Articles written by Ted Sherman in Arts & Humanities

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About me - Ted Sherman

After Navy service in World War II, I earned a BFA from the Phila. College of Art (now the Univ. of the Arts). I was then recalled to active duty in the Korean War. Following was a 40-year career in public relations, advertising, sales promotion, graphic

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Arts & Humanities > Writing Tips Writers: How to find your ideal genre: 1 of 29
I've been writing for more than 50 years ... five of the years with the military, five as university faculty and 30 in corporate public relations, sales promotion and advertising. Fortunately, I have an excellent pension plan and fairly adequate investments, because my post-retirement freelance writing efforts have been spir... More..
Arts & Humanities > Writing Tips Common mistakes in word choices: 1 of 14
For writers and public speakers, the most prevalent error in using wrong words is called a malaprop. The origin is the French phrase "mal a propos" (bad proposal), and it came into English usage when playwright Richard Sheridan created a character, Mrs. Malaprop, in his 18th Century stage play, "The Rivals". For instance, he... More..
Arts & Humanities > Art Appreciation The art of interpreting art: 2 of 27
Like most people, my cliche line about art is often, "Well, I'm no expert, but...." However, I can speak about art with some authority because, many years ago, I earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from a very prestigious art school. Even with all those years of education, I never could understand the messes that some peop... More..
Arts & Humanities > Ancient History An overview on the treatment of women in ancient Rome: 1 of 12
The typical patrician (middle and upper class) Roman family included the father, mother, children, married sons, their families and slaves. The plebeians (lower class) Romans also followed the mores of their wealthy families, although few could afford slaves. In most Roman families, the paterfamilias was in absolute charge, ... More..
Arts & Humanities > Middle Eastern History The Palestinians' ancient historical claims to Palestine: 1 of 10
The logic that the current people who call themselves Palestinians claim they should take over Israel is that their ancestors lived on the land two thousand years ago. This is totally invalid, because many independent tribes wandered the area of what is now Israel as nomads for 4,000 years, including the Israelites and Canaa... More..
Arts & Humanities > Theater & Drama How to become a theatre director: 1 of 8
The quick answer is: take advantage of every opportunity to get multiple experiences in the theater as you can find. I'm sure you've heard the old joke. A tourist in New York City asks a native how to get to Carnegie Hall. The one-word answer is: practice! That's also the magic word for anyone who wants to become a theater d... More..
Arts & Humanities > Dance Styles Commentary: The sexual character of popular dance today: 2 of 15
Since men and women started dancing closely together in the 19th Century, social dancing has been called, among other names, vertical fornication. Today's dancing and song lyrics hide nothing about the overt sexual implications of popular dance, whether it involves a single performance, a group act or couples. It also now do... More..
Arts & Humanities > Theater & Drama The legacy of Andrew Lloyd Webber: 1 of 7
Our family legacy with Andrew Lloyd Webber goes back nearly 30 years. I took my then four-year-old daughter to a matinee of "Cats". Small children made up most of the audience. We were seated In the first row, and after intermission, the second act opened with cat-costumed dancers and singers suddenly bursting out into the a... More..
Arts & Humanities > Theater & Drama Musical reviews: The Sound of Music: 1 of 7
Still one of the most beloved musicals of all time, "The Sound of Music" looks as fresh today as it did when the movie was released in 1965. It is based on the true story of the Von Trapp family's adventures in their native Austria and their escape from the Nazis to sail to America just before World War II. The story begins ... More..
Arts & Humanities > Poets & Poetry Poetry analysis: The Raven, by Edgar Allan Poe: 4 of 26
Edgar Allan Poe's most famous writing, "The Raven", in which he ends many of the stanzas with the gloomy "Quoth the raven nevermore" introduces the menacing black bird as a symbol of the tragedy of life's losses, especially when doomed young lovers die. In the poem, he cites "the rare and radiant maiden, the lost Lenore". He... More..