The lynching of black men in the American South was an all-too-familiar occurrence in the 1930s, even though it rarely made news. So when Billie Holiday had a hit record with the song Strange Fruit, it brought attention to this important issue in unusual ways.

ARTSEDGE: The Kitchen Sink

Of Thee We Sing: Strange Fruit

People write songs about a lot of things, mostly things that mean a lot to us. We write songs about desire, songs about loneliness, about heartbreak, love, and for some reason, we also write lots and lots of songs about cars.

Baby, You're Much Too Fast: A Look at Songs About Cars

Today if you want to talk about a tragedy, there are plenty of ways to do it. But in the past, one way people would pass along news was through songs.

Sad Songs Say So Much: A Look at Songs about Disasters

Over the years, they’ve been some of the most popular songs in the country. They are TV Theme songs, something as old as TV.

Hey, Watch This! A Look at the Music Behind TV Theme Songs

The Baylor University’s Black Gospel Music Restoration Project has a massive collection of phonograph records made by African Americans in the '40s, '50s and '60s. The curator, Dr. Robert Darden, found that on the flip side of many of these 45 RPM records, there are Civil Rights songs that no one has ever heard.

Of Thee We Sing: Civil Rights on the B-Side

On Sunday, April 9th, 1939, a huge, mixed race crowd gathered at the Lincoln Memorial to witness an extraordinary event. At a time when African-Americans were not allowed vote, go to school or use the same toilet as white people, black contralto Marian Anderson stood in front of 75,000 people and sang classical music – a sign of Civil Rights victories to come.

Of Thee We Sing: Marian Anderson

A step-by-step guide for turning you and your friends into the living dead. All you need is some cheap black and white makeup from your local drugstore. (Brains are optional.)

Blood, Guts and Gore: Zombie Makeup

Make scary-real innards through the magic of kitchen chemistry. This tutorial shows you how to make ballistics gel (for organs).

Blood, Guts and Gore: Ballistics Gel (part 2)

Blood, Guts and Gore: Ballistics Gel (part 1)

This special effect is easy to create with makeup and scar wax. And the gashes look so real, your friends will want to drag you to the emergency room.

Blood, Guts and Gore: Open Wounds

Here are ways to create the special effect of bursting blood. You'll be amazed at the mess you can make with a simple sandwich bag!

Blood, Guts and Gore: Blood Bags and Squirting Blood

Create the look of a mixed martial arts fighter without stepping into the octagon. No punches, pain, or swelling required.

Blood, Guts and Gore: Black Eyes and Bloody Noses

When you don’t have time to mix it yourself! Many styles and colors of fake blood are available online and in some theatrical supply stores.

Blood, Guts and Gore: Store-Bought Blood

More chemistry fun with the non-Newtonian fluid called Oobleck (gooey guts). This gross, gooey substance makes pulling guts easy and fun.

Blood, Guts and Gore: Oobleck

Students review all four of the musical extremes featured on this CD through John Philip Sousa’s Stars and Stripes Forever March.