Stories about Arts & Culture from January, 2016
Coldplay's New Video Featuring Beyonce Faces Backlash for Alleged Stereotyping of Indian Culture
"Beyonce's video is a problem because it's reductive, and uses India as a prop for capitalist gain. A land and culture she has no right to."
Grandma March Day, the Balkan Tradition of Exchanging Handmade Amulets
Balkan countries have joined forces to preserve the custom and push for its inclusion on UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage.
Young Actors Bring Greek Mythology and Psychology to the Stages of Venezuela
In this Venezuelan youth theatre group's idiosyncratic adaptations of Greek classics, the roles shape the actors as much as the actors shape the roles.
Japanese TV Personality's Career Demolished After Affair With Married Musician
A relatively tame sex scandal highlights the unforgiving nature of Japan's entertainment industry.
The Nazi Plan to Relocate Jews to Madagascar, One of World War II's Forgotten ‘What Ifs’
Madagascar is not known for its role in World War II. Yet it was a central part of one of the darkest events of the war.
Crowdsourced Photography Website Showcases the Beauty of Everyday Life in Myanmar
As Myanmar prepares to pursue more reforms in the next few months, websites like Featured Collectives are essential in documenting everyday life in a rapidly changing society.
Think Twice Before You Insult Peruvian Food
Peruvians can be protective of their national cuisine. Radio Ambulante's Daniel Alarcón spoke with two people who dared to speak their mind about the food, with very different results.
Don't Be Confused. The Panama Hat Is an Old Ecuadorian Tradition
Don't let name confuse you: the Panama hat comes from Ecuador and its manual crafting is a tradition and source of pride among its rural manufacturers.
Old Postcards Reveal Forgotten World War I Memories in Macedonia
Made between 1914 and 1918, these photos not only document military aspects of World War I, but also provide views of places and people caught within its maelstrom.
Thanks to the New York Public Library, India’s Bygone Days Are Just a Click Away
The New York Public Library has released more than 180,000 digitized items in the public domain. Readers can now access and download these archived materials from the library for free.
Social Media Slams India's Judgmental Journalist
"I wasn’t abused, I wasn’t beaten, I wasn’t molested, I wasn’t raped.” Actor Sunny Leone has moved beyond her porn star past -- why can't the journalist who interviewed her?
Viewers in Trinidad and Tobago Ready the Toilet Paper for This Year’s Soca Music Competition
The International Soca Monarch competition has become a popular aspect of Trinidad and Tobago's annual Carnival celebrations, but this year's semi-finals left a lot to be desired.
Get a Glimpse of Life in ‘Fair Japan’
Japanophiles, rejoice! Many amazing images of the country can be found in the New York Public Library's digital image archive, now in the public domain.
ISIS Destroys Dair Mar Elia, Iraq's Oldest Christian Monastery
Iraq's oldest Christian monastery, Dair Mar Elia, has been destroyed by the ISIS. The monastery, built in 595, is located in Ninawa, just south of Mosul.
A Venezuelan Digital Artist Defends LGBT Rights Despite Social and Political Censorship
Who's behind censorship and why? What happens when old social norms around gender are questioned? Danial Arzola, creator of the campaign 'I'm not a joke', answers these and other questions.
The Three Kings Is One of Puerto Rico's Most Loved Traditions
One of the main traditions associated with the Three King's Day are the 'Promesas', or the tradition of asking the Kings to intervene in a moment of need
The Creeping Politicisation of Theatre, Film and Public Media in Poland
Censorship of a play by Nobel Prize winner Elfriede Jelinek calls attention to the precariousness of state-funded art in Poland.
Miss Me? Witty Hackers Put Sherlock Villain Moriarty on Kyiv Subway Screens
Social media users in Ukraine's capital Kyiv posted multiple images showing the ad screens in the subway taken over by a picture of smiling Moriarty from the BBC Sherlock series.
The African Legacy of Alan Rickman and the Harry Potter Series
Reducing the wide range of his talents to a few blockbusters doesn't do justice to Rickman's career, which involved supporting charities that benefited people all around the world.
This Group Exposes Social Woes and Promotes Philippine Culture Through Street Art
"Doing street art is our way of bringing 'ART' closer to the masses. It is special for us because it's where the purest intention of an artist can be seen."
Indians and Pakistanis Hope to Take Their Countries From Rivals to Friends
"India and Pakistan are sister nations.. We have so much in common.. A united India-Pakistan will be better for everyone :)"
