· February, 2014

Stories about Arts & Culture from February, 2014

GV Face: Beyond Gangnam Style – Censorship and Korean Pop Music

GV Face  28 February 2014

It has been called South Korea's “greatest export.” PSY's K-pop song Gangnam style is the most watched video on YouTube. But behind the glamorous facades and big paychecks, it's not all fun and romance until South Korea's censors have done their work. Our managing editor Solana Larsen talks to our...

Trinidad & Tobago: Glitter Glee

  28 February 2014

I have been a hooved La Diablesse, a bolt of lighting, Thumbelina, Blight, and one of the Israelites leaving Egypt, among others. There was always some glitter involved. Glitter is to carnival as mud is to J’ouvert. creative commess explains her love of the sparkly stuff.

It's Music Freedom Day on March 3!

  27 February 2014

19 musicians killed, and 7 abducted. 18 music creators imprisoned. These are just some of the reported cases of injustice against musicians recorded by the human rights organization Freemuse in 2013. On March 3, the annual Music Freedom Day will draw attention to the rights to free expression of musicians...

Myanmar's Last Remaining Synagogue

  24 February 2014

Built 120 years ago, the Musmeah Yeshua synagogue in Yangon is the last remaining Jewish synagogue in Buddhist-dominated Myanmar. Aside from being a tourist attraction, it is also listed as an archaeological heritage building in the city.

Not All Bad, Talking Korean Plastic Surgery from Biz Perspective

  23 February 2014

There have been mounting criticisms on both local and international media's coverage of rampant plastic surgeries in South Korea; many reports are highly sensational, describing how reckless and ignorant plastic surgery patients are (focused on females ones rather than male) and have successfully generated numerous crass jokes and harsh comments...

Jamaica: Breakespeare & Bob Marley

  20 February 2014

Inspired by Cindy Breakspeare's recent lecture on Bob Marley, Annie Paul republishes a 2007 interview she did with her, in which Breakspeare discusses her youth, her Jamaican-ness and of course, meeting Bob.

10 New Documentaries at the Luxor African Film Festival

  19 February 2014

Tom Devriendt lists 10 documentaries to look out for at the Luxor African Film Festival: The third edition of the Egyptian Luxor African Film Festival again has a wide-ranging programme scheduled for next month. Selected films will be showing in different competitions: Long Narrative, Short Narratives, Short Documentaries and Long...