· November, 2012

Stories about Arts & Culture from November, 2012

Spotlight on China's ‘Re-education Through Labour’

  28 November 2012

Ren Jiayu, a former village official in Chongqing, who was sentenced to re-education through labour for criticizing the government was released and put under the spotlight of state-controlled media. Many believe it is a showcase for upcoming reform in China after the 18th National Chinese Communist Party Congress.

China: Top 10 horrible figures of 2012?

  28 November 2012

This week, Chinese internet users come up with their own list of the “10 Most Horrid People of 2012.” The list was shared on Sina Weibo by “Weekly Commentary” [zh]  (每周评论), but was deleted on Nov 26. China Media Project translated the deleted post.  

A Glimpse of the Human Moment of Chinese Leaders

  28 November 2012

A Chinese micro-blogger, Wang Dongdong tweeted the above image on Sina Weibo, China’s Twitter on November 23, which has been retweeted over 103,000 times. The blogger [zh] said, I really like this picture. Why doesn’t our media give us more images of leaders like this one, instead of always making them look...

Why Are Government Jobs in China So Popular?

  27 November 2012

More young people sat the National Public Servant Exam this year in China than ever before. Some believe young people seek job security while others worry the private sector is getting less competitive, threatening the country's economic development and reform.

Protests Put an End to Chris Brown's Guyana Gig

  27 November 2012

Just over a month ago, Guyanese bloggers were voicing their displeasure over talk of a Chris Brown concert that was allegedly being supported by the government. Much of the controversy was linked to the singer's 2009 assault of then-girlfriend Rihanna and the message that his notoriety could send in a country with a high incidence of domestic violence. Now, two Guyanese bloggers are reporting that the Chris Brown concert has been cancelled.

India: Wither Glass Bangles?

  26 November 2012

“Bangles are considered auspicious, and at one time, it was considered inauspicious for a woman not to wear bangles,” writes Anuradha Shankar at ‘A Wandering Mind’. She notes that glass bangles for daily wear are becoming less popular in megacities like Mumbai, but are still adored in small towns or...

A Traveling Exhibition to Expose Police Violence in Greece

  26 November 2012

A small team of Greeks in Zurich decided to expose Greek police brutality with a traveling photo exhibition in various European capitals. @Ypopto_mousi tweets a link to a poster in his blog, [el] which gives more information on his friends’ effort to bring this project to life, as well as...

Spain: Catalan Elections – “We are all Garcia”

  25 November 2012

This Sunday, voters in Catalonia head to the polls . The electoral campaign, which has honed in on the question of independence, began last week with a polemic video posted on the Youtube channel of the unionist Catalan People's Party (Partit Popular de Catalunya or PPC). The video rapidly generated a negative reaction among Catalan netizens on Twitter, who created the hashtag #totssomgarcia or "we are all Garcia", expressing solidarity with "Spanish" Catalans and criticizing the divisive content of the PPC campaign spot.

Afro-Brazilian Women, Tight Curly Hair and Black Consciousness

  23 November 2012

On November 20, Brazil celebrated Black Awareness Day; in honor of the day, we invite you to watch the documentary Raíz Forte (Strong Roots), "start a discussion about hair in terms of belonging to and explaining our African ancestry." The film depicts social prejudices and how black women in Brazil have historically dealt with their hair.

New Art Exhibit Draws Attention to the Disabled in Jamaica

  22 November 2012

The debut of Jamaican artist Astro Saulter's first exhibition was significant not only because it introduced a new artist to the local art scene, but also because it brought attention to the need for greater access to arts education, particularly by disabled persons.

Brazil: Northeastern audience moved by musical biopic

  21 November 2012

After much anticipation, Brazilian film “Gonzaga: De Pai Para Filho” about legendary musician Luiz Gonzaga has been moving audiences, and nowhere more than in the country's northeast where forró music is a part of life. Brazilian film blogger Chico Fireman shares his personal experience [pt] watching the film.

“The Needle” Threads Another Story of Puerto Rican Trans Community

  19 November 2012

The sidewalks on the main avenues of San Juan’s donwtown sector of Santurce feature members from Puerto Rico’s trans community working the street corners. “The Needle”, a new documentary directed by local filmmaker Carmen Oquendo-Villar, focuses on the underground beauty business on which these street workers rely.