Dec 17 Watch 3:07 A poet’s take on looking to language for ‘radical hope’ In this digital and divided society, it can often seem that language is used primarily to deliver criticism and express rage. But poet Ada Limón shares her humble opinion on why she sees people turning to poetry for language that… Continue watching
Dec 17 How a strange rumor of Walt Disney’s death became legend By Dr. Howard Markel When you hear "Disney on Ice," you may think of the wildly popular ice shows featuring Mickey and Minnie Mouse and others skating in hockey arenas across the nation. But there's also the disturbing urban legend that Walt Disney’s corpse… Continue reading
Dec 15 Watch 4:34 For decades, Chicago punk rockers embrace their unconventional hobby By Jay Shefsky, WTTW In Chicago, members of a punk rock band called The Bollweevils have been balancing their conventional day jobs -- as a physician, a principal, an electrician and a college administrator -- with their unconventional hobby for more than two decades. Continue watching
Dec 15 Watch 9:16 Nils Lofgren: 50 years of ‘just being a guy in the band’ By Tom Casciato, Christopher Booker, Mori Rothman As we learned a few years ago in the Oscar-winning film “20 Feet from Stardom,” sometimes the best singers in the band are those who are seldom center-stage. They have the game, just not quite the fame. The same can… Continue watching
Dec 15 A playlist starring Nils Lofgren, with support from Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen By Tom Casciato Many rock fans attribute guitarist Nils Lofgren’s acclaim to his work with rock giants Bruce Springsteen and the E Street band as well as Neil Young and Crazy Horse. But Lofgren has a trove of solo records and unmatched talents… Continue reading
Dec 14 Watch 8:04 Glamour and gentrification go hand-in-hand in artsy ranch town Marfa By Jeffrey Brown, Jaywon Choe, Mike Fritz It's sometimes weird, often wonderful, definitely off the beaten path. Marfa, Texas, is a tiny rural town in the middle of dusty ranchlands, as well as an internationally renowned creative mecca. In the last few decades, as artists and nonprofits… Continue watching
Dec 14 Watch 2:05 Remembering Nancy Wilson, singer with dazzling style Singer Nancy Wilson has died at the age of 81. Wilson -- who was also a civil rights activist who marched in Selma -- released more than 60 albums in a career spanning five decades, winning three Grammys and scoring… Continue watching
Dec 14 Why automation won’t put artists out of work just yet By Courtney Vinopal Creative fields are often held up as careers that are least threatened by the advancement of artificial intelligence. But computers and robots have already proven they can contribute to and change the arts, especially in commercial ways. Continue reading
Dec 13 Janet Jackson, Stevie Nicks, Def Leppard join Rock Hall of Fame By David Bauder, Associated Press Janet Jackson joins her brother Michael and the Jackson 5 as members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, earning induction on Thursday along with Stevie Nicks and the top fan vote-getter, Def Leppard. Continue reading
Dec 12 Watch 7:39 How exposing ‘the horror of war’ motivated murdered journalist Marie Colvin For its annual “Person of the Year" feature, Time magazine recognized reporters targeted for their work in the field. Author Lindsey Hilsum tells the story of one such journalist, her friend Marie Colvin, who was murdered while covering the war… Continue watching