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Do you prefer Aeschylus or Sophocles? The animated video embedded above features a five-minute lesson that explores Greek tragedies.

Over at the TED-Ed website, viewers can access a quiz, a discussion board, and more resources. Click here to download free digital copies of the plays of both Aeschylus and Sophocles.

One of the most fun and exciting sources of information available for free on the Internet are the videos found on the Technology, Entertainment and Design (TED) website. TED is a hub of stories about innovation, achievement and change, each artfully packaged into a short, highly accessible talk by an outstanding speaker. As of April 2015, the TED website boasts 1900+ videos from some of the most imminent individuals in the world. Selected speakers range from Bill Clinton and Al Gore to Bono and other global celebrities to a range of academics experts.

The post TED Talks and DNA appeared first on OUPblog.

I have been mulling over how to expand my interviews, which I so enjoy doing, and have decided that while I want to continue with a focus on illustrators, I want to also incorporate chats with other members of the … Continue reading →

Have you ever wished that any of your favorite literary characters were a real people?

Young adult author and psychologist Jennifer Barnes gave a talk on “Imaginary Friends and Real-World Consequences: Parasocial Relationships” at TEDxOU. We’ve embedded the full presentation in the video above.

This independently-organized TED conference focused on the topic of \"off the map\" ideas. For the coordinators behind this event, “off the map” is defined as “perspectives and ideas that have been overlooked, are out of our comfort zones, and break boundaries.”

Sarah Kay, a spoken word poet and the founder of the Project V.O.I.C.E. organization, recited a piece called \"Montauk\" at Inner City Arts. The Button Poetry YouTube channel posted a video (embedded above) featuring Kay’s performance and it has drawn more than 27,000 views.

Kay drew inspiration for this piece from a line found in Richard Siken’s poem, \"Detail of the Woods.\" Follow these links to listen to a reading of Kay’s poem “The Type” and her talk on the TED stage.

StoryCorps founder and author Dave Isay has been chosen as the winner of this year’s TED Prize. This award comes with a one million dollar cash prize.

Isay recently delivered a talk at the TED 2015 conference called “Everyone Around You Has a Story the World Needs to Hear.”  We’ve embedded a video showcasing the entire presentation above—what do you think?

Traditionally, those who win the TED Prize share a wish with the world. According to the TED Blog, Isay hopes “that you will help us to take everything we’ve learned through StoryCorps and bring it to the world so that anyone, anywhere, can easily record a meaningful interview with another human being, which then will be archived for history.”

Have you ever felt puzzled by Plato’s allegory of the cave? The video embedded above features a four-minute lesson about this ancient text which can be found in Book VII of The Republic.

Over at the TED-Ed website, viewers can access a quiz, a discussion board, and more resources. Click here to download a digital edition of The Republic.

Many would say that it’s hard to imagine Kate DiCamillo as a struggling writer. The two-time Newbery Medal winner recently appeared at the Love of Literacy luncheon.

PalmBeachPost.com reports that during the Q&A session, DiCamillo was prompted to talk about resilience. She revealed that while her debut book, Because of Winn Dixie, did ultimately earn a Newbery Honor, she had to deal with 473 rejections letters to even get it published.

DiCamillo feels that she owes her successful career to “figuring out who you are and not giving up on that idea of yourself.” Do you agree with her advice? Follow this link to watch a TED talk about grit. (via CBCBooks.org)

Journalist and author AJ Jacobs revealed the cover for his forthcoming book, It’s All Relative: Adventures Up and Down the World’s Family Tree. We’ve embedded the full image above—what do you think?

During the research process for this book, Jacobs has tracked down several famous “cousins” including former President George H. W. Bush, filmmaker Morgan Spurlock, and Harry Potter movie series actor Daniel Radcliffe. To learn more about this project, check out Jacobs’ TED talk.

Pondering on your next read?

Four TED-Ed educators each shared five titles they consider “must-reads” for the year 2015. According to the TED-ED blog, each individual crafted a list based on a subject that they specialize in.

The contributors include Matthew Winkler (literature), Lucianne Walkowicz (science), Natalya St. Clair (math), and Kathryn Tempest (history). For more recommendations, check out the Summer 2014 reading list from the TED community.

Award-winning writer Andrew Solomon has been named the president of the PEN American Center.

Here’s more from the press release: “This is an urgent time for issues of free expression, and a critical time for PEN. In the wake of Charlie Hebdo, revelations about surveillance in the United States, international assaults on open dialogue for gay people, and restrictions on press and Internet in many countries worldwide, our mission could not be more clear: free speech is under siege and its defenders cannot rest.”

Solomon will be succeeding journalist Peter Godwin who has taken on this role for the past three years. Follow these links to watch Solomon’s TED talks on hardship, love, and depression.

Was William Shakespeare actually the writer that many believe him to be? The video embedded above features a four-minute lesson on whether or not the great English playwright actually wrote his plays.

Natalya St. Clair and Aaron Williams collaborated together as the educators for this project. Over at the TED-Ed website, writers can access a quiz, a discussion board, and more resources.

In the past, the TED-Ed team has created short animated films tackling subjects such as Shakespearean insults, dating tips from The Bard, and iambic pentameter. What’s your favorite Shakespearean play?

Academy Award-winning actor Nicholas Cage has joined the cast for the Snowden film adaption. Cage will play “a former U.S. Intelligence Official.”

Two-time Golden Globe-nominated actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt will tackle the titular role of whistleblower Edward Snowden (pictured, via). Filmmaker Oliver Stone wrote a screenplay based on two books, Anatoly Kucherena’s Time of the Octopus and Luke Harding’s The Snowden Files: The Inside Story of the World’s Most Wanted Man.

Here’s more from Variety:”Snowden was charged in 2013 by the U.S. Department of Justice with two counts of violating the Espionage Act and theft of government property and his passport was revoked a week later by the U.S. Department of State. He was granted temporary asylum by Russia last year. Open Road Films will release the film in the U.S. on December 25.” To learn more about Snowden, check out his TED Talk.

Can reading be considered an act of bravery? Photographer Laura Boushnak delivered a talk at TEDGlobal 2014 about the women featured in her ongoing “I Read, I Write” series.

According to the TED blog, this photography project shines the spotlight on Arab women who live in parts of the world where they are discouraged from becoming literate or educated. Throughout her presentation, Boushnak shared pictures and quotes from her subjects.

We’ve embedded the full talk in the video above. For more talks, the TED organization has created a playlist that feature master storytellers called \"How to Tell a Story.\"

In celebration of the release of BOOK OF EARTH, the first book in my medieval fantasy warrior girl series THE BRADAMANTE SAGA, I thought we’d all like a little extra dose of some badass women. Enjoy!

What does it take to create a book sculpture? In a presentation delivered at TEDYouth 2014 (embedded above), artist Brian Dettmer talks about the creative process to transform old encyclopedias into modern art pieces.

To work on his projects, Dettmer keeps a supply of X-Acto knives, tweezers and surgical devices in his tool box. He makes it his mission to discover and develop new meanings for each book.

Here’s more from the TED blog: “Like a DJ, he remixes the knowledge found inside. Like an archeologist, he excavates the potential of their wisdom. He believes that the book will never die, but will and must adapt to hold its place in the new digital information age.”

Have you ever wanted to say “thank you” to one of your favorite fictional heroes? Artist and TED speaker Hetain Patel created a life-size fiberglass statue of Spider-Man called “Letter to Peter Parker.” According to the TED ideas website, Patel wrote words of gratitude directly on the figure.

The video embedded above features a time-lapse of Patel’s creative process. The art piece is currently being showcased at Patel’s multimedia exhibition, \"The Other Suit,\" at the Chatterjee & Lal gallery in India. What do you think?

William Shakespeare has become well-known for his use of iambic pentameter. The TED-Ed team created a video on “why Shakespeare loved iambic pentameter.” We’ve embedded the animated video above—what do you think? For more writing advice, check out our post with “TED-Ed Lessons For Writers to Kick Off 2015.”

Would you like a bit of writing wisdom to kick off the new year? We’ve compiled a list of five TED-Ed videos on creating fictional worlds, making pop-up books, the oxford comma, using simple words, and following the hero’s journey.

For more advice, the TED organization has created a playlist of 14 talks for “word nerds” called “Words, Words, Words.” What subjects would you like the TED-Ed team to tackle next?
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New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Have you ever mailed a postcard to PostSecret? We sat down with the founder of this project, Frank Warren, to talk about his newest book, The World of PostSecret. Follow this link to hear Warren’s 2012 TED Talk. Check out the highlights from our interview below…

Q: The World of PostSecret is your sixth book. How does the book creation process start for you?
A: I think it starts with a secret (a postcard). From there, I curate, collect, and weave together these stories using people’s secrets in a way that tells a different kind of story. I don’t know how that story is going to end until the book is done. In this case, it took five years.

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New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Do you need a boost of inspiration for 2015?

We’ve compiled a list of five videos featuring writers who have given TED talks throughout the past year. Our list includes Extra Yarn author Mac Barnett, Lunch Lady series creator by Jarrett J. Krosoczka, Eat, Pray, Love author Elizabeth Gilbert, The House of the Spirits author Isabel Allende, and Chocolat author Joanne Harris.

For more talks, the TED organization has created a playlist that feature master storytellers called “How to Tell a Story.” Who do you nominate to speak at future TED conferences?
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New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Have you ever invented new words? In a presentation delivered at TEDYouth 2014 (embedded above), lexicographer Erin McKean promotes the idea of adding words to the language when the existing ones prove to be inadequate.

In an interview with the TED blog, McKean explains that “asking why English needs more words is like asking why we need new novels or new fashions. On a purely practical level, we don’t. We could all read what’s already published and wear the same styles for the rest of our lives. But people like novelty and new words for new things satisfies that human urge.” Do you agree with her?

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

The “Maira Kalman Selects” exhibit has opened at the Cooper Hewitt (the Smithsonian Design Museum). Kalman, an acclaimed author and illustrator, chose 40 objects for this display. She (pictured, via) sourced these items from the Cooper Hewitt, the National Museum of American History, and her personal collection.

According to the Smithsonian website, Kalman’s objective with this project was “to suggest the journey of a life story, from birth through death.” A closing date has been scheduled for June 14, 2015. Follow this link to hear Kalman’s TED talk.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

The TED-Ed team has created a science lesson starring The Dark Knight. It explores the role that bats play in the world’s ecosystem and how these creatures are both “widely misunderstood and vilified.” The animated video embedded above features both Batman and cameos from several of Gotham City’s most infamous villains such as the Joker, Two-Face, and Poison Ivy. What do you think?

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

What does it take to make a pop-up book? The TED-Ed team has created a video called “Bringing a Pop-Up Book to Life.”

The book within the lesson focuses on the subject of tectonic plates. We’ve embedded the animated video above—what do you think?

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.