Essays About Material Culture

What Was Adelina Patti Smoking?

By Hilary Poriss One would assume that of all the leisure activities out there, smoking would probably rank among the least popular with opera stars. After all, today few singers in their right minds would touch tobacco and most vocalists will not even put up with secondary smoke coming… Read More

Gershwin and Color: How Blue is the Rhapsody?

By Olivia Mattis This Essay first appeared on the OUPBlog on September 28 2015. Everyone knows George Gershwin as a composer, songwriter, pianist and icon of American music. But few know of his connections to the world of paintings and fine art. As a practicing artist… Read More