Stories about Arts & Culture from March, 2010
Jamaica, Haiti: Art Aid
Art to help Haiti: Jamaican Annie Paul has the low-down.
Japan: The Strange Country
Kenichi realized an “info-graphic, motion piece” (which is his final thesis) with the aim of making Japanese people think about their country, that, the Japanese videomaker says, “isn't that normal”. Unfortunately, the English version is no longer available.
Pakistan: The Big And Tall Persons
Owais Mughal at All Things In Pakistan features a number of tall human beings from Pakistan.
Singapore: TwestivalSG 2010
Hundreds of people participated in this year's Twestival Singapore to raise funds for the education of millions of out-of-school children around the world.
Indonesia: Anti-Porn Law
Province officials of Bali and Papua in Indonesia are planning not to implement the recently passed Anti-Pornography Law by claiming that the law would “stifle traditional Balinese and Papuan culture.”
Suriname: Art as a Beacon
At Paramaribo SPAN, Nicholas Laughlin blogs about artist Sri Irodikromo’s “monumentally scaled batik panel”, which, on the night of SPAN's recent exhibition opening, “served as a beacon, drawing visitors to the far end of the DSB Bank garden”. He suggests that the piece “might also be seen as another kind...
Nigeria: The New Afrika Shrine one of top small venues
More kudos to Lagos as [The New Afrika] Shrine is named as one of the top small music venues in the world. I am not sure what the reviewer means “its not for the faint-hearted”…” writes Sokari.
Russia: Bloggers’ Mockery of Film Poster Upsets Famous Director
The poster for an upcoming movie on World War II by Russian director Nikita Mikhalkov is monumental, tense and grim. But it also became funny, descriptive and nearly offensive after numerous manipulations by several bloggers.
Russia: Theatre Play Based on Online Conference
Theatre director Pavel Rudnev proposed to stage a play based on the questions of bloggers to the Russian State Duma's Speaker Boris Gryzlov during an online-press conference. Rudnev admits not only high number but also inexhaustible wit of venomous questions asked by Russian netizens.
Japan: Cherry Blossom Viewing 101
Legonjapan made a video [en, ja] to explain the abc of Hanami, or flower viewing. The animation teaches the related terms and the etiquette to follow during the parties, usually held under the pink flowers in full bloom (around the end of March or the beginning of April).
The Virtual Choir: Technology, Collaboration and Music
Composer Eric Whitacre , after seeing a Youtube video of a young soprano singing his song "Sleep" wondered: What if he could get people, regardless of where they were in the world, to record themselves signing all the other parts of his a capella choir piece? So he did, and following, you will be able to see the various results of this great experiment of online collaboration with the Virtual Choir.
Barbados, Jamaica: Dancehall Show Cancelled
Barbados’ Boyce Voice blogs about “the On again, Off again, On again, Off again Show AKA Vybz Kartel Movado Show”, saying: “I feel for the event promoters…they were…bullied by the authorities”; while Barbados Free Press is proud of the “unequivocal message” delivered by the Prime Minister: “We the people of...
Russia: One of the Top Bloggers Dies
Dmitry Gorchev (aka LJ user dimkin), a writer and artist (some of his translations are here), died today in his house leaving about 13,000 readers mourn, openspace.ru reported. Gorchev was one of the first bloggers on RuNet with his Livejournal account registered in 2001.
Bhutan: Sex And Society
Freedom In Bhutan writes about the reservations of the Hindu community to talk about sex issues in the context that “the Hindu tradition is full of sex”.
Japan: Human-faced dog
Pink Tentacle has a feature story about the legend of human-faced dog in Japan.
India: Not A Culture Or An Idea, But An Experience
Sometimes people ask what India is – a country, an idea or a culture? According to Supriyo Chaudhuri “India is an experience. It is greater than the country, more diverse than just the idea and more dynamic than what is understood to be its culture;” as described in his blog...
Fashionalism in the Philippines
Andang Juan blogs on “fashionalism,” a term invented by a Filipino fashion designer from the words “fashion” and “nationalism,” as a means by which capitalists translate the abstract concept of nationalism into the logic of consumerism and profit.
Peru: Cries of Animal Abuse in Defense of Surfing Alpaca
Images of "Pisco," the surfing alpaca have sparked cries of animal abuse because the Peruvian animal was taken out of its natural habitat, prompting speculating that its trainer was only out for publicity.
France: What would you do in The Game of Death?
A controversial French documentary sparked worldwide scandal on March 17 by televising a fake game show in which contestants were willingly led to torture others. Bloggers in France discuss the morals and meaning.
India: Mutation Of News And Entertainment
Harini Calamur at A Point of View informs that a private news channel in India is resorting to a reality show to conduct a nationwide hunt for an anchor for their news program.
Trinidad & Tobago, Suriname: Alice Bangi
A big bench for liming? Trinidad's Alice Yard gets its own piece of traditional Surinamese outdoor furniture.
