Language evolves like a biological creature, but linguistic progression occurs more rapidly than natural development. The vernacular of our parents’ generation is already greatly removed from today’s slang words, and texts from a few years ago could be considered “fossil records” by etymologists who study the origin of words to gain cultural insight. Examining the history of our language uncovers the hidden meanings behind…
Hollywood has taken us to medieval battlefields for as long as it’s been making movies. But while medieval warfare movies are definitely exciting, most of them are far from realistic. When you’re talking about battles that took place hundreds of years ago, the average person has no real way of relating to them without extensive research. History…
Here’s something you maybe never thought of before: movies are not shot in chronological order. From a sheer logistics standpoint, it’s not cost effective or efficient to shoot a film in order. For example, let’s say that a film has 10 scenes to shoot on location at a beach house on the Jersey shore. Those…
When large groups of Italians migrated to the US in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Mafia members and organized crime professionals traveled with them. Many made men entered the bootlegging business during the Prohibition era, then moved to other forms of illegal enterprises, like gambling, racketeering, drug smuggling, and prostitution rings, once the US…
Most of us have had the experience of nodding along to a song and mouthing the words (or some semblance of them) without actually listening to what we’re saying. Often the tracks with the most upbeat, feel-good sound mask a deeper, darker, deeper meaning. Whether it’s illicit substances, bitter breakups, or straight-up homicide, the meanings and lyrics of these songs…
Some of the most famous buildings in the world, such as the White House or the Waldorf Astoria hotel, actually have secret rooms. There are many reasons why these rooms exist. Some were built or used for secretive purposes, but others are just ordinary spaces that happen to be connected to architectural icons. Either way, these secret rooms are the…
During the 1980s, professional wrestling in the United States went from regional entertainment to a national craze. The World Wrestling Federation (WWF) put on televised events that garnered huge ratings, brought thousands of fans to live bouts, and changed the sport forever. Now branded World Wrestling Entertainment, WWE introduced audiences around the country – and the world – to…
Though many recent animated films like Encanto and Turning Red have villains who are misguided instead of evil, there are still plenty of villains who are bad to the bone. In fact, some of them are even worse than most people realize. Let’s take Claude Frollo from Disney’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame. The man not only ended a woman’s life,…
Harry Potter is based on the idea of selfless love for family and friends, and the story starts off with Lily Potter’s sacrifice for her son. Harry and his friends face a lot of hardships that require them to think beyond themselves, and they have many opportunities to display their strength of character. Relatively minor Harry Potter characters like Luna, Neville, and…
Thousands of natural wonders exist in the world. But have you ever wondered about the history behind them? Some of these amazing formations and events date back millions of years, while others are less than 100 years old. There are legends and theories attached to how some of them came into existence, but what are the…
