Aretha Franklin on The Set of Blues Brothers

Singer and songwriter Aretha Franklin appears here in a photograph with Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi. They were filming on set for the musical comedy hit Blues Bothers. The film was released in 1980 and has ever since then considered a comedy classic. What made the film so great was not only the humor, but […]

The True Sons of Freedom Wartime Poster (1910s)

This poster depicts African American soldiers engaged in combat during World War I.These are the soldiers of the 369th Infantry Regiment. The purpose of the propaganda poster is to induce a level of patriotism and nationalism. The images used and articulation of words seem very powerful. The left section reads “colored men the first Americans […]

British Soldier Gives German Soldier A Cigarette World War I Era ( 1914-1918)

A British soldier gives a German soldier a cigarette in this photograph from World War I. These two fought on opposing sides of the conflict, yet there is a moment of peace between these two men. The German soldier is wounded and captured, but for a moment there is an act of mercy and kindness […]

Illustration of the Skeletal System From De Humani Corpis Fabrica (1543)

Andreas Vesalius a Flemish physician and anatomist produced a seven volume work known as De Humani Corpis Fabrica Libri Septum. This work pioneered medical illustration and anatomical science. Through dissection Andreas Vesalius was able to prove that the theories of Galen were incorrect. Galen the classical Greek physician’s theories were dominant in the medical field. The […]

Turkey A Nation In Transition

This documentary from the International Film Foundation provides a general history of Turkey and the Middle East. The major shift was in 1923 with the rise of Kemal Attaturk who was the founder of modern Turkey. The geography can either be arid or have lust soil. It has been for 3,000 years the heart of […]

Benin Ivory Mask (1500s)

This is a Benin ivory mask currently part of the British Museum collection. The artifact was from the Nigerian kingdom of Benin produced around the 16th century. The mask was made by the Edo peoples. This mask was part of a special annual ritual conducted by the king. The king of Benin had the tile […]

Onna-bugeisha Portrait (1800s)

Onna-bugeisha refers to a warrior nobility class of women who would fight along Samurai men in battle. This photograph which has been colorized and shows an onna-bugeisha in full battle armor. Japan was a warrior culture similar to that of Dahomey or Sparta. Such warrior based societies believed that everyone should be willing to fight […]