Here's an interesting story from Upworthy. "Why didn't people smile in old photographs? It wasn't just about the long exposure times."
"If you've ever perused photographs from the 19th and early 20th century, you've likely noticed how serious everyone looked. If there's a hint of a smile at all, it's oh-so-slight, but more often than not, our ancestors looked like they were sitting for a sepia-toned mug shot or being held for ransom or something. Why didn't people smile in photographs? Was life just so hard back then that nobody smiled? Were dour, sour expressions just the norm?
Most often, people's serious faces in old photographs are blamed on the long exposure time of early cameras, and that's true. Taking a photo was not an instant event like it is now; people had to sit still for many minutes in the 1800s to have their photo taken.
Ever try holding a smile for only one full minute? It's surprisingly difficult and very quickly becomes unnatural. A smile is a quick reaction, not a constant state of expression. Even people we think of as "smiley" aren't toting around full-toothed smiles for minutes on end. When you had to be still for several minutes to get your photo taken, there was just no way you were going to hold a smile for that long.
But there are other reasons besides long exposure times that people didn't smile in early photographs." ... for the answer check out the article
"Why didn't people smile in old photographs? It wasn't just about the long exposure times.
photography Art/Music 9 - 12 6 - 8 3 - 5 Social Studies/History
"(What Did I Do to Be So) Black and Blue" was composed by Fats Waller and Harry Brooks with lyrics by Andy Razaf (learn more about him in a comment to this post). The song was originally written for the 1929 Broadway musical Hot Chocolates in which a dark-skinned black woman sings it as a lament after her lighter-skinned lover’s loss of interest in her.
Louis Armstrong would later perform a shortened version of the song with a key lyric change (from I’m white…inside to I’m right…inside) as a commentary on America's racist society. His performance of the song in East Berlin in 1965 was particularly powerful.
Here's a free link to a New York Times article about Armstrong and this particular performance.
This month, Playbill is celebrating 140 years.
I have a collection of Playbills, so I really enjoyed this timeline of Broadway Playbill covers over the years from 1884 until today.
To mark the occasion, Playbill has created four different designs for each Broadway show that is currently running. Audience members will get one of four designs.
So, if you make it to any Broadway shows this month, please post a photo of your Playbill as a comment. (And/or get an extra Playbill for me!)
To incorporate this into the classroom/library, you could have students design their own Playbill for a favorite book or movie. What font would they use? What images would they use to represent the story?
Playbill is trademarked, but, for a small fee, using Playbillder, you can create your own Playbill using the Playbill logo. I use this for our third grade Women of Character play every year. It is easy to use and fill in, and it creates a professional-looking finished product.
Bravo, Playbill!
Art/Music Pre K - 2 3 - 5 6 - 8 9 - 12 13+ Library English/Language Arts Playbill Theatre Theater
There's a fantastic collection of WWII cartoons by Dr Seuss at UC San Diego Library. I used it for a post on my Substack - The Forgotten Files. I stripped out the politics and turned into this lesson. (I've included a few of the cartoons here. Many more at Dr. Seuss Political Cartoons.)
In the early 1940s, as World War II raged in Europe, many Americans favored isolationism, believing the U.S. should stay out of foreign conflicts. This mindset was championed by groups like the America First Committee, whose prominent voices included Charles Lindbergh. However, Theodor Seuss Geisel—better known as Dr. Seuss—used his talent as a political cartoonist to criticize this isolationist stance. Between 1941 and 1943, Seuss created over 400 cartoons for PM, a liberal New York newspaper, targeting figures like Lindbergh and advocating for U.S. intervention in the war. His cartoons used humor and exaggeration to expose the dangers of ignoring the rise of fascism and urged Americans to recognize the global threat posed by Nazi Germany.
Begin with a discussion about satire. Ask students:
• What is satire? (A form of humor or irony used to criticize or expose flaws in politics, society, or people.)
• Where do we see satire today? (Guide students to bring up memes, political cartoons, TV shows like Saturday Night Live, etc.)
• Explain that while satire has taken many forms throughout history, political cartoons and memes are especially powerful tools for quickly communicating complex ideas through humor.
Share some of Dr. Seuss’s political cartoons critiquing isolationism during WWII. Project these onto a screen or distribute them as handouts.
Provide students with a Cartoon and Meme Analysis guide that includes questions like:
• What symbols are used in this cartoon? (e.g., ostrich, swastika, Lindbergh)
• How does Seuss use humor or exaggeration to criticize isolationism?
• What’s the message of the cartoon? Why is Seuss against isolationism?
• Who is the target of the cartoon’s satire? What political figures or groups are being critiqued?
• How might this cartoon have influenced public opinion at the time?
Example Analysis:
Take the Lindbergh cartoon at top (where Lindbergh pats the small Nazi serpent while ignoring the larger Nazi threat) and guide students through the analysis. Point out the use of irony—Lindbergh is focused on the small, “manageable” Nazi threat while the real danger looms in the background, which critiques his naive stance on fascism.
After the initial analysis, break students into small groups to analyze other cartoons using the handout as a guide.
After discussing the cartoons, transition to a discussion on memes with question like:
• How are memes similar to political cartoons? (Both use humor, irony, or exaggeration to critique people or ideas.)
• How do memes convey political messages quickly? (Memes often use humor and cultural references to communicate complex ideas in a way that’s easy to share and understand.)
• Can memes influence public opinion like Seuss’s cartoons did? Why or why not?
• How do memes function like political cartoons in shaping public opinion?
• Why do you think humor is such a powerful tool for political commentary?
• How can satire, whether in cartoons or memes, be used to both expose flaws and influence change?
Extension activity
Have students create their own memes using a free meme generator or digital tools (such as Canva or Imgflip). They can choose to satirize a historical issue or a modern one. The meme should:
• Use symbols or characters to convey a political or social critique.
• Include humor or irony to highlight the absurdity or danger of the issue.
• Be simple, but convey a clear message (just like Seuss’s cartoons).
Prompts:
• Satirize a current political figure or movement, using humor to expose contradictions or flaws in their message.
• Create a meme that critiques an aspect of American history, like isolationism, using contemporary language or symbols.
Edited
What is the relationship between water, colonization, settlement, especially as it pertains to Indigenous and African Americans?
The question is explored intensely through historical documents, works of art, prints, woodcuts artifacts, mixed media and contemporary art in A Nation Takes Place, at the Minnesota Marine Art Museum. The exhibit has 80 works from 20 institutions. including The Library of Congress and the Smithsonian.
The theme is apparent as we enter and see moving paintings by Hudson era artist Edward Moran depicting colonizers arriving in the Americas. A large color painting on loan from the U.S Naval Academy is in the exhibit; The Library of Congress has a b&w image.
Top Photo: A contemporary twist on the American f lag sends a strong message. Gordon Coons, We Cannot Be Redacted, 2019. (on loan from a private collection )
What do you know about these treaties? What and where is each place in the stripes?
Treaty of Prairie du Chien 1825 View of the great treaty held at Prarie [sic] du Chien, September 1825 / painted on the spot by J.O. Lewis ; Lehman & Duval Lithrs.
Treaties between the United States of America and the several Indian tribes, from 1778 to 1837. Extensive PDF
Black Star Broadside information. On loan from National Museum of African American History and Culture recruiting black men to work on a ship.
New York Slave Market About 1730 Photoengraving on loan from th NY Public Library
Many exhibit items are disturbing in the depiction of slavery, master/slave relationships. A depiction of a near nude indigenous American painting a captured white man is both amusing and satirical. Clothespins arranged atop each other depict the closeness of life on a life vessel. Abstract videos lead to deep thinking.
A Nation Takes Place is at the Minnesota Marine Art Museum in Winona through March 2, 2025
6 - 8 9 - 12 13+ English/Language Arts Social Studies/History Art/Music Native Americans African Americans Slavery Difficult topics
We are in a new era of private space exploration, new space suits, musical performances with curriculum guides, and a mission to support research to eradicate cancer. A tall order and a work in progress!
The Polaris Program! What is NASA's role? See below.
Polaris Dawn Program was launched from Florida for a 5 days mission. This is a private enterprise space exploration program funded primarily by one of the astronauts on board and Elon Musk of SPACEX.
Polaris Dawn has 5 main objectives:
High Altitude
The First Commercial Space Walk
In-Space Communications
Health Impact Research
Spacex has also designed new space suits for future exploration addressing new needs of flexibility.
About the Mission
https://polarisprogram.com/dawn/
Meet the Team of astronauts on Polaris Dawn
Full Interviews of the Polaris Dawn crew
Polaris Dawn Mission Commander Jared Isaacman (the billionaire who helped fund the Polaris Dawn project with Elon Musk)
Jared Isaacman is the CEO of Shift4 (NYSE: FOUR), the leader in integrated payment processing solutions. He is an accomplished pilot & astronaut with over 7,000 flight hours of aviation experience, including ratings in multiple experimental and ex-military aircraft. He was the commander of Inspiration4, the world’s first all-civilian mission to space that helped raise over $240 million for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® to help eradicate childhood cancer.
Jared also holds several world records including two speed-around-the-world flights in 2008 and 2009 that raised money and awareness for the Make-a-Wish Foundation. He has flown in over 100 airshows as part of the Black Diamond Jet Team, dedicating every performance to charitable causes. In 2011, Isaacman co-founded what would become the world’s largest private air force, Draken International, to train pilots for the United States Armed Forces.
HARMONY OF RESILIENCE – the Music connection
The Polaris Program has partnered with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® and El Sistema USA ® to create the Harmony of Resilience. This partnership is grounded in a shared belief in the power of human resilience and pursuit of extraordinary goals. Inspired by the universal language of music and the relentless fight against childhood cancers and diseases, this moment was created with the hope of inspiring the next generation to look towards the stars. Not just to dream, but to overcome, persevere, and achieve the seemingly impossible
The song in the video, "Rey's Theme," was written by John Williams for "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" and was performed by Gillis aboard the Polaris Dawn mission's Crew Dragon spacecraft.
The links and video of the performance which went live on Sept. 13, 2024 are below, with the music curriculum developed by El Sistema USA.
The Polaris Dawn and El Sistema USA Curriculum: A Musician’s Guide to Reaching for the Stars.
A Musician’s Guide to Reaching For the Stars
Educator Guides for Music Mission Prep:
https://polarisdawn.elsistemausa.org/#mission
Sarah Gillis is a classically trained violinist, engineer and Polaris Dawn Mission Specialist
Meet your Musical Mission Guides from Polaris Dawn
Polaris Dawn Education (available in several languages with links on the upper right corner of the web page)
For Educators :
The Polaris Dawn & El Sistema USA®
https://polarisdawn.elsistemausa.org/mission-prep-zone-1-daring-to-dream/
Mission Zone 1 : Who Supports Your Big Dreams ? Classroom Expansion
Mission Prep Zone 2 : Classroom Expansion - What Strengths Do you Bring to a Team?
Mission Prep Zone 3: Training for Space Life – How Might It Feel to Make Music in Microgravity?
Mission Prep Zone 4: Plotting the Mission Timeline
A perspective the mission from space.com:
The crew has also tested in-flight communications using SpaceX's Starlink satellite constellation and conducted outreach with the public, all while raising money for St. Jude Children's Research Hospitaland breaking altitude records, flying higher than any crewed mission in orbit since Gemini 11 in 1966.
NASA is working closely with Polaris Dawn and here are some of the ways:
NASA to Test Telemedicine, Gather Essential Health Data With Polaris Dawn Crew
Polaris Dawn crew members participating in these TRISH (Translational Research Institute for Health) studies will provide data about how spaceflight affects mental and physical health through a rigorous set of medical tests and scans completed before, after, and during the mission. The work will include assessments of behavior, sleep, bone density, eye health, cognitive function, and other factors, as well as analysis of blood, urine, and respiration.
SPACEX has developed new space suits designed for more flexibility during space walks (EVA’s – Extra Vehicular Activities) as part of the Polaris Dawn mission.
This raises many questions about government's role in space exploration, its ability to fund the many initiatives currently underway, and concerns about oversight while encouraging new opportunities to pursue space exploration. 3 - 5 6 - 8 9 - 12 13+ Science Technology Art/Music Polaris mission Polaris Dawn NASA Music in Microgravity private space exploration
The article “Migrant Mothers” by George Dillard explores the story behind Dorothea Lange’s iconic photograph “Migrant Mother,” featuring Florence Thompson. It delves into Thompson’s life during the Great Depression and her mixed feelings about the photograph’s legacy. The piece highlights the role of Depression-era photography in shaping public perception and its engineered nature to evoke specific emotions. Teachers may find this article valuable for discussing the intersection of art, history, and social commentary, while encouraging students to critically analyze historical sources.
Why It’s Interesting:
- Includes photos of other "migrant mothers" taken by Lange
- Connects historical context with visual storytelling.
- Encourages critical thinking about documentary photography.
- Offers a personal narrative that humanizes historical events.
- All images available at LOC
With all the attention on Paris during the 2024 Summer Olympic Games, how about adding to the excitement with a few "Olympian" women in the arts? Google Arts and Culture has a wonderful presentation called Brilliant Exiles put together by Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery.
As the introduction states, "During the early twentieth century, Paris was the destination of choice for talented, independent American women who were determined to move beyond the limitations that restricted them at home. Many used their newfound liberty as an opportunity for self-reinvention and discovery."
You'll find artists, writers, dancers, singers, and more here. Learn about their impact on the arts and their experience of freedom from racism and misogyny in Paris in those early years of the 20th century.
After viewing the presentation, students could pick one woman and search for primary sources on loc.gov. And if you're really planning ahead, how could you use Brilliant Exiles during Women's History Month?
Lois [Mailou] Jones Fine Exhibit, The guardian (Boston, Mass.), February 4, 1939
Lois Maillou Jones Self Portrait from Brilliant Exiles
I'm sharing this gift link to a book review from the New York Times today that has all sorts of connections to the Library of Congress. The book is titled The Playbook: A Story of Theater, Democracy, and the Making of a Culture War, by James Shapiro. It is partly about an antifascist play by the title of It Can't Happen Here that opened in 1936 during the week before Franklin D. Roosevelt won an election for a second term. The play was written as part of the Federal Theater Project, a jobs-for-artists division of Roosevelt's Depression-era Works Progress Administration.
https://www.loc.gov/resource/cph.3b48781/
The play became a touchpoint for all sorts of political shenanigans in a divided America. It led to culture wars and eventually the involvement of the House Un-American Activities Committee. Since the Shapiro book is just out, I have not read it yet, but it does sound pretty intriguing. Here, for example, is a paragraph from the review:
The book's most gripping and enraging chapter is about "Liberty Deferred," a daring play by two young Black playwrights, Abram Hill and John Silvera, that was watered down in development and not produced. Set partly "in 'the fabled land where all lynch victims go,' Lynchotopia," the play, whose targets include the racism of Northern whites, is described in riveting detail. Shapiro notes that it has never been staged.
The Library of Congress has all sorts of primary sources related to It Can't Happen Here. Here, for example, is a gallery view of a simple search on the title.
For general information on doing research at the Library, see Theater Research at the Library of Congress. It Can't Happen Here is on a poster right there on the intro page.
9 - 12 13+ Art/Music 6 - 8 English/Language Arts Social Studies/History Federal Theater Project Works Progress Administration Franklin D. Roosevelt Great Depression
One of the most delightful Library blog posts I've read lately comes from the Now See Hear! blog from the National Audio-Visual Conservation Center. It's titled Dog Days of Summer, and it was written by David Sager.
Can you find the song with the lyrics, "Has anybody here seen Rover?" It's such a fun idea to search for audio recordings on a theme - in this case, dogs! Have you ever tried having students pick a word and search only in Audio Recordings from the Library of Congress main search box?
David Sager also explains the origin of the expression "Dog Days of Summer."
The expression “Dog Days of Summer” may evoke images of our canine friends immobilized by blistering temperatures and humidity, panting to keep cool. However, the phrase originally came from the seasonal re-appearance of the star Sirius, found in the constellation “Canis Majoris,” which translates as “big dog.” Regardless of the relationship between the constellation and our own battles with the summer heat, we present a series of early recordings that evoke “man’s best friend,” either directly or metaphorically, but all in great fun.
Dog sleeping under kitchen table in farm kitchen. Cavalier County, North Dakota, 1940
Pre K - 2 3 - 5 6 - 8 9 - 12 Art/Music Library dogs search teaching strategy
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