History – Page 43 – Content Catnip

Theatre Review: Jack Charles V The Crown at Auckland Arts Fest

Last night I went to see Jack Charles V The Crown at the Auckland Arts Festival. Jack Charles is an Australian legend. He has traveled from movie sets to state prisons in Australia and run the full gamut of life as child of the stolen generation as well as a gifted Indigenous Australian actor, potterContinue reading “Theatre Review: Jack Charles V The Crown at Auckland Arts Fest”

Travel: Story Map plunges you into a thousand Dublin streets and their hidden stories

Created in 2011, Storymap is still an oldie but a goodie. It’s the creation of two Dublin filmmakers, Andy Flaherty and Tom Rowley. They had just been abroad and were sick and tired of the notion that Dublin and Ireland in general was a gloomy place with rampant unemployment and nothing to offer visitors. They haveContinue reading “Travel: Story Map plunges you into a thousand Dublin streets and their hidden stories”

Travel: What remains, Berlin

Every Picture Tells a Story: What remains

When the Berlin Wall came down in 1989 parts of it remained up as a monument to the dangers of state control. On these remnants of the Berlin Wall are a series of constantly changing murals and street art which makes a statement about the current political state of the world. Some of them simply areContinue reading “Travel: What remains, Berlin”

Every Picture Tells a Story: Nico in Paris 1960

This photograph was taken by Mark Shaw for LIFE Magazine in 1960. It features elegant couture, art and decadent modernist Parisian interiors. Nico is posing with a pair of dachshunds in the apartment of legendary Parisian interior designer Henry Samuel. Nico was a young model before she became famous. She went on to be theContinue reading “Every Picture Tells a Story: Nico in Paris 1960”

Travel: Dancing on the ceiling of Berlin

Every Picture Tells a Story: Dancing on the ceiling of Berlin

I took this photo about nine years ago while living in Berlin. During the summer, the city was alive with cultural performances, buskers from throughout the world and the constant optimistic energy of things to come. When I look at how Europe has evolved nowadays it makes me a little sad. I really hope thatContinue reading “Travel: Dancing on the ceiling of Berlin”

History: Ancient specs as fascinating historical artefacts

Ancient Eye Glasses: Fascinating Historical Artefacts

In 2012 while working as a freelance copywriter, I did a series of articles for Direct Sight in the UK about the history of eye glasses. I only just remembered this one, it was incredibly fun to research and write and you can find the original here from 2012. I hope you enjoy it, fromContinue reading “History: Ancient specs as fascinating historical artefacts”

Travel:The Berlin Wall Redux: A punk lady of leisure

The Berlin Wall Redux: A punk of leisure on the shores of the Spree river

In 2008 I lived in Berlin. It’s a vast adult playground of earthly delights, diversions and shiny, distracting baubles. Its maddeningly vibrant during the summer. It’s as though life is amplified to full volume and there is no dimmer switch. The sky sits very high up and the sun is beaming down with a warm,Continue reading “Travel:The Berlin Wall Redux: A punk lady of leisure “

Homes of all shapes and sizes since time immemorial

Drew Leshko's dollhouse replicas of vanishing Philadelphia streets

Throughout human existence, homes have varied drastically in scope, size, and design. Cob houses originated in the eleventh century, are made from straw and earth, and Gothic architecture has been around since the middle ages. We’ve come a long way from our cave-dwelling ancestors, and in the past few years we took another leap withContinue reading “Homes of all shapes and sizes since time immemorial”

Travel: The lost and hungry felines of Chefchaouen, Morocco

Seeing you sprawled on the ground in a doorway in Chefchaoen, Morocco, something broke inside of my heart. I found myself so immensely concerned for your safety. From your gaunt and shabby physique and milky, clouded eyes I worked out that you were severely malnourished. I attempted to pick you up gently but my MorocccanContinue reading “Travel: The lost and hungry felines of Chefchaouen, Morocco”

Book Review: The Domesticated Brain by Bruce Hood

This is a riveting read from one of the leading lights of modern psychology, Bruce Hood of the University of Bristol. The book’s main premise is that 20,000 years ago our brains were 10% larger than what they are today. And that the reason for this is primarily the influence of social practices, culture andContinue reading “Book Review: The Domesticated Brain by Bruce Hood”