Stories about Arts & Culture from August, 2015
This Ukrainian Artist Is Drawing Comics About His Imprisonment By Pro-Russian Militants in Donetsk
A Ukrainian guerrilla artist whose street art got him kidnapped and tortured by pro-Russian militants is working on a comic book to raise awareness of prisoners in occupied eastern Ukraine.
Chinese Cultural Revolution Sci-Fi Wins Hugo Awards’ Best Novel Prize
"Even with all the dodgy science in Liu Cixin's sci-fi, his values and literary skill aside, his imagination still far surpasses that of other contemporary Chinese sci-fi writers."
A Japanese Woman’s Impressive Appetite Leaves the Internet Hungry for More
Yuka Kinoshita has gained famed for the sheer amount of food she can pack away. She uploads her videos to YouTube.
Tourism Poster That Put Jamaica on the Map Gets New Life
What is perhaps the most famous travel poster in world history got a new wave of attention thanks to a recreation by American musician Alicia Keys.
14 Films That Have Been Banned in Iran Since 2007
Movies continue to be banned for a variety of reasons in Iran, despite the president's lip service to the need for more cultural freedoms in the country.
Despite President Rouhani's Promises, Films Continue to Be Banned in Iran
Rouhani's remarks during his election campaign increased hopes that banned films would make their way to the cinemas. That hasn't been the case.
A Ping-Pong Table Puts Singapore's Intellectual Property Regulation Under the Spotlight
"...we feel that more can be done to encourage, respect and protect content creation. Unfortunately, limited understanding of artists’ rights and standard industry practices remains."
Instagram Photos Offer a Peek Into Nagasaki's Unique Send-Off for the Dead
Isolated Nagasaki, in western Japan, has a unique approach to Obon, the festival of the dead observed in Japan each year in mid-August.
The Hilarious Mystery Surrounding Items Forgotten on Japanese Trains
A Matome Naver user has compiled a list of perplexing items that Twitter users have found inside train cars, including a brass tea kettle, a bonsai tree and a tomato.
Kyrgyz Rappers Trash Bribe-Takers in Hip-Hop News Segment
"There are no clean people on this old stage."
Amazing Japanese TV Commercial Racks Up Views
A popular commercial about an amazing game of baseball has gone viral in Japan.
This is How Michael Jackson Sounds in Quechua
14 year-old Peruvian Renata Flores Rivera's version of Michael Jackson's "The Way You Make Me Feel" has been viewed more than half a million times on YouTube.
Using Paperclips, Broccoli or Microchips, This Japanese Artist Creates a Whimsical Diorama Every Day
A Japanese artist makes cool dioramas with everyday objects, and has cultivated a massive following on Instagram.
Gaza's ‘Colorful Neighborhood’ Brings Hope and Healing in Palestine
Gaza's Al Zaytoun is called "the colorful neighborhood" for its brightly painted streets and decorated walls, an urban renewal effort following 2014's Israel-Gaza war.
The ‘Escopetarra': A Killer Instrument
If you believe that nothing good can come from a rifle, then you have to get to know the “escopetarra”—a hybrid that transforms two “lethal” weapons (an AK-47 and a guitar) into an instrument of peace. “Escopetarra” is a Spanish blend that combines the words “escopeta” (shotgun) and “guitarra” (guitar). In his Spanish-language podcast,...
18 Stunning Photographs of the Rana Tharus From the Southern Foothills of Nepal
Solveig Boergen, a German photographer who lives and works in Japan, travelled to the Kanchanpur district of western Nepal to capture the daily lives of the Rana Tharus.
Will Nepal's Gadhimai Temple End Its Centuries-Old Animal Sacrifice Rituals?
News reports that the Gadhimai temple -- which hosts one of the world’s biggest massacre of animals -- will ban their centuries-old ritual of sacrifice, turned out to be wrong.
Girls vs. Princesses: The Pink Dictatorship's Days are Numbered
A virtual game made in Bolivia encourages girls not to let sexy dresses, high heels, makeup and Prince's kisses steal their right to decide who they want to be.
Why Are Japanese Airsoft Fans Cosplaying the Ukrainian Military?
Japan and Ukraine are miles apart. Why are Japanese airsoft players dressing as Ukrainian military and modeling their game scenarios after anti-terrorist operations in eastern Ukraine?
Making the Culture and Language of Peru's Nomatsigenga People Accessible and Enduring
The Cultural Archive of the Nomatsigenga Language and Culture promises to be a blueprint for indigenous knowledge preservation in South America.
Zambia Musician Gets Shoutout From President Obama for Highlighting Struggle Against HIV/Aids
Obama praised the musician's work and told him: "Brian, we’re proud to be your partner."
