Featured stories about Arts & Culture
Stories about Arts & Culture
14 January 2019
Rare film footage with sound of Kyoto, Japan, from 1929
What makes this film notable is that it features actual sound footage of Japanese city life at that time. Usually, newsreels from that era are silent.
9 January 2019
Revitalizing the Inuktitut language on social media, one word at a time
"Learning, speaking-in and thinking-in Inuktitut helps young Inuit feel more connected to our community and traditional values."
4 January 2019
How preserving folktales and legends help raise environment awareness in the Mekong
"By means of stories, the communities search for ways to accommodate and/or resist changes that are taking place in the Mekong river basin."
28 December 2018
2018 across sub-Saharan Africa: Our favorite stories of epic change and transformation
From long-time leaders stepping down to citizens rising up, a cautious hope surges alongside the continuous struggle. Here are our favorite stories from across Africa in 2018.
How the comics of Marcelo D'Salete helps us understand Brazil's past and present
"It could help change mentalities regarding the treatment of the diverse groups that we have in Brazil, countering a hegemonic vision, which frames these groups in different and unequal positions."
27 December 2018
New edition of Macedonian Twitter Calendar combines nude art photography with humanitarian fundraising
Macedonian Twitter users come together to support humanitarian causes by posing for a nude calendar.
18 December 2018
Oaxacan women learn essential photo skills to reframe their lives
Over a weekend in November 2018, 25 young girls from Oaxaca learned about photography techniques from instructors of the Museum of Photographic Arts.
15 December 2018
It’s official: 2018 in Japan was a ‘disaster’
Given Japan's year of natural catastrophes, the Japanese Kanji Proficiency Society thought that “disaster” was a suitable symbol for 2018.
14 December 2018
Removal of Filipino language and literature as required college subjects sparks opposition
"We believe that Filipino language and literature is vital in deepening the critical, creative, free, and liberating capacities of students and people."
10 December 2018
Buju Banton, controversial dancehall star, comes home — but is Jamaica ready?
"In light of the adversity I have encountered, I feel the need to stress that my only desire going forward is peace and love."
3 December 2018
This epic poem describes the grief of Yugoslavs over the death of John F. Kennedy
An epic poem titled “Death in Dallas” reflected the popularity of United States President John F. Kennedy in the former Yugoslavia.
1 December 2018
South Sudanese singer Nyaruach calls out ‘boring man with no plan’ in feminist hit
"You are such a bastard guy, I just want to say goodbye. May God bless you where you are. You boring man with no plan. With no plan!"
Terrifying folk rituals from Japan added to UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list
The demons enter homes to scare children until being placated with sake. In other variations of the ritual, the demons will chase children through the streets to scare them.
28 November 2018
‘The Little Prince’ now speaks Tsotsil
"Ch’in Ajvali" was released in November 2018 by the independent Argentinian publisher Los Injunables, which published an Aymara translation of the same book in 2016.
27 November 2018
Russian rapper arrested and unexpectedly released after alleged Kremlin intervention
Husky is no liberal minstrel, but fellow rappers rushed to his support when he was arrested. Then a state TV executive bragged about the Kremlin's efforts to release him.
26 November 2018
Despite threats of arrest, rap song criticizing military rule goes viral in Thailand
As a response to the 40-million-view music video, the Thai government launched its own rap song celebrating innovation and progress (it flopped).
On contemporary art in the Balkans: An interview with Jon Blackwood
"When so many citizens have to focus so much of their effort on just survival, it’s little surprise that people have lost the habit of going to art galleries..."
21 November 2018
Winning Taiwanese director calls for independence at the Chinese Oscars
"I really hope one day our country will be regarded as an independent entity. This is my biggest wish as a Taiwanese."
16 November 2018
Dissident novelist’s close call casts a shadow on Hong Kong's once-vibrant cultural scene
Since the 1950s, Hong Kong has had a proud tradition of exile literature and art. Recent events suggest they're under threat.
How do non-native residents of the Netherlands view Zwarte Piet, St. Nicholas’ blackface servant?
“I understand Dutch affection for Zwarte Piet is born out of a warm, and well-meaning Christmas tradition. But I cannot excuse it.”
