Stories about Arts & Culture from November, 2012
Chinese Netizens React: People’s Daily Fooled by The Onion
Chinese newspaper People’s Daily made a fool of itself this week when it seriously reported that the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was named Sexiest Man Alive by The Onion, a satire newspaper from the United States.
Spotlight on China's ‘Re-education Through Labour’
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.
The Lives of Hui Muslims in China
China’s Hui Muslims is second-largest ethnic minority, ChinaFile shoot a video about the lives of Hui women and what the religion means to them.
Trinidad & Tobago: Losing My Accent
What does an accent have to do with it? Outlish investigates.
China: Top 10 horrible figures of 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),...
A Glimpse of the Human Moment of Chinese Leaders
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...
Captivated by Japan's ‘Daidougei’ – Street Performance Art
Charmed with “Daidougei”, a type of street performance, an amateur photographer has spent years capturing images of the art form. His blog is titled “ I shoot nothing but Daidougei, I myself don’t know why.” Let’s take a look at his work.
Trinidad & Tobago: Parang, Parang!
In the spirit of the Christmas season, Outlish posts a list of its Top 10 Parang songs.
Why Are Government Jobs in China So Popular?
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
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?
“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...
A Traveling Exhibition to Expose Police Violence in Greece
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...
Spain: Catalan Elections – “We are all Garcia”
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
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
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
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...
Two Tunisian Graffiti Artists to Face Trial
On December 5, graffiti artists Oussama Bouagila and Chahine Berriche, are due to stand trial, after police caught them inscribing "the people want the poor's rights" on a wall in Gabes, in South East Tunisia.
Chinese Consumers Break Online Sales Record on Bachelors’ Day
November 11 is Bachelor's Day in mainland China. How do people celebrate this special day? Apparently by spending money online - this year in a record breaking manner.
“The Needle” Threads Another Story of Puerto Rican Trans Community
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.
