General Interest
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Africa is a Country
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Social studies |
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The title of the group blog, Africa is a Country, is tongue-in-cheek, as its subtitle - "Not the continent with 54 countries" - clarifies. The blog was founded by Dr. Sean Jacobs, a professor of International Affairs at the New School who grew up in apartheid South Africa. Authored by Jacobs and a team of scholars, journalists, and artists, Africa is a Country features a broad collection of engaging essays, interviews, and articles that address subjects including Politics, It's the Economy, Music, and Football is a Country. Articles highlight a diversity of perspectives and topics, giving lie to the myth that Africa is a monolithic "perpetual sob story" (as Jacobs describes Western tropes about the country in one interview). Recent posts include an essay by political science and philosophy professor Achille Mbembe entitled "Africa is the New Century" and an interview with Anjan Sundaram on the state of journalism in Rwanda. Music fans will want to check out the blog's regular Music Break feature, where music producer, DJ, and writer Boima Tucker compiles video mixtapes featuring artists with roots in Africa. [MMB] |
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Lady Science
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Science |
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Lady Science is a monthly magazine that addresses the history of women in science and other topics relating to gender and science. The magazine's editors-in-chief, Anna Reser and Leila McNeill, both hold master's degrees in the history of science from the University of Oklahoma. The magazine features contributions from doctoral students and independent scholars, and academics from a variety of fields, including history of science, English, and art. Each issue features two critical essays that share a central theme. Recent issues have addressed the intersections of disability and gender, literary portrayals of female scientists, and an exploration of gender, the modern kitchen, and food at the dawn of the Cold War. Readers will also find a blog here, along with recommended reads and television shows relating to women in science. [MMB] |
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A Way With Words
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Language Arts |
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Where did the term "cry uncle" come from? Does the phrase "the whole shebang" come from the Irish word "shabeen" ("a disreputable drinking establishment")? What is the odd word out in this group: "bigot," "saloon," "quiche," and "tornado"? If these questions pique your interest, you'll want to check out A Way with Words, an hour long weekly podcast about all things language. Hosted by Martha Barnette, who has penned three books about word origins, and lexicographer Grant Barrett, A Way with Words is centered on the queries of curious listeners from around the world. Anyone is welcome to email or phone in a question about language - whether it is about the origin of a phrase, a linguistic dispute, or the correct term for an item (what are you supposed to call the tube inside a roll of toilet paper?) Barnette and Barrett then select questions to feature on the show. On this website, listeners can check out entire episodes, or browse all featured topics and listen to shorter clips focused on specific questions. Interested listeners can also subscribe on iTunes. [MMB] |
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Punctuate
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Language Arts |
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Published by the Creative Writing Department at Columbia College in Chicago, Illinois, Punctuate is a new online magazine that features non-fiction pieces including essays, interviews, and book reviews. Established in 2015 and regularly updated, Punctuate publishes work from both established and emerging writers. As the magazine notes, it "publishes traditional and experimental writing side-by-side, showcasing a mosaic of forms that push disciplinary boundaries, including personal essays, flash nonfiction, graphic essays, and journal excerpts." Many of the contributors are current students or young alumni at Columbia College; others, including Bret Lott, Sandy Feinstein, and Douglas Haynes, are published writers. Essays are short and vivid, and describe topics like the experience of walking in New York City or vacationing on the Spanish island of Majorca. The magazine also includes photo essays and long interviews with writers about their craft. [MMB] |
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Colors of Classical Art
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Arts |
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Vibrant color isn't always the first characteristic people associate with classical art. However, as the Colors of Classical Art website notes, "there is increasing evidence that the cities and houses of the Greeks and Romans were once full of color." Some of this color, such as those that appeared in textiles, haven't survived over the centuries, contributing to the false notion that ancient art existed only in muted hues. The Indiana University Art Museum and Department of the History of Art, under the leadership of curator Juliet Graver Istrabadi and art history professor Julie Van Voorhis, have teamed up to create Colors of Classical Art, a fantastic online gallery. Visitors to this website can browse by artifact type, including Ceramics, Personal Luxuries, and Colors of Metal. Each section includes striking photographs accompanied by an explanation of each artifact's origin and how artists have used technology and available resources to incorporate color into their work. These descriptions also analyze what the use of color represents and contributes to each item. [MMB] |
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The Mind is a Metaphor
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Language Arts |
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"For conscience like a fiery horse, / Will stumble if you check his course; / But ride him with an easy rein, / And rub him down with worldly gain, / He'll carry you through thick and thin, / Safe, although dirty, to your Inn." These poetic words of advice are attributed to Charles Ignatius Sancho in the eighteenth century. It is one of over 14,000 metaphorical pieces available on this website, curated by Brad Pasanek of the University of Virginia English Department. Visitors to this website can search for metaphors by a variety of criteria, including by literary period, by metaphor category (examples include "Government," "Body," and Impression"), or by the genre of literature these metaphors appear in (e.g. poetry, prose, drama, etc.). Visitors can also browse by the nationality of the author. Graphs of the ebb and flow of metaphorical topics - government, machines, population - over time provide insight into the evolution of culture and language. Fans of this website will also want to check out Pasanek's book by the same title. [MMB] |
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