. '
Gallery.
175 Years of Life at the University of Virginia. 'Retiring to
Monticello in 1809 at the end of his second term as president, Thomas
Jefferson focused all his energies on the creation of a university which
would "prove a blessing to my own State, and not unuseful perhaps to
some others." Joining him in the enterprise were Presidents James
Madison and James Monroe; together with John Hartwell Cocke of Fluvanna
County, noted reformer and a general in the War of 1812; and Joseph
Carrington Cabell, a delegate and state senator from Amherst County, who
supported Jefferson's educational program in the Virginia legislature
... '
Popular
Tales from the Norse, 1904. 'This is George
Dasent's classic collection of Scandinavian folklore.
This is not about Norse mythology per se; so if you
are looking for tales of Odin, Loki, and Freya etc.,
you will have to look elsewhere. Rather, this is an
anthology of folk tales, similar to the Grimm
Brothers, or Campbell's Popular Tales of the West
Highlands. All of the usual suspects are in place,
including giants, trolls, witches, evil step-siblings,
magical boons and tasks, and anthropomorphic animals.
' 'The introduction is exceptionally well written,
and places various magical and other themes from the
tales into the context of ancient Norse Pagan beliefs.
It is a victorian scholarly treatise however (with the
requisite multipage foonotes and rhetorical
flourishes), and will mostly be appreciated by
academic readers. Once you get past the introduction
however, the prose descends to the young adult level,
and the delightful stories can be appreciated by
readers of all ages. There is also an appendix which
has a few 'Anansi' stories from the West Indies. '
The
Glory of the Gothic Page. 'Featuring whimsical
marginal decorations, vivid narratives, and the lavish
use of gold leaf, Gothic illumination is among the
most innovative and beautiful art forms of the Middle
Ages. Gothic was a term originally coined by
Renaissance writers who disliked the nonclassical
style of architecture that emerged in France around
1150, which they attributed to the barbarian Goths.
Its early negative meaning has long since been lost.
The word is now also applied to the style of
manuscript illumination that evolved around the same
time, characterized by a naturalistic style of
painting and a sense of liveliness in the format of
the page. Gothic illumination, which flourished in
northern Europe from about 1200 to 1350, graced the
pages of some of the most stunning works of art to
survive from the Middle Ages ... '
Stained
Glass. 'During the Gothic period and the
Renaissance (1100s–1500s) stained glass was one of the
foremost techniques of painting practiced in Europe.
It may seem surprising to call stained glass a form of
painting, but in fact it is. Look closely at the image
here and note that the surfaces of each piece of glass
are painted in a wide range of dark tones. One of the
most widespread forms of painting, stained glass
inspired the lives of the faithful through religious
narratives in churches and cloisters, celebrated
family and political ties in city halls, and even
decorated the windows of private houses. This
exhibition presents highlights from the recent
acquisition of a group of stained glass panels, which
broadens the scope of the J. Paul Getty Museum
collection to include this significant medium.'
Alice and Beyond: English Children's Books. 'When it was first
published in 1865, Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland was
unusual a book for children with no avowed purpose except
entertainment. The writings of Lewis Carroll, as well as imaginative
literature by other English author-illustrators were immensely popular
in England. Their books became emissaries of English culture -
influencing attitudes toward childhood as well as language, fashion,
imaginative art and literature, in England and abroad ... '
Dr. Seuss Went to
War. Political cartoons. 'Dr. Seuss (Theodor Seuss Geisel,
1904-1991) was a life-long cartoonist: in high school in Springfield,
Massachusetts; in college at Dartmouth (Class of 1925); as an adman in
New York City before World War II; in his many children's books,
beginning with To Think That I Saw it on Mulberry Street (1937). Because
of the fame of his children's books (and because we often misunderstand
these books) and because his political cartoons have remained largely
unknown, we do not think of Dr. Seuss as a political cartoonist. But for
two years, 1941-1943, he was the chief editorial cartoonist for the New
York newspaper PM (1940-1948), and for that journal he drew over 400
editorial cartoons ... '
The Book of American Negro
Poetry, 1922. 'The 31 representative poets in this anthology of 177
works inspired the Harlem Renaissance generation to establish firmly an
African-American literary tradition in the United States.'
The Plain Layne Mystery.
'In the past two years, Layne has discovered she's bisexual; fell in
love with a Spanish go-go
dancer; made room in her home for her cousin's pregnant girlfriend and
now her newborn infant; met
up with one of her birth parents for the first time; recounted a fling she
had with a former boss
(who had a girlfriend at the time); hinted at a rape she endured in
Mexico (which turned her into a
lesbian); charmed a straight woman co-worker into sleeping with her,
becoming her girlfriend and
then fiancee (!); broken off the engagement with said co-worker;
frequently hooked up with one of
the ex-fiancee's friends (another straight girl, if you can believe it);
most recently slept with
three women in the same week; and somehow, as all this was going on,
held down a job at a large
corporation working 80 hours a week managing a very successful IT
group.'
'Late last week, her site was taken down and replaced with a bit of
Polish text. And that (plus
the fantastical series of adventures that Layne was constantly and
consistantly embarking on) set
people wondering:
Is Layne real? And if so, how real is she?'
Layne, if you're reading this, please do get in touch (whoever you are).
link
16th June
Le Blogeur and Plep Day.
We are forever grateful to Le Blogeur for this institution. Plep Day
is the
second Monday in June.
Secret Soviet Moon Mission. 'Without
a doubt, the 20th century's unique contribution to the history of
mankind is the remarkable achievement of going to space. It took the
combined efforts of literally hundreds of thousands of people, scores
of brilliant minds and two great nations committing unprecedented
resources to reach that goal. One name will forever be linked to
this once unimaginable feat: Sergei Pavlovich Korolev, until his death
known only as the Chief Designer. Under his remarkable leadership the
Soviets achieved amazing triumphs, launching the world's first satellite,
the first dog in space, the first man in space, the first woman in space
and the first spacecraft to reach the moon. His dream was to send man to
Mars and Venus and beyond. His story is virtually unknown outside
Russia. '
Child Hunger in Ethiopia:
Photographs and Text by David Blumenfeld. 'Drought in Ethiopia is as
old as the land itself. The first recorded famine due to drought in the
region dates as far back as 253 BCE. Over the centuries millions have
died from hunger and drought related diseases. While other countries have
learned to cope with the problem, Ethiopias population continues to
suffer. While some place blame on government inefficiency and corruption,
others attribute the situation to a lack of farming technology and
irrigation as well as ineffective food distribution. ' 'This year
Ethiopia witnessed one of the worst droughts in recent history.
Record-low rainfall led to failed-crops, loss of livestock, malnutrition,
hunger, and a sharp increase in disease and death toll.'
Frazz. Web comic.
'Bryson Elementary's janitor is the most respected educator in the school.
Every kid's pal and peer, Frazz exudes a love of learning that's
contagious. The principal wants to be just like him. The other teachers
want to learn from him. The students can't get enough of him. A
Renaissance man, friend, role model and so much more, Frazz makes
learning fun for everyone. '
Sheldon. Web comic. '"Sheldon" is about a ten-year-old boy who earned
billions with his own software company. Despite his billions, Sheldon's
still very much a kid -- happily going to school, relaxing with friends
at the ol' swimmin' hole, and spending hours watching "Star Trek." He's
raised by his grandfather: a warm-hearted man who barely understands the
toaster, never mind these newfangled "computers." Now retired, Gramp is
not quite sure what to make of his grandson's billions, but seems to take
it in stride. Gramp and Sheldon are joined at home by Arthur, Sheldon's
sarcastic, talking pet duck. Egotistical and brash, Arthur is able to
cause a heck of a lot of trouble for someone only fourteen inches tall.
Together, these three share the normal life that one might expect from a
boy-billionaire, a retiree, and a talking duck...which is to say, not very
normal at all. '
Galina Kirillova. Graphic artist and books illustrator. 'In our
well-planned and rationalised world, there is a strong need in someone
who may look on the reality with crystal and naive eyes of a child...
With crystal eyes which are able to see the Internal Truth... '
Nikola Tesla.
'Tesla has been praised as a genius by some scientists and denounced as
a fraud by others. I trust the judgement of distinguished men who knew
Tesla, granting him friendships and professional awards. Below are links
to a report I wrote in 1972: Nikola Tesla's Investigation of High
Frequency Phenomena and Radio Communication ... '
Tower Hamlets History Online.
'Welcome to Tower Hamlets History On Line where you will find articles
on the history of Bethnal Green, Bow, Bromley-by-Bow, the Isle of Dogs,
Limehouse, Mile End Old Town, Poplar, Ratcliff, St. George's in the
East, Shadwell, Spitalfields, Stepney, Wapping, Whitechapel - or any of
the other hamlets that make up the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It
was created by David Rich in 1998 and has been growing steadily ever
since...'
Austin Postcard. Vintage
postcards from Austin, Texas. Ephemera, history.
Movable Books and Pop-ups from the Collection of Adriaan Heino.
'Hello, my name is Adriaan Heino. I dedicated this site to the
fascinating world of movable books. It contains a bit of history on
movable books, a short description of the different types of books and
links to other interesting sites. But above all, it will show you
examples of books that I have in my collection. Buying movable books for
about 15 years has resulted in a collection of about 600 items, which is
still growing rapidly. Although most of my books are rather new, I also
own some very nice older ones. '
link
