Stories about Arts & Culture from June, 2014
How the Philippine President Managed to Anger Film Legend Nora Aunor's Legions of Fans
The Filipina actress who starred in one of the most memorable Asian films has been nominated for the National Artist title. But the Philippine president rejected the nomination.
National Heroes Get a Postmodern Makeover in Kazakhstan's #Selfie Statue Scandal
This week the eyes of the Kazakh Internet have been fixed on an ill-fated statue of two national heroes caught between historical greatness and the trappings of the 21st century.
China's Pixar? A Sneak Peek From New Animation Studio Light Chaser
Below is an edited version of the post “A sneak peek from China’s new animation-house upstart” by Jason Li, originally published on the blog 88 Bar. Light Chaser Animation is a startup...
Goethe's Faust, Between Classicism and Romanticism
It's sometimes complicated to understand or discuss terms like Classicism or Romanticism, especially for someone who is not involved in literature. But that's not the case with Mª Gemma Romero Perea,...
This Film Is About the Remarkable Friendship Between a Buddhist and Muslim in Myanmar. So Why All the Hate?
A human rights festival in Myanmar cancelled a screening of the documentary "The Open Sky" after receiving threats on social media accusing the film of being a Muslim conspiracy.
This Street in Bangladesh Has a Colorful World Cup Celebration to Rival Brazil
Bangladesh didn't qualify to play in the tournament, but the country's football fans have caught World Cup fever nonetheless.
Russians See in US Government Spokesperson the “Heart of a Dog”
An unusual video clip – the latest in a series of Internet memes attacking Jen Psaki, the spokesperson for the US State Department – is circulating among Russians online.
Kyrgyzstan's First Full Length Animation to be Released
Neweurasia.net report on the upcoming release of Kyrgyzstan's first animated film, Aku, drawn by Tolgobek Koichumanov. Judging by the trailer Koichumanov's illustrations will offer the perfect introduction to Kyrgyzstan, capturing...
Jonbeel, a Barter Market in the 21st Century
The centuries old Jonbeel Mela, a community fair in the northeast Indian state of Assam, has a unique ritual. Around 10,000 indigenous people from tribes like the Karbi, Khasi, Tiwa,...
Urban Pakistani Musicians Jam With a Rural Folk Singer and Create Something Beautiful for the Internet
The video for "Sarak Sarak" was published on Facebook, SoundCloud and Vimeo, but not YouTube - that remains blocked in Pakistan.
A Tale of Two World Cups in Fortaleza, Brazil
Before Brazil and Mexico battled it out in Fortaleza, the streets were taken over by people protesting FIFA and the government and by Mexican fans in high pre-match spirits.
Tejo, Colombia's Explosive National Sport
Tejo or turmequé, a national sport in Colombia since 2000, has its origins in other game played in the Muisca community, which inhabited the Bogotá savannah 500 years ago, as...
Podcast: China's Leftover Women
Sinica Podcast invites Leta Hong Fincher, author of “Leftover Women“, a book about the state of women's rights and gender equality in modern China. The podcast discusses hidden problems and...
‘Inner Monologue, Turning Point in Spanish Prose’
On her blog, author Ma. Gemma Romero analyzes the changes in Spanish prose from the evolution of the inner monologue as literary resource. In her article, she takes into account Luis...
How to Stop the Dhivehi Language From Dying
Dhivehi, the national language of Maldives, is a pidgin language spoken primarily by the Maldivians. However, practically every Maldivian speaks English, the unofficial second language, because it’s the language used...
This Colombian Campaign Took Reggaeton Lyrics and Turned Them Into Shocking Images of Women Being Abused
Do Reggaeton lyrics objectify women? The campaign Usa la razón [Use Your Head] is asking women Reggaeton fans to be aware of the sexist nature of this music genre.
For Literary Stars, Life's A Beachside Festival In Jamaica
A relaxed Salman Rushdie, a warm and expansive Jamaica Kincaid, and other delights of the 2014 edition of Jamaica's Calabash Literary Festival. Annie Paul reports.
Brazil or Argentina? Football Rivalries Play Out Thousands of Miles Away From the World Cup in Bangladesh
Bangladesh may not be playing, but is gripped by the world cup fever. Citizens have split into Brazil and Argentina camps. Flags, jerseys, heated debates-the world cup war is on.
Dubai and Arab Culture From a Latin American Perspective
He is a college professor of Colombian origins who is fascinated by Arab culture. Marcelino Torrecilla's purpose is to “describe sociocultural experiences in United Arab Emirates and their relevance with...
Suriname: The Faces of Inspiration
During exhibitions I often ask myself to what extent the location or the surroundings influence my perception. Srananart's Blog attends an art exhibit “about religion, rituals and death”.
Celebrating Russian Crimea with a Candy
A Russian chocolate company in Novosibirsk has released a new candy bar called “The Crimea” with the slogan, “Just try to grab it!” A product announcement shared with the press...
