Not for children: Why the depiction of modern clowns has reverted back to its dark origins
By Madeline Steiner, Postdoctoral Fellow of History, University of South Carolina The scary clown has become a horror staple. Featuring Art the Clown as the main villain, Damien Leone’s recent film “Terrifier 2” is so gruesome that there were reports of viewers...
Mail-order Conservatism: When political hucksters praise rugged individualism while crafting conformity
Since time immemorial, the con artist’s sucker pitch to his targets has been the same. “You are special: you are savvier, more clear-sighted, more clued-in than the average clod, and because I like you so much, I’m gonna let you in on a little secret...
Problems of overconfidence: The danger of political conversations influenced by what we think we know
By Ian Anson, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Maryland, Baltimore County As statewide primaries continue through the summer, many Americans are beginning to think about which candidates they will support in the 2022 general election. This...
Meow Meow Meow: Celebrating our furry companions ahead of the midterm elections on National Cat Day
Cats have had a significant role in the lives of people, going back to the start of human history. Of the many holidays that America celebrates, it should be no surprise that one honors the feline species on October 29 for National Cat Day. The day is a celebration of...
Kitty Kryptonite: Understanding the behavioral impact of catnip’s nepetalactone on felines and humans
By Lauren Finka, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Animal Behaviour and Welfare, Nottingham Trent University There are many valid theories to explain the global appeal of cats, including our obsession with watching videos of them online. In terms of cats’ pure...
Emotional Relief: Studies show cats and other kinds of pet therapy helps to improve the wellbeing of patients
By Ann Hemingway, Professor of Public Health and Wellbeing, Bournemouth University We have all heard of the psychotherapy couch, and the dynamic between a client and their human therapist. But perhaps less well known is the increasingly popular pet therapy. It is not...
Brewtown Tales: New historical book by John Gurda shares more stories of Milwaukee’s people and places
Milwaukee has been known by many nicknames over the years, from the Midwest’s “Brewtown” to America’s “Cream City.” But none have been more telling than the “City of Stories” for those who know its secrets. No one tells those stories better than celebrated Wisconsin...
David Claerbout: Milwaukee to host American premiere of groundbreaking multimedia exhibit “The Close”
The Milwaukee Art Museum will mount the U.S. museum premiere of Belgian video and digital artist David Claerbout’s multimedia installation “The Close (2022).” With the presentation, the Museum bolsters its commitment to exploring the work of contemporary...
Visual Annotations: Why so many medieval manuscripts feature doodles and what they reveal
By Madeleine S. Killacky, PhD Candidate, Medieval Literature, Bangor University To “doodle” means to draw or scrawl aimlessly, and the history of the word goes back to the early 20th century. Scribbling haphazard words, squiggly lines and mini-drawings, however, is a...
Pardeep Kaleka: The dangers of Kanye West’s antisemitic rants four years after Pittsburgh synagogue tragedy
Four years ago, on October 27, 2018, the country and the world saw the traumatic consequences that the spread of antisemitic hate speech can have on a community. Eleven worshipper were killed at the Tree of Life Synagogue, in the deadliest hate crime in history that...
A new breed of insurrectionist: Why America does not designate violent domestic extremists as terrorists
It garnered little notice, but New Zealand, half a world away from the events of January 6th, has designated the Proud Boys as a terrorist organization, making it “illegal to fund, recruit or participate in the groups, and obligating authorities to take action...
White Nationalism on the rise: How unrestricted social media access has attracted violent young men
By Sophie Bjork-James, Assistant Professor of the Practice in Anthropology, Vanderbilt University White Nationalists keep showing up in the hearings of the U.S. House committee investigating the January 6, 2021, insurrection. Evidence is mounting that white...
