Monsters, Sea-Monks, and Mermaids: Strange Creatures from the Sea from Antiquity to the Modern Age

Day 4 of the Fish & Fiction week: the fact and fiction of sea monsters from Antiquity to modernity

Sophia Hendrikx • September 23, 2018

All Creatures of the Sea’: Fish in Bible and Emblem Books

Bible Illustrations — Fish are frequently mentioned in the Holy Scriptures. Well-known Old Testament references to fish include God’s creation of ‘all creatures of the sea’ on the Fifth Day of the First Week, the sea monster Leviathan, and the large fish.

Paul J. Smith • September 22, 2018

Introduction: Fish & Fiction

Fish have always been part and parcel of human civilisation. In a material sense, they have always been omnipresent in the everyday lives of human beings – from fishery to kitchen. At the same time, fish lead a hidden life, underwater, invisible to man.

Paul J. Smith and Florike Egmond • September 21, 2018

Medieval Literature as Young Adult Fiction?

Can medieval literature still be fun for high school students? And which medieval character is a classic YA-hero?

Lieke Smits • August 23, 2018

Horace’s Ars poetica in Children’s Literature: from advising poets to the Reader’s bill of Rights

Around 19 BC, Horace advised poets both to instruct and delight their readers, in order to write proper poetry. This piece of advice is still well-known nowadays, especially in pedagogy. But isn’t it a bit restrictive for children?

Céline Zaepffel • July 12, 2018

The Afterlife of a Shipwreck?

How does a shipwreck live on after its excavation? Leonor Veiga interviews Natali Pearson about her PhD dissertation on the afterlife of the Belitung shipwreck.

Leonor Veiga • June 15, 2018

A Painter, a Collector, and a Horseshoe Crab

On full moon nights this time of the year, an extraordinary sight can be witnessed on beaches all over the U.S. East Coast. Thousands of horseshoe crabs come ashore to mate and lay eggs.

Marlise Rijks • June 07, 2018

Academic research can be emotional as well

Last week, Rick Honings, Olga van Marion and Tim Vergeer presented their new book on dead children in Dutch Literature. In this post, Tim reflects on writing about a new genre and the particularities of the book presentation.

Tim Vergeer • May 03, 2018

Jeff Koons' Broken Artwork and Tactile Desire

After a visitor broke Jeff Koons' Gazing Ball (Perugino Madonna and Child with Four Saints), which was exhibited in the Nieuwe Kerk, the curator expressed his surprise about visitors touching art. In this post I argue that it is actually common practice.

Lieke Smits • April 18, 2018

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