How Artists Helped Camouflage the Military
We cover how these designs have evolved over time – not just on uniforms, but on ships, planes and more.
The Power of Photography
We speak with author and activist Philip Allen about the role photography and videography played during the Civil Rights Movement and the role it still plays today in capturing racial bias & inequality.
Finding Calm Through Coloring
Remember how much fun it was to crack open a new coloring book and crayons when you were a kid? These days, adults are reliving that thrill in massive numbers.
An Illustrator’s Art
We speak with Tim O’Brien who has illustrated numerous magazine covers throughout the years. O’Brien discusses his career, the history of illustration and how the art form is used to convey a specific, singular moment or feeling that other mediums may not be able to capture.
The Rich History of Comics
There’s nothing quite like comics. The art of illustration mixed with text takes on many forms, including comic strips, books, graphic novels and more. Columbia University professor and author of American Comics: A History Jeremy Dauber joins us this week to help highlight the interesting history of comics and how it’s evolved into a multi-billion-dollar …
Culture Crash: The Staggered Rise to Stardom
Dominic Fike, a popular, up-and-coming musician, performed recently at the Firefly Music Festival in Delaware. We discuss his performance at the highly anticipated event and the difficult task of becoming not only a great musician, but performer as well.
Diversity Dilemmas in Opera
Opera is a beloved art form, but its racial history is as flawed as the rest of our culture. We talk to Naomi Andre, a professor at the University of Michigan, about the history of race in opera and how this traditional art form is evolving with the times.
Culture Crash: Artists’ Shared Inspiration
How do artists find inspiration for a new song on an album, or a new idea for a movie? We discuss how great art is more interconnected than you may think.
Culture Crash: Watching Performance Art From Your Sofa
Before the pandemic there weren’t so many concerts, theatre performances and other arts available to watch from your living room TV. While the last eleven months have been tough on the industry, it’s allowed more people to gain access to shows that they otherwise couldn’t afford or travel to. Take Hamilton for instance. We discuss some of our favorite picks …
The Sketch That Solves the Crime
How exactly does a forensic sketch artist create such a detailed and accurate profile based off a single, hour-long witness interview? Lois Gibson, a longtime police sketch artist in Houston, joins Viewpoints this week.
A Shift Towards Sustainable Construction & Design
Today, a greater number of architects and developers are not only thinking about profit and supply, but the additional - sometimes invisible - factors at play when it comes to new buildouts. These include the true benefits to humans, the environmental toll and the most practical designs that are symbiotic with nature.
Coloring Outside the Lines (2020)
Coloring books aimed at children, adults and even seniors have been all the rage in recent years and are still trending in 2020. But what's so special about these patterns and designs that draw people in? We delve into the process of putting together these collections and why the creative outlet has become a mainstay for so many looking to switch off and …
Spreading Word of the 2020 U.S. Census
The 2020 census is just around the corner. We speak with an employee from the U.S. Census Bureau about the importance of taking part in the nationwide survey and how the government is reaching students and their families through new in-school programs.
A Brief History of Skin Marking
Humans have always practiced various forms of self-expression, whether it's through written word, music, art or some other outlet. The art of tattooing is one such form that dates back thousands of years. We speak with a history expert, author and professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Craig Koslofsky about some of the earliest tattoo …
Colors: A Vivid History
Have you ever wondered how to create the color purple using only natural pigments? Or why, amongst completely different languages, the third color term that’s identified after black and white is always red? Viewpoints’ speaks with two color experts about the theorized meanings behind certain hues and their natural origins.
The Art of Video Games (2018)
Video games are often considered child’s play, or at least something below “real” art. Author Andrew Ervin argues that’s not true, and that video games are now big-business for TV networks and advertisers, as well as a source of true artfulness.
Culture Crash: An Absolutely Remarkable Thing and the Difficulty of Classifying Art (2018)
Sometimes, classifying art in one specific genre can be tricky. Look at Star Wars. It’s a space opera, sure. But what does that mean? It was built to be a Western. And sci-fi. With some fantasy aspects? And who is the intended audience? Is it for kids? Teenagers? Adults? All of the above? That can be the difficulty in classification.
The Lost Art of Writing Letters (2017)
Everyday, we send and receive emails, but when’s the last time you wrote or received a handwritten letter?
The Art of Quitting (2017)
Many people remain in bad situations because they are afraid to quit their job, but careful planning can ease the anxiety that often follows.
Getting It Right: The art of writing historical fiction
Historical fiction is very popular these days, but why? And how do authors weave a fictional story around actual people, places and events? We talk to three best-selling authors of the genre about how they write their books and why.
Everyone’s a Critic! Why It’s Important That You Should Be
A. O. Scott, a movie critic for the New York Times, thinks we should all be critics of the films, fine art, literature & other pleasures we indulge in. He will talk about why it’s good to be a discerning viewer of the arts, how to be a better critic, how criticism makes us see things in a different light and how it helps us become better at choosing those …
Coloring Books For Adults: Nostalgia with Benefits (2015)
These days, adults are reliving that thrill in huge numbers, maybe even fighting their kids for that Burnt Sienna crayon! Adult coloring books are all the rage, and we talk to two of the most popular artists of these books about why and how they put them together, what the attraction is for adults and how it can benefit everyone to sit down, relax and color …
Creativity in Technology and Art
We hear a lot about creativity these days, but can you be creative and artistic if you work in any kind of occupation? We talk to two creative people – one an artist and the other a business consultant – about the essence of creativity, how they foster creativity in their work and how anyone can be creative – even under very constrained conditions -- if they …
Stolen Art – Getting Away With Millions
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Gardner Museum heist of millions of dollars in paintings by Rembrandt, Vermeer and others. Nobody knows who took the paintings, but our guest has a theory. We also talk to an art expert and an art show coordinator about what happens to stolen art, how art is determined to be genuine, and how to avoid scams if …
