· May, 2012

Stories about Arts & Culture from May, 2012

Armenia-Azerbaijan: Eurovision Propaganda Fail

Global Chaos takes a look at the government-led publicity and international media attention surrounding this years Eurovision Song Contest held in Baku, Azerbaijan. The Public Diplomacy blog also notes the propaganda deployed by arch-foe Armenia's Public TV against Azerbaijan during the final, including re-inventing elements of Novruz as Christian even...

North Korean Restaurant in Kuala Lumpur Dishing up Dollars?

  31 May 2012

Diana van Oort wrote a post on North Korean restaurants in Kaula Lumpur in one travel site. After explaining her general impressions of food, service and atmosphere, the author included some context on how the North Korean regime use chains of restaurants to earn foreign currency.

Sri Lanka: Cast As A Mother

  30 May 2012

One year ago – 13 Sri Lankan women of the Stage were invited to look at their experiences of motherhood, through the lens of theatre and write about them. At the Passing Stage blog you can follow their progress.

Zambia: Mixed Feelings Greet Big Brother Eviction

  29 May 2012

The eviction of Zambia’s representative, musician popularly known as Mampi, from the on-going Big Brother Africa, has been received with mixed feelings from netizens. Big Brother Africa: StarGame is the seventh series of Africa's most popular reality television series.

Azerbaijan: Rewriting The Geopolitical Narrative

Following concern expressed in some quarters with how the international media has covered the Eurovision Song Contest in Baku, East of Center looks at the geopolitical issues behind Western engagement of the oil-rich former Soviet republic, arguing that policy towards Azerbaijan might not solely be confined to energy interests.

Africa: Music From Saharan Cellphones

  26 May 2012

Chris Kirkley presents “Music From Saharan Cellphones”: The music on the compilation was collected from cellphones in the Northern Malian town of Kidal. In much of West Africa, cellphones are are used as all-purpose multimedia devices.

Puerto Rico: “Revuelo,” a Beautiful Commotion

  25 May 2012

"Revuelo" (Commotion) is the name of a breathtaking artistic and architectural project in the National Gallery in Old San Juan. The architect and photographer Raquel Pérez-Puig has shared some of her beautiful photos with Global Voices.

Italy: Army Evicts Art Workers from Occupied Building

  23 May 2012

The art worker's collective Macao in Milan, Italy were evicted from the second building they occupied in less than a month by army and police. The group aims to free more public space for the arts and highlight their precarious work conditions.

South Korea: Taking Evolution out of Textbooks

  22 May 2012

An atheist blogger who works as an English teacher in South Korea, Chris Hallquist wrote about some efforts made to strip evolution out of science textbooks. Based on his experience in South Korea which he defines as ‘a pretty secular country’, the blogger commented on the Christian organizations’ influence on...

Puerto Rico: Dancing Images

  22 May 2012

Photojournalist Heriberto Castro maintains a beautiful blog dedicated to one of his passions: dance. The blog En la Punta del Pie [es] includes his stunning images and information on dance events.