“In August of 1563, Michel de Montaigne, the famous French essayist, was introduced to three [indigenous Brazilians] who were visiting Rouen, France, at the invitation of King Charles the Ninth. The three men had never before left Brazil, had just been subjected to a long interrogation by the king (who was 13 years old at the time), and if they had not already contracted some dangerous European illness, they were surely undergoing a rather severe case of culture shock. Despite this, they still had enough poise to lucidly respond to Montaigne’s questions about what they thought of their new surroundings.”
Tag: 02.17.13
A Campaign To Rehabilitate Macbeth’s Reputation
“The reign of Macbeth, set in the context of the time, was successful and outward looking. To many, however, it is characterised by paranoia and murder because of Shakespeare’s portrayal. The proposal is to form an authoritative trail of important places connected with Macbeth for visitors and enthusiasts alike.”
Why Are We Drawn To Beautiful Things?
“Experiments going back to the 19th century repeatedly show that people invariably prefer images in these proportions, but no one has known why.”
Rescuing Mali’s Mosques And Manuscripts: EU Help Brings Problems
Naturally Malians and foreign scholars are grateful for financial aid from UNESCO and the European Union in preserving the ancient documents and repairing the historic buildings of Timbuktu and Djenné, especially after the recent invasion by hard-line Islamist rebels. Yet the rules around such funding are sometimes counterproductive – including, in one case, because the amounts requested are too low.
British Theatre’s Great Changing Of The Guard
“You wait ages for a top job in British theatre – and then 11 come along at once.” Meet the dynamic new directors who’ve filled them.
Russians And Their Meteorite Jokes
“It took no more than a couple of hours for the meteorite in Chelyabinsk Region to generate a wave of gags and Internet memes. … In particular, the Russian-speaking Twitter community outdid itself. Dozens of accounts were opened on behalf of the meteorite itself.”
Didn’t Want To Read The Book? Play The Facebook Game!
“The central character, an Indian woman named Radhika, faces various challenges with the assistance of players, who can help out with donations of virtual goods, for example. The players can then make equivalent real-world donations to seven nonprofit organizations woven into the game.”
S.E.C. Inquiry Into China Is Causing Problems For Hollywood
“To keep Washington focused less on fears of corruption than on the possible benefits of film trade with China — where the growing box office reached $2.7 billion last year — the U.S.-Asia Institute, a policy-oriented nonprofit, has begun including movie operations among the stops made by lawmakers and their staff on institute-sponsored trips to China.”
Rupert Everett And Sweeney Todd Are Big Theatre Winners In The UK
Theatre audiences also reward Stephen Fry, Imelda Staunton, and a former Spice Girl.
Seriously, What’s Up With The Bolshoi? [AUDIO]
“The ballet company, starting in the Soviet era, produced some of the world’s legendary dancers, with their distinctive style — athletic, colourful and bold. But as long as it has existed, the Bolshoi has also been rife with drama and intrigue.”