The bizarre dance epidemic of 1518

A few months ago, the world was introduced to a novel coronavirus—a pathogen that causes COVID-19. The disease has evolved into a full-blown pandemic, and has already claimed the lives of more than two hundred thousand people worldwide. Experts fear that number could get far higher.

Pandemics have played a role in shaping the course of human history. Empires have fallen. Generations have been annihilated. In 1518 in France, the weirdest plague to strike mankind occurred: The Dancing Plague. For no apparent reason, hundreds of people began dancing in the streets uncontrollably, and they continued until they dropped dead.

"From a distance they might be carnival revellers. But closer inspection reveals a more disquieting scene. Their arms are flailing and their bodies are convulsing spasmodically. Ragged clothes and pinched faces are saturated in sweat. Their eyes are glassy, distant. Blood seeps from swollen feet into leather boots and wooden clogs. These are not revellers but 'choreomaniacs', entirely possessed by the mania of the dance."

Read The Dancing Plague of 1518 in The Public Domain Review.

Comments

The Adorable Sculptures of Yen Yen Lo

These images are from a series of wall sculptures created by Yen Yen Lo . Here you can see her intricately textured ceramic pieces, looking downright adorable. Yen Yen Lo's eye for the unique and whimsical is delightful. Apparently they are not intended for kids under 16. Fifteen-year-olds cannot be trusted with fragile stuff. Get them a Funko Pop instead.

Enigmatic Shapes and Psychedelic Patterns

To say that I love Sanagi 's work is an understatement. Looking at her art feels sort of therapeutic, and I find her drawings refreshingly intricate. They're trippy, psychedelic, and resemble something that you might see under a microscope. Not much is Googleable about Sanagi, but that's fine. There aren't many artists these days that still pull off the whole mysterious vibe, so I commend her for that. By the way... they're all hand-drawn with pen and ink.

Brooklyn artist creates 'Star Wars' portraits using staples

There are so many kinds of artists as there are types of art. But James Haggerty is truly in a class of his own, since he is one of only a few masters that create amazing portraits using staples. "When my wife and I were expecting our first child I made a switch from using a paintbrush or etching needle in my art to using a common office stapler," wrote Haggerty in a blog post . "I think my staple mosaics are not a far departure from the etchings or cityscape oil paintings that I am known for. Staples, just like an etched line, can be bold and graphic or soft and subdued." With extraordinary patience and an organized plan, the award winning painter and printmaker from Brooklyn makes detailed mosaics of iconic Star Wars characters using thousands of multi-colored office staples. Haggerty starts each session by creating several ink drawings before transferring his favorite sketch onto a piece of painted black board. Once the design is etc...

finding cain

Search This Blog