Laura Keene

What Role Did Laura Keene Play on Abraham Lincoln’s Last Night?

Actress Laura Keene's role on the night of Lincoln's assassination is shrouded in myth.
The Daily Show
Jon Stewart
Comedy Central/Courtesy Neal Peters Collection

‘The Daily Show’ as Political Influence

Does the Daily Show really impact people's political views?
Paganini's Bloodletting Kit 
Courtesy of Schubertiade Music & Arts

The Vampire Virtuoso? Paganini’s Bloodletting Kit Is for Sale

Paganini's personal bloodletting kit contains three domed-shape glasses with brass twist spouts and a brass scarification (scraping) tool.
Album cover of Kendrick Lamar's "To Pimp a Butterfly"

Butterfly Flow: Tupac, Kendrick Lamar, and the Resurrection of New Black Godz

A look at mythic themes in Kendrick Lamar's recent #1 album To Pimp a Butterfly.
Billie Holliday singing into a studio mic in black and white

Remembering Billie Holiday

The 100th anniversary of Billie Holiday's birth.
"We Are The World" album cover

“We Are the World, We Are the Children” (Or Are We?)

Megahit "We are the world" turns 30 this year.
Tupac Shakur in black and white

Tupac Shakur Remembered in GRAMMY Museum Exhibit

A new exhibit at the GRAMMY Museum explores the lyrics and cultural contribution of Tupac Shakur.

Word to your Mother (Tongue): Can Hip Hop Save Endangered Languages?

Hip hop is not only linguistically innovative, it helps preserve indigenous languages via oral tradition.
Josephine Baker laying on top of a tiger rug in black and white

The Fuss About Josephine Baker

 A new one-woman Broadway show puts Josephine Baker back in the public consciousness.
violists laughing

Why Did the Violist Cross the Road?

Every subculture has its in-jokes. Classical musicians are no exception, and the punchline usually involves a viola.