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Revisionist History and the Lives of Quotes

Henry David Thoreau

The 21st century birthed a handful of revisionist and reconstructionist history. The likes of Malcolm Gladwell to Howard Zinn have worked towards reinterpreting orthodox views in light of new or previously overlooked evidence. American literary and independence hero Henry David Thoreau, born July 12, 1817, is one such re-examined person.

Peace Tension

Like almost every geopolitical change in the modern world, the split of North and South Korea and the subsequent the Korean War, resulted from the Cold War and World War II.

From Humble Scrolls to World Domination

Japanese comics called "manga" has birthed countless anime shows and movies (which have become a media giant in their own right), cosplay fests around the world, and is now a pivotal part of Japanese cultural identity. Manga is absolutely contemporary, but its roots reach far back into Japanese art history.

The World's Most Elegant Workmen

Film, music, and literature depict ruddy-faced men effortless herding and tending livestock on the open plains in cowboy lore, a sentimentalization of ranch workers and their prospective duties. At times those men are heroes defending the ideals of the cowboy: hardworking, honest, fearless. In other instances, they are anti-heroes: gunslingers and stagecoach robbers whose lives brewed a reckless lawlessness (both revered and feared) associated with a brand of self-defined freedom. Names like Billy the Kid, Frederick "Buffalo Bill" Cody, Nat Love (a former slave who found work as a cowboy following the American Civil War), and Annie Oakley (a teenaged sharpshooter who toured with Buffalo Bill) are among the most lauded cowboys and cowgirls. But they originated from a different faction of cowboys.

A Music for All Spirits

The stereotypes concerning the culture of reggae have become synonymous with the music itself. The genre culturally reappropriates and stylizes natty dreadlocks, counterrevolution, and cannabis consumption as facets of the Jamaican-borne music. The history of reggae music, however, includes more comprehensive interpretations. It offers more than Bob Marley swinging his hair and smoking marijuana joints.

A Practice in Perfection

At the 1976 Summer Olympics, 14-year-old Nadia Comaneci’s gracefully executed routine on the asymmetric bar left international viewers stunned. Judges awarded her an unprecedented first of four perfect scores, a ten of ten. At such an early age, her focus and dedication were clearly demonstrated. Gymnastics is a complex sport involving many disciplines that promote self-confidence, physical strength, alertness, and daring. It is a tool used to sharpen one's mental and physical capabilities.

Documented Sea Monsters

Dragons, mermaids, and kraken, oh my! Forget the circus and head for water to find the world’s most frightening and unusual creatures. Sightings of sea monsters go back as far as men have sailed, span cultures around the globe, and persist even today.

Puss in Boots

One of the most beloved of anthropomorphic characters in children’s literature isn’t man’s best friend: it’s a cat. Unlike most fairy tales, neither the Brothers Grimm nor Hans Christian Andersen popularized this one. The earliest known record of the delightfully sly and deceitful feline hero known as Puss in Boots comes from The Facetious Nights of Straparola (1550-53) by Italian author Giovanni Francesco Straparola. History credits Straparola with inventing the tale. Giambattista Basile published the story again under the title Cagliuso (1634), followed by French author Charles Perrault around 1697 in his collection of eight fairy tales, Histoires ou countes du temps passé.

The Bermuda Triangle

Quite possibly the most maligned stretch of ocean in the Western Hemisphere, popular culture attributes extraterrestrials, magic, and other occult powers to one of the world’s busiest intersections of shipping: the Bermuda Triangle. Although not officially recognized by any U.S. governmental agency, the area roughly covers a triangle of ocean from Miami, Florida to San Juan, Puerto Rico to the island of Bermuda. This loose definition of territory varies, with the total square miles covered ranging from 500,000 to 1.5 million.

Food of the Gods

Chocolate originated in the Western Hemisphere and is native to Central and South America. History credits the ancient Olmecs of what is now southern Mexico as the first civilization to harvest the bitter fruit of the cacao tree and figure out how to consume them. Scholars believe that the Olmecs drank the bitter product of dried and roasted cacao beans and/or pods in religious ceremonies. However, the Olmecs left no written records, so knowledge of their use of cocoa is largely hypothetical. Academics agree that the Olmecs passed on that knowledge to the Mayans, who revered it and did leave written records.

Highlights from the History of the US Marines

The U.S. Marines Corps are an elite group who defend America on land, at sea, and via the air. Renowned for their fighting spirit, their motto Semper Fidelis (Semper Fi) means “Always Faithful” in Latin.

Funeral Traditions Across Cultures

Some cultures perceive death as a celebration of the life a person once lived, not a somber occasion. Rather than getting decked out in black and donning dark sunglasses, some cultures play more upbeat music and engage in dancing. They embrace the light, leaving the darkness behind.

War Propaganda by Notable Artists

It takes more than military might, a keen strategy, and an arsenal of weapons to lead a country to victory during wartime. The psyche also plays a vital role in boosting the morale of soldiers and civilians during wartime.

Frederick Law Olmsted, Sr.

Sprawling green lawns and picturesque gardens offer an ideal respite from the frenetic pace of city life. In the middle of Manhattan, Central Park serves as an oasis, inviting city dwellers and visitors to relax and unwind on the grass or stroll through the gardens.

Romani Nation

Names are as important as the histories embedded within them. They imbue the power of both insidious implication and outright reference, revealing ignorance and tolerance. Incorrectly naming anything or anyone is the first step towards a host of other problems. One such name is “gypsy.”

Hans and Sophie Scholl

White Rose was a underground collective, led by brother and sister Hans and Sophie Scholl who wrote and distributed pamphlets denouncing Nazi Germany and calling for German people to uproot their ignorance and inaction.

Opening Language Borders

Dylan Thomas said, "Poetry is what in a poem makes you laugh, cry, prickle, be silent, makes your toenails twinkle, makes you want to do this or that or nothing, makes you know that you are alone in the unknown world, that your bliss and suffering is forever shared and forever all your own." Emily Dickinson said, "If I feel physically as if the top of my head were taken off, I know that is poetry."

José Rizal

Not all revolutions are violent, and not all revolutionaries are led by extremists. On June 19, 1861, one such peaceful Filipino revolutionary was born: José Rizal.

A Royal Score for All

In 2008, during an afternoon marred by rain, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal participated in one of the greatest tennis matches in the history of the sport. For almost five hours the two rivals volleyed and traded leads, keeping their opponents on their toes. Federer, just two points from victory (and a consecutive sixth Wimbledon Championship) had trouble returning Nadal's serves, and Nadal went on the claim the title.

Traversing Histories through Sound

Folk music traces cultural shifts and movements, specifically the recreations, laments, and political ideologies of a culture. William John Thoms, a British writer and self-described antiquary, coined the term folklore in 1846. The corresponding music, much like traditional art, literature, and knowledge, was passed on through oral communication and example. Volk, a German expression that predates both the Great War and World War II, means "people as a whole" and provides further insight into the worlds Thoms researched. Folklore described the customs, superstitions, and traditions of "uncultured classes," searching for a connection between common folk and the societies of which they were a part.

Revisionist History and the Lives of Quotes

Henry David Thoreau

Korean War

Peace Tension

Manga Origins

From Humble Scrolls to World Domination

Cowboys

The World's Most Elegant Workmen

Reggae

A Music for All Spirits

Gymnastics

A Practice in Perfection

Poseidon's Pets

Documented Sea Monsters

Puss in Boots

Lost at Sea

The Bermuda Triangle

Chocolate

Food of the Gods

Semper Fi

Highlights from the History of the US Marines

Saying Farewell

Funeral Traditions Across Cultures

War Propaganda by Notable Artists

Captivating Landscape Design

Frederick Law Olmsted, Sr.

Myth of a Nomad

Romani Nation

White Rose

Hans and Sophie Scholl

Concrete Poetry

Opening Language Borders

Filipino Struggle for Independence

José Rizal

Tennis

A Royal Score for All

Folk Music

Traversing Histories through Sound