The African Roots of Square Dancing
Square dancing’s lily-white reputation hides something unexpected: A deep African American history that’s rooted in a legacy of slavery.
How “This Land Is Your Land” Went From Protest Song to Singalong
Woody Guthrie’s “This Land Is Your Land” has lost a bit of its protest oomph—in part because of a decades-long denial of its later verses.
Happy Birthday to “Happy Birthday” Composer Mildred J. Hill
Happy Birthday, Mildred J. Hill! How the early childhood educator's humble song "Happy Birthday To You" became a worldwide institution.
Remembering the LA Uprisings Through Theater
Just one year after the Rodney King verdict and subsequent LA riots, Anna Deveare Smith opened her one-woman show “Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992."
A Very JSTOR Daily Mixtape: Volume 2
A JSTOR playlist featuring musicians who were also writers or scholars with content on JSTOR: including Leonard Cohen, Neko Case, Vijay Iyer, and Brian Eno.
How to Publicly Apologize
Why, after al the political, corporate, and celebrity apologies we've heard in the last generation, is it still so hard to say, "I'm sorry"?
The Man Who Invented the Showgirl
Showgirl. Just the word calls to mind fabulous plumes, spangled sequins, and a distinctive strut. But where does ...
Can Ballet Be Feminist?
Ballerinas have long made feminists both uneasy and excited, embodying fulfillment and the shackles of feminine performance.
A Very JSTOR Daily Mixtape
Academics and musicians have a lot in common. The JSTOR Daily playlist combines songs and scholarship.
How Have Music Charts Stayed Relevant?
Music charts conferred status on performers and became an arbiter of popularity and a signifier of success.