Arts & Entertainment

The history of art and entertainment tells the complex story of human civilization through visual art, design, literature, music, film and television. It ranges from cave drawings of the Neolithic period to Renaissance masterpieces to rock 'n' roll and video games.

Featured Overview

Illustration by Eduardo Ramón Trejo. Photos from Getty Images.

Start Here

These visual artists helped modernize and reclaim African American portrayals through groundbreaking painting, sculpture and photography.

When Afro-Cuban mambo met big band jazz, musical sparks flew.

Actors of East Asian descent often faced limited and typecast roles in Old Hollywood, but they paved the way for future generations.

As clothing became cheaper and faster to make amid the Industrial Revolution, new, sometimes outrageous fashion designs became chic.

Why Is Kubrick’s ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ Significant?

Why Is Kubrick's '2001: A Space Odyssey' Significant?

Take a journey through the history of science fiction and examine the cultural influences—such as the Vietnam War, the Civil Rights Movement and the Space Race—that shaped Stanley Kubrick's visionary 1968 film, *2001: A Space Odyssey*.

5:33m watch

Explore All Related Topics

Arts & Entertainment

He composed nearly 3,000 works, changed the sound of jazz and became a cultural icon. Here are eight facts about the legendary bandleader and composer.

Every generation has its quintessential summer symbol.

Arts & Entertainment

Korea Art Treasures: 10 Symbols of Longevity

Discover how the symbols seen every day in K-pop and K-culture have their roots in centuries-old Korean art.

Arts & Entertainment

Korean Art Treasures: Moon Jar

Trace the history of the moon jar from an 18th century utilitarian object to modern art piece prized by collectors for its beauty and symbolism.

Advertisement
Arts & Entertainment

Korean Art Treasures: Art and Technology

Explore the heritage of modern tech and product design and its links to traditional Korean art.

Arts & Entertainment

Save Our History: The Lee Kun-Hee Art Collection

The family of late Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-Hee donated over 23,000 artworks to the Korean public. The Lee Kun-Hee collection spans millennia and connects thousands of years of Korean art history and technology to modern K-culture.

See how vampires have shape-shifted across popular culture.

These legendary clubs influenced the sound, style and culture of America.

Advertisement
Advertisement

From the Industrial Revolution to TikTok, shifting technology and culture have helped turn the United States into fertile ground for fads.

A succession of personal scandals, legal battles and political clashes turned one of Hollywood's most beloved stars into one of its most polarizing figures.

It wasn’t just a hit—it changed how Hollywood does business.

Hollywood film noir reflected the era’s anxiety and ambiguity.

Advertisement

The artist used film, television, advertising and his larger-than-life public persona to bring Surrealism far beyond the museum.

The jewelry gave wearers the opportunity to track their feelings.

Arts & Entertainment

Why Is Kubrick's '2001: A Space Odyssey' Significant?

Take a journey through the history of science fiction and examine the cultural influences—such as the Vietnam War, the Civil Rights Movement and the Space Race—that shaped Stanley Kubrick's visionary 1968 film, *2001: A Space Odyssey*.

5:33m watch

Korean art through the ages reflects both imported aesthetic tastes and deeply rooted Korean sensibilities.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement