AskHistorians

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Before the German WW2 invasions most of the Louvre's collection was evacuated from Paris, including the Mona Lisa. How was this massive operation carried out? Did other occupied countries also attempt to save art collections from looting?	25
French painter Paul Gauguin moved to Tahiti in 1891 in search of a "primitive idyll" and to escape "European civilization". His hopes were... disappointed. How much could educated Europeans actually know about Polynesia in the 19th century?	24
Only last year, the French president acknowledged France's systematic use of torture during the Algerian War (1954-62). How well-known were these practices in France in the decades following the war? How did it remain a taboo for so long? And was torture also used in metropolitan France?	23
In "Some Like It Hot" from 1959 the two lead actors prominently crossdress as a disguise. How did the movie's success affect public opinions regarding crossdressing and/or homosexuality?	22
"Beef, what a relief / When will this poisonous product cease? " rapped KRS-One in 1990. Was this a fringe view in African American communities or was there wider support for vegetarianism during the 80s and/or 90s?	18
The early colonial Philippines were very multicultural: in Manila alone lived Chinese, Japanese, Spanish and various indigenous communities. There was major conflict and trade with the Spanish, but how did the other groups interact?	17
Graphic novels were increasingly distinguished from comics periodicals in the 1980s. How did the format gain in popularity? Were there precursors to long-form comic books, or was this something completely "novel"?	17
How have female cartoonists shaped the development of American comics?	15
Japan had a strong policy of seclusion/isolation for ca. 250 years. Before this Edo period, how much was known about Japan in European countries? What writings were available on culture, political structure, beliefs etc. by the early 17th c.?	13
"The girl from Ipanema goes walking..." How did Bossa Nova go from musical success in 1950/60s Brazil to a global soundtrack for poolside relaxation?	11

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