General Interest
http://www.npg.si.edu/exhibit/recognize/index.html
The lyricism and social consciousness of hip-hop music has been a source of inspiration for many artists working in photography, painting, film, and even contemporary multimedia projects. Recently, the National Portrait Gallery decided to create an exhibit that would explore some of these relationships and exchanges, and this website offers a taste of what visitors will find at the actual exhibition space. First-time visitors to the site can click on over to one of the main themes on the right-hand side of the homepage. Actually, the "Photography" area is a great place to start, and visitors can listen to an interview with photographer David Scheinbaum about his work and artistic vision. After that, visitors can look over a sampling of his images, which include concert photos of Gang Starr, Mos Def, and KRS-ONE. Moving on, the "Painting" area features the work of Kehinde Wiley, who is known for his large and vibrantly-colored paintings of young African American men. Some of the works featured here include portraits of Big Daddy Kane, LL Cool J, and Ice T. Overall, it's an interesting collection, and one that allows the National Portrait Gallery to break out into new territory. [KMG]
http://preservation.lacity.org/survey
If you mention "historic preservation" and "Los Angeles" in the same sentence, some people might raise their eyebrows. The City of Angeles has constantly reinvented itself during its relatively brief existence, and much of the city's urban fabric has been chewed up by bulldozers and ambitious developers over the past several decades. However, the J. Paul Getty Trust is providing financial backing for the very exciting and ambitious project known as "SurveyLA". The intent of SurveyLa is to complete a citywide survey that will identify and document historic resources representing significant themes in the city's history. Visitors to the site can learn about the survey's methods, read a FAQ section, and also locate historic properties. It's a very well-done website, and it's one that other historic preservation officials and persons with an interest in such matters may want to consult as they think about their own efforts in this area. [KMG]
http://www.fao.org/worldfoodsituation
Founded in 1945, The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is concerned with defeating hunger through a broad range of strategic and targeted programs. One of their public service and awareness initiatives includes this site, which is designed to provide high-quality and rigorously researched information on the state of food and agricultural production across the world. Scholars will want to click on over to the "Analyses and Reports" area, which includes short, medium, and long-term reports on crop prospects, the rice market, and the overall world food market. Moving down the homepage, visitors will find the "Key Issues" area. Here they can read a list of countries in crisis, learn about food emergencies, and take a look at the FAO Food Price Index. [KMG]
http://www.poets.org/page.php/prmID/41
T.S. Eliot wrote that "April is the cruelest month". Hopefully, National Poetry Month can clear the skies a bit and offer a bit of hope and insight. National Poetry Month has been celebrated every April since 1996, and was started by The Academy of American Poets. This site provides a cornucopia of resources designed to help everyone celebrate and enjoy the festivities of National Poetry Month. Visitors can start their journey through the site by clicking on the "What is National Poetry Month?" area, and then moving on to read more about related events across all of the 50 states. Educators will want to look over the "Resources" area, as they can peruse resources designed to motivate students to enjoy poetry in the classroom. Everyone who visits the site should also click on over to the "Poem-A-Day" feature, which allows visitors the opportunity to receive a poem each day during National Poetry Month. [KMG]
http://www.learner.org/resources/series78.html
What goes on during an earthquake? Who came up with the theory of plate tectonics? What can the fossil record tell us about the evolution of life on Earth? These are all fine questions, and students and educators with a thirst for geological knowledge will find the answers to these (and many more) questions in the "Earth Revealed" television series. Offered as part of the Annenberg Media website, the 26-part series includes such episodes as "Geologic Time", "Mountain Building", and "The Birth of a Theory". As with many of the Annenberg Media offerings, visitors can view entire episodes here, and they can also take a look at a list of additional resources. [KMG]
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/
The National Geographic Society takes a broad and inclusive approach to history in their print magazine, and their website dedicated to the subject is no different. The site is full of multimedia features, such as video clips, short interviews, and interactive maps, and it is updated frequently. On the top of the homepage, new and timely history-related news stories scroll through, accompanied by arresting visual images. Visitors can click on the images, or also navigate their way through a list of stories below the image box. Additionally, the site contains a "History Video" area, which includes video clips documenting everything from the annual donkey race in Italy to various archaeological museums. Because the site maintains the high-quality standards of the print magazine, many visitors may find themselves acquiring an enduring interest on some of the topics covered here. [KMG]
The word "Aluka" is derived from a Zulu word meaning "to weave". It's an appropriate title for this international, collaborative initiative, which is committed to building and maintaining a digital library of scholarly resources from and about Africa. While it might be best to describe some websites by what they have, it's almost better to ask the question of what Aluka doesn't have on its very thorough site. From the homepage, visitors can search the entire contents of the collection, or just browse on through some of the "Aluka's Choice" items, which might include anything from a drawing on animal skin or an architectural rendering of a temple in Ghana. The site also features several library tools, including a 3D viewer, a specialized page viewer, and an image measurement tool. Visitors can also take a look at the "News" area or just check out the "Image of the Day" feature on the homepage. [KMG]
http://exhibits.denverartmuseum.org/impressionism/
"Daring. Provocative. Revolutionary." This is how the curators for the "Inspiring Impression" exhibit describe the Impressionists. But, this exhibit does more than display Impressionist masterpieces, it also shows how these "painters of modern life were influenced by artists of the past." The exhibition explores the relationship between the Impressionists and the Old Masters that inspired them. If you can't make it to Denver to see the show, then this website provides a worthwhile taste of the exhibition. In the "Featured Artworks" section, visitors can compare the likes of Hobbema and Monet, Puget and Cézanne, and others. Here, an inspirational work by an Old Master is set next to an Impressionist work clearly influenced by its predecessor. The site also offers a timeline, which allows visitors to "learn more about Impressionists and their relationships to the Old Masters." Finally, the "Teaching Resources" section of the site provides a wealth of information on where to find more on either the Old Masters or the Impressionists in cyberspace. [CMH]
