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History & The Arts
Learning about sex, a shilling a time: Aristotle's Masterpiece
Not written by that Aristotle, the Masterpiece nevertheless found a huge market desperate for sex education in 18th Century Britain and America.
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History & The Arts
Do tax breaks work well for promoting creative industries?
Today, the EU has announced approval for an extension of tax breaks for the British film industry. But is this form of indirect subsidy the best way to help stimulate creative industries? Animation expert Charles Kenny has looked at schemes around the world, and wonders if we'd not all be better off with something more directly supportive.
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History & The Arts
Did Waterloo prevent a fresh Anglo-American war?
Believing Bonaparte to be resurgent in France, some Americans pushed President Madison to reignite the recently quelled hostilities of the 1812 War. Waterloo defeated these hopes as soundly as it defeated Napoleon's - at least in the view of the British as captured by The Morning Post.
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Science, Maths & Technology
Building the first Thames sewer system
The original Thames sewer system became a pressing need following the clean-up of London streets. But even the stench of the river overpowering the Houses of Parliament couldn't persuade the Board of Works to speed up the building process. This editorial from The Morning Chronicle of 20th July, 1859 explores why the fight against cholera had ...
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History & The Arts
What did Plato believe about the human soul? The one minute guide
What is Plato's chariot allegory? How did Plato explain the soul using a chariot and two horses? We've got a really simple guide...
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OpenLearn Ireland
Three Irish Poets – Katherine Tynan
Active from the 1880s to 1931, Katherine Tynan was a popular writer who produced a great deal of work. Learn about her perspective on Irish nationalism, Catholicism and traditional female roles.
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OpenLearn Ireland
Three Irish Poets – Ellen O'Leary
Learn about the life of Ellen O'Leary, one of the most influencial Irish poets of the 19th Century.
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History & The Arts
Laibach and think of North Korea: The subversive political message of the Slovenian band
Having accepted a booking to play North Korea, Laibach are suddenly achieving more attention than they've had in the rest of their thirty-five year career combined. But is the casual dismissal of their music as fascists missing something deeper in their art?
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History & The Arts
Why are people upset about the Stonewall Movie?
A film celebrating the Stonewall riots and the birth of LGBTQ pride would, you'd think, be welcomed by those it claims to champion. But the approach and what's been left out has made the movie a flashpoint in its own right.
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History & The Arts
When Heath met Nixon
This declassified memo records the conversations between the UK Prime Minister and US President in December 1971.
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History & The Arts
A moment of zen: Jon Stewart leaves The Daily Show
For sixteen years, Jon Stewart has provided a sardonic running commentary on US politics on The Daily Show. Julia Fox explains how a basic-cable comedy show came to help shape the world.
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History & The Arts
Why Cilla Black was more than just a light entertainment star
Cilla Black's hosting of Surprise Surprise and Blind Date shouldn't obscure what a significant figure in the cultural history of the 20th century she was, says Andy Medhurst