A Thing of Beauty – Falsified Beauty

09/06/16 • 30 min

A recent encounter with a gorgeously illustrated compilation of Shakespeare forgeries, housed in IU’s Lilly Library, prompts MacKay’s strange tale of falsified beauty. In the years following the “discovery” (around 1795) of William Henry Ireland’s forged manuscripts, their presence played a surprising role in the construction of an idealized vision of Shakespeare that is still embraced today.

Previous Episode

A Thing of Beauty – House of the Singing Winds

As a self-described "undisciplined" academic and believer in beauty, Eric Sandweiss thinks broadly about the role of beauty in the world. A scholar and teacher of history, Sandweiss explores architecture, historic preservation, urban planning, and the ordinary people and experiences that shape our lives. His chosen object of beauty is Indiana artist T.C. Steele's home, The House of the Singing Winds.

Next Episode

A Thing of Beauty – Spider Web

Biologist and photographer Roger Hangarter and artist and curator Betsy Stirratt are long-time collaborators who share an idea of beauty as an experience found in nature. Together they discuss a photograph of a spider web taken by Hangarter during an ordinary walk in the woods. They examine beauty as a phenomenon that inspires both scientists and artists, and find common ground in the pursuit of mystery and light.