Stories about Arts & Culture from February, 2012
Russia: Great Lent Has Begun
Citizen media outlets have captured the multidimensional essence of the Russian Orthodox Lenten season, which began on Monday, including issues such the religiosity of post-USSR Russia, the liturgical calendar, the peculiarities of the Orthodox traditions and fasting rituals compared to those observed in the West, and the public statements made by prominent church officials.
Costa Rica: Turning to Facebook to Fund TV Show
Sürrealista is a media producer in Costa Rica that has worked with many local bands. Now they want to have a 30 minute TV Show and to make that happen[es], they are asking for people to watch their pilot show online, give it a “like” on facebook and share it.
Uruguay: Scenes From the Longest Carnival in the World
Every year, Uruguayans celebrate the longest carnival in the world. Percussionists, dancers and musical and theatrical performers take center stage for over 40 days. Sites and blogs dedicated to the event keep netizens around the world informed on the different aspects of carnival, while bloggers share photos, videos, and thoughts on this celebration of culture and heritage.
Trinidad & Tobago: Carnival is My Time
“In an attempt to imitate art…culture in T&T seems to have perverted itself and in trying to become something else, may have succeeded all too well; the business model of Tribe and the other new ‘Rio’ styled bands seems to be built on encouraging excess for profit”: Plain Talk suggests...
Palestine: “Diwan Ghazza” and the Gaza Book Club
Yasmeen El Khoudary introduces an initiative by young bloggers in Gaza called Diwan Ghazza, and the Gaza Book Club.
Brazil: Visually Impaired Dancers Become Ballet Professionals
Pierre Larose, on his blog Discovering São Paulo, shares a video report on ‘a ballet school in São Paulo which has developed a method of “teaching by touch” in order to develop professional ballet dancers who are blind or visually impaired’. He adds that in 12 years approximately 300 dancers...
Colombia: Speaking Spanish is Hard and There is a Song About It
Song on the difficulties of speaking Spanish rings true with native speakers as well as those trying to learn the language. With humor, Colombian songwriters and performers Juan Andrés and Nicolás explain the confusions that come with the regional variations of the language.
Iranian News Agency “Improves” Oscar Speech by Asghar Farhadi
Iranians are overjoyed with the news that Asghar Farhadi's film “A Separation” was awarded an Oscar for best foreign language film. Farhadi's acceptance speech attracted even more attention after Fars News, a semi-official news agency added their own words to the transcript.
Tajikistan: Culture and history conservation via a book
Tomyris reports that the “Book of The Historical Monuments of Tajikistan” was presented in Dushanbe, the capital of the Central Asian nation, by Tajik government and the diplomatic mission of the United States to Tajikistan.
Portugal: Web Users Debate Portuguese Private Copying Bill
Currently being debated in the Portuguese Parliament is a new bill (PL118) which proposes a tax on any equipment or software capable of recording, copying or storing analogue or digital content, in the name of author's rights. The online community has wasted no time in wading in on the debate, with the hashtag #PL118 duly trending on Twitter.
Pakistan: Karachi's Third Literature Gala
The Karachi Literature Festival (KLF) gave an opportunity to authors and book lovers to join together and celebrate reading. Literature from Pakistan and elsewhere was discussed in the two day long event from 11-12 February, 2012.
Puerto Rico: 365 Photographs
José Rodrigo Madera's photos, part of his "365" project, were only visible to his friends on Facebook, until the magazine Revista Cruce published 20 of them for everyone to enjoy. Here is a selection of his beautiful photographs.
Trinidad & Tobago: Fashion over Festival?
Rishi Sankar explains why he will not play mas with one particular Carnival band ever again.
Bangladesh: Ekushey February/International Mother Language Day Observed
Dhaka Daily Photo posts some images of the observance of Ekushey February/ International Mother Language Day in Bangladesh. Dhaka Dweller posts the history of Ekushey February.
Bangladesh: Photos Of Kite Festival And Fire Eaters In Dhaka
In Dhaka, on January 14th every year, the young people of the Old City celebrate Poush Sankranti. Bangladesh Unlocked posts photos of the Kite Festival and the display of fire eaters arranged to celebrate this day.
Greece: Athens, 1st African Film Festival
The first African Film Festival will take place in Athens, Greece, from February 23 to 29, 2012, with the collaboration of various African countries’ embassies and consulates. Twenty one films from Angola, South Africa, Morocco, Tunisia, Nigeria, Egypt and Ethiopia will be screened. The event is hosted by the Greek Film...
One Day on Earth: Global Screening of Worldwide Collaborative Film
The collaborative film One Day on Earth was filmed all on the same day, October 10, 2010, with more than 3,000 hours of footage sent in from all corners of the world. The Global Screening will take place on Earth Day (April 22, 2012) in every country of the world, with the assistance of World Heritage Sites and the United Nations.
Cape Verde: Imagery from Carnival's Celebrations
The Great Adventure of Cape Verde's blog has posted a series of photos and one short clip featuring Carnival's celebrations.
Trinidad & Tobago: Ash Wednesday
The TnT River blogs about Ash Wednesday traditions in Trinidad.
Trinidad & Tobago: Carnival Damage
Plain Talk suggests that Trinidad and Tobago Carnival “is no longer an expression of culture but an exercise in excess set to music…no longer something to be proud of but two days of decadence that undermines our society a little more each time.”
China: Tibetan Matches
A satirical cartoon on the self-immolation of Tibetans and the conflict situation in Tibet. By Gianfranco Uber at Cartoon Movement.
