How do we come to view objects and artifacts as art? What terms and ideas do we associate with craft instead? The distinction between art and craft may be subtle, but has profound roots in art history and the development of western...

Discover the rich cultural traditions and remarkable ingenuity of indigenous people and African slaves by learning about one of the most popular percussion instruments in the world today.

What do Picasso, Matisse, and Gauguin have in common? They are all considered modern artists, a movement that began over 150 years ago. And despite the label, their work was influenced by artists much, much, older. Check out this video...

Kabuki and Bunraku may sound like new age exercise routines, but they're actually types of Japanese theater. An informational video describes the history of theater in Japan during the nineteenth century. The resource includes a...

Just exactly what is social dancing? What does social dancing have to do with the African American community and African American history? The narrator of this short video explains how social dancing can support the culture of a...

Frida Kahlo: Artist, political activist, champion of Mexican folk culture. Introduce your students to this amazing woman with a short video that details her life, her passions, and her vibrant paintings.

Discover the prevalence of geometric design in Islamic culture with this wonderful informational video. It begins with an overview of the complexity of designs dating back to the eighth century during early Islam, and then...

The Aztecs turned the act of making sacrifices into a theatrical production. These native religious practices introduce a video on Pre-Columbian theater. By watching the video, viewers discover the connection between theater and the...

There are two distinct periods of African theater: BC (before colonialism) and AC (after colonialism). The 49th installment of the Crash Course Theater and Drama introduces viewers to African dance and theater traditions. However, they...

Combine music, acrobatics, dance, and mime, and you have Beijing opera. An informational video walks viewers through a timeline of Chinese theater, including the introduction of the opera. Comparisons to other forms of drama throughout...

The lessons in Shakespeare's Hamlet transcend language and culture. An actor describes his view of the play in a short video accompanied by tasks, part of the Shakespeare English exercises series. While listening to the video,...

Introduce the origins of theater and dramatic roles with this highly entertaining, animated video. It illustrates the evolution of the stage from the shrinking of the chorus in dramas during the fifth century BCE in Ancient Greece,...

Hollywood is the place to go if you want to make movies—right? Not necessarily. A fascinating video about the history of 20th century Asian cinema discusses the reflections of Japanese culture in the works of directors Yasujiro Ozu,...

This video shows you and your class how to make an origami hat. Why would you do such a thing? If you think about it origami builds eye hand coordination, is fun, is culturally significant, and this hat, is full of measurable angles....

What would be better than a class full of quiet engaged children? Perhaps this origami video will be the quiet activity you've been looking for. Your class will watch and learn how to fold an origami eagle. A great skill to have when...

Ah what a dreary world this would be, if not for the lovely blooms. Construct a paper tulip with the help of this origami video clip. This flower folding technique could come in handy for making Mother's Day gifts to send home, paper...

Sometimes it's impossible to keep up with the Joneses. Scholars watch video 48 in the Crash Course Theater and Drama series that describes poor theater, which takes out the typical lights, costume, and sets that rich theater includes....

Heads up! In the Golden Age, women threw cucumbers at other audience members. This detail is just one of many fun facts a video about Spanish theater during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries covers. Other information the resource...

The paintings of Henri Matisse are the focus of an episode from The School of Life "Art/Architecture" playlist that discusses the life and works of the famous French painter.  The narrator points out how Matisse uses...

Scholars watch an animation of the poem "Accents" by Denice Frohman. The coloring and drawings in the animation encourage and enhance particular feelings brought out by the poem.

When our senses provide data to the brain, does the brain translate those senses simultaneously or only after they are transmitted? Ponder this interesting inquiry with another fantastic TED video, and consider whether our...

Persistence of Vision? The Phi Phenomenon? Zoetropes? Camera Obscura? Kinetograph? What part do these concepts and inventions play in the history of movies? Find out with a short video that launches an informative playlist on film history.

Welcome to the Renaissance, known as one of the most vibrant periods in the world of theater. An informational video provides a thorough overview of the period, noting key changes that took place on the stage. After a lengthy discussion...

Learn how to create a dreamcatcher, an item designed to catch bad dreams and let good dreams through. The dreamcatcher originated with the Ojibwe but has been adopted by other nations. Included are teaching tips and additional background...