Stories about Arts & Culture from April, 2010
Iran: Cloudy sky and Tehran
Kosoof, a leading Iranian photo blogger, has published an eye-catching photo: cloduy sky in Tehran. The blogger writes: my house is cloudy.
Benin: Iyanda's diary in Benin
Funmi's diary about her visit and filming experience in Benin: “After all the mystery and hushed tones l had experienced during the research about the holy Aruosa church, l had expected a much more impressive building but the church was pretty nondescript.”
Jamaica: New Artists
The National Gallery of Jamaica Blog profiles new talent, here and here.
Iran: A ‘Green’ Labor Day (At Least Online)
The Iranian Green Movement is planning to make International Workers Day on May 1 a “green” day. The post-election opposition movement has not held any important demonstration since their last attempts were thwarted in February.
China: Swiss army knife, meet the PLA super shovel
It chops, saws, snips, rips through clay rock, helps you up cliffs and slices your potatoes: it's the People's Liberation Army multifunction shovel. Seen here in this limited speed viral video, order yours today by calling this number — FREE SHIPPING WHILE SUPPLIES LAST.
India: Sacrificing Career Freedom For Marriage
Prerna at I Love Life.. So I Explore shares a real life story from India about women, who are forced to sacrifice their career and other freedom to maintain balance in their marriages.
Japan: Plastic duck race
Photoreporter Damoncoulter uploaded original pictures of the duck race held at the second Ashigara River festival in Matsuda city (south of Tokyo). Some hundred yellow, plastic ducks are emptied into the river and “the monies raised are plowed back into environmental organizations that clean up the river and Ashigara area.”
Russia: “Burnt By the Box Office”
Vadim Nikitin of Foreign Policy Association's Russia blog reviews the reactions to Nikita Mikhalkov's Burnt by the Sun 2, “Russia’s most expensive movie.”
Japan: Kabuki Theatre to be Rebuilt
One of the most recognizable buildings in Japan, the grand, old Kabuki-za in Ginza is closing this month. It will be torn down and become a theater and office complex with direct connections to the subway station. Be sure to click this link to see a sketch of the planned...
Pakistan: Ashamed Of National Dress?
MB criticizes Pakistan Prime Minister for not wearing national dress and failing to promote national culture at international levels.
Video: Three Latin American Viral Sensations Unite for Israel
Through the Latin American social networks there is a new video spreading like wildfire: it unites three of the most recent viral video sensations in one. Peruvian La Tigresa del Oriente, Wendy Sulca and Ecuadorian Delfin Quishpe virtually united to sing "I'll dance in your lands", a song about Israel. None of them have visited Israel, but that didn't stop them from singing about the beauty of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
Guyana: More than bravado
Signifyin’ Guyana thinks the actions of the country's President have something endearing about them, adding: “I hope it turns out to be a lasting positive part of his legacy…”
Martinique, Guadeloupe: Celebrating two great women
Imaniyé pays homage [Fr] to Martinican-born actress, Jenny Alpha, who, at nearly 100 years of age, is the oldest French artist alive, while CaribCreoleNews announces [Fr] two events in memory of Guadeloupe's first female lawyer, communist and feminist activist, Gerty Archimede, who would have turned 101 this year.
India, Bangladesh: The Distinctiveness Between Two Bengals
Before 1956, Bengali cinema meant cinemas from West Bengal (India) but the trend become distinctive afterwards in both the Bengals. Fahmidul Haq at Communication and Culture of Bangladesh comments that “the distinctiveness between two Bengals is getting clearer as time passes.”
India: Media Favors The Rich And The Famous
“If you follow our media you will definitely notice how Indian media constantly focus on who makes how much money,” comments Indian Pundit.
Japan: The art of making Sake
A few pictures by Buddhika illustrate the art of making sake, the alcholic beverage made from rice. The photographer portrays some workers at a sake distillery in Fukui Prefecture.
The Balkans: Thoughts on Slavenka Drakulić's 1993 Book
Filip Stojanovski shares his thoughts on Slavenka Drakulić's 1993 book, How We Survived Communism & Even Laughed.
Video: Discovering the Origins of a World Cup Song
You've probably heard the song, and Chief Boima of WFMU's Beware of the Blog in New Jersey decided to track down the origins of the “Waka Waka” song, which is the 2010 FIFA World Cup Anthem to be sung by Shakira in South Africa. Check out his post to see...
India: The Rickshaw Challenge Race
Rohit Bhargava at Influential Marketing Blog writes about The Rickshaw Challenge, which is “a series of road races where participants can choose their own rickshaws and race across parts of India”. You can read live updates from the teams on the race blog.
Russia, Poland: The Truth About Katyn
Steve Bandera of Kyiv Scoop writes about Andrzej Wajda’s 2007 film Katyń, which has been shown twice in Russia in the past few weeks (reactions from the Russian blogosphere are here) – and comments that the truth about the massacre is “only coming out now in the former Soviet Union...
Jamaica: 10 Years of Calabash
Litblogger Geoffrey Philp blogs about the 10th annual Calabash International Literary Festival in Jamaica, saying: “This year’s event will bring together an extraordinary mix of new and established writers from around the world for the most anticipated annual literary event in the Caribbean region.”
