Stories about Arts & Culture from July, 2008
Russia: Bashkiria
Dmitri Minaev of De Rebus Antiquis Et Novis describes a recent trip to Bashkiria and posts pictures.
Angola: Goodbye to Kinaxixe Market in Luanda
Anabela Quelhas [pt] is extremely sad to have witnessed Luanda's Kinaxixe Market being demolished. She lists 10 reasons was this 50's market was an important building for Angolan architecture and people, concluding: “Once more, cultural asset is outweighed by the language of money and speculation”. A modern shopping center is...
Brazil: Gilberto Gil leaves the Culture Cabinet
Many blogs have been reporting that Minister of Culture Gilberto Gil has left the cabinet, which he had headed since 2003. He plans to give priority to his musical career.
Morocco: The View From Fez's News Roundup
The View from Fez provides a weekly news roundup, sharing news of Casablanca's Boulevard des Jeuenes Musiciens as well as the anniversary of King Mohammed VI's accession to the throne.
Barbados, Canada: Caribana Fever
“Wha happen Crop Over music from Crop-Over this year cant reach here? Dem waiting on steam boat to bring the tunes? Man this is internet era, download man download”: Barbadian diaspora blogger Jdid explains why he is not one to catch “Caribana Feva”.
Tube Adventure: A Bilingual Quest Game on YouTube
The popular Spanish YouTube channel Pinofas has created a novel project: it's an hero adventure quest live-action game that takes advantage of the new tagging, linking and commenting capabilities that YouTube has implemented, called Tube Adventure.
Bolivia: The Custom of El Poro
Camiri Digital [es] proudly writes about the use of the drink “el Poro” in Camiri, Bolivia, and its customs such as pouring the drink to your right.
China: All shook up by the torch relay
It's a double-edged Olympic torch. Veteran sports journalist Guan Jun shares a short sketch on his Beijing Olympics blog of how disruptive preparations for the torch relay proved to be for those living alongside the road chosen for the relay route.
Formoz Festival 2008: Don't wanna say goodbye
Here is wikipedia's explanation of the annual Formoz Festival: The annual Formoz Festival, Spring Scream, and Gung-liao Ho-hai-yan Rock Festival are representative gatherings within Taiwan's indie scene. Of these, Formoz Festival is notable for its international draw. Facing the threat of typhoon Phoenix, lots of people still decided to attend...
South Africa: Africa's first online reality show
Can you twist?: Can You Twist is South Africa's first online reality show featuring six of the country's hottest young female storytellers…and your votes.
Haiti, U.S.A.: Musical Militia
AfriClassical quotes author Michael Largey in its profile of Haitian classical composer Occide Jeanty (1860-1936): “By performing pieces that had extramusical programs referring to Haitian political resistance, the Musique du Palais National, with Occide Jeanty conducting, became a symbol of Haitian resistance, albeit in musical, not military terms.”
Morocco: Meknes-Tafilalet Film Festival
cinema and movies shares news of the Meknès-Tafilalet Film Festival.
China: Sneak peak at Beijing Games opening ceremony
Danwei.org has been on a very long roll with its Olympics coverage, and now founder Jeremy Goldkorn has found clips of an opening ceremony rehearsal taken covertly by a Korean television crew. (Update: yes, it took a few minutes for the clip to be harmonized. This might work, however.)
China: Naked Beach Proposal
Li Yinhe comments on the naked beach proposal in Zhuhai. Oppositional views said that naked beach is immoral and at odd with Chinese culture. The blogger also feels that the cultural leap is too big to be accepted by the public.
Ukraine: Lenin and Church Bells
Copydude writes about the decision of Lutsk authorities to “remelt [the town's] Lenin monument into church bells.”
Arabeyes: Head Over Heels for Muhannad
A strange phenomenon has gripped the Arab world and Arabs seem to agree on something. It is an infatuation with a Turkish soap opera, dubbed in Arabic, and its stunning star Muhanned (played by Kıvanç Tatlıtuğ), whose romantic trysts are beamed on television screens across the region. The obsession of some people with the soap has also prompted the Grand Mufti of the Islamic world, Shaikh Abdul Aziz Al Shaikh, from Saudi Arabia, to issue a fatwa (religious edict) banning the drama, saying watching it is Haram (a sin).
China: The Great Mascot Conspiracy
Of all the various interpretations of what the Fuwas could or should represent we've seen recently, ‘The Great Mascot Conspiracy’ from Angry Chinese Blogger has definitely done it better.
Arabeyes: Mourning Youssef Chahine
Tributes are pouring in from bloggers from around the Middle East and North Africa, mourning the death of renowned Egyptian film maker Youssef Chahine. Born in Alexandria in 1926, Chahine has left behind a legacy, and millions of fans and followers across the region.
India: On Birthdays
Mumbai Magic has some lovely photographs, reminiscing about the birthday traditions specific to the author's community.
Armenia: Musical Tourism
Unfashionably Late recently visited Armenia and posts an extended entry on the local music scene. The post is accompanied by music videos and analysis.
Cuba: Carnival Time
“It is a time to shrug off the slogans, the shortages and the frustrated expectations. Dancing is a magnificent way of forgetting. And so we will have a festival along the same perimeter where, fourteen years ago, Havanans demonstrated their discontent in a social explosion”: Yoani Sanchez looks beyond the...
