Stories about Arts & Culture from December, 2016
There Were Many Bright Spots to Be Found Amid the Doom and Gloom of 2016
Here's a list of 41 Global Voices stories about the strength and creativity of the human spirit, proving that 2016 wasn't an annus horribilis through and through.
Central Asia in 2016: The More Things Change…?
"Why do they mess about? They should just appoint themselves immortals and pass a law banning death from visiting them."
The 2016 Russian Words of the Year, Explained
Like many words in Russian, the 2016 words of the year can be explained but not quite translated.
This Was Also the Year of Citizen Heroes in Latin America
Global Voices reviews the Latin American stories in 2016 that taught us about fighting back.
‘Painting on Death': One Syrian Artist's Mission Under Siege in Douma
"We will make a Christmas tree from your shells and bombs, and light it for peace in our wounded Ghouta."
Vietnamese Mother Goddesses Religion Receives UN Recognition
"The worshipping of the Mother Goddesses also contributes to the appreciation of women and their roles in society.”
Bangladesh’s New Year's Celebration of Diversity: Into the Deep Podcast
What might look like just a street party is actually a creative stand for unity—and against the forces of intolerance who seek to divide and oppress Bangladeshis.
For a Limited Time, Croatians Get Free Access to a Digital Library of 100,000 Books
Not in Croatia? The Croatia Reads app also offers people outside the country Croatian books free of charge.
Empathy Was All Around in 2016 for the French-Speaking World, Too
It would be a shame to ignore 2016's less publicized, but still important events, so here goes our look back at the good stuff this year in the French-speaking world.
Breaking a Four-Century Custom That Denied Women Temple Entry in India
"If we all have equal rights and freedom then why such restrictions on women?"
Transportation Showdown: Japanese Mascots’ Big Butts Vs. Train Doors
Japanese mascots often have a hard time boarding trains. It's because of their butts.
Christmas Time Means Loads of Peculiar and Delicious Dishes for Latin Americans
Is your tummy grumbling while home for the holidays? Feast your eyes on the diverse, colorful, and delicious dishes of Latin American tradition in late December.
Iranian-American Designer in New York Leverages Fashion to Create Social Impact
An Iranian-American architect has created a brand inspired by cities to create “an awareness of place and leveraging fashion as a messaging tool to create social impact.”
Controversial Trinidad Carnival Fete Frustrates Fans Seeking Fun
The organisers of Soaka 2017 may have thought they were being Internet-savvy by asking patrons to go through a five-step ticketing process, but it struck some as elitist and discriminatory.
2016 Was the Caribbean's Year of Loss
For bloggers in the Caribbean, “2016” has nearly become an obscenity. Adjectives now used to describe this "annus horribilis" include "sucky", "terrible" and "the worst".
There Are Many Organizations in Caracas Trying to Change Things for the Better
Can people in small groups change the stories that are told in the Venezuelan capital? Civil organizations strongly say 'yes'.
Interested in Cultural Feminism? Serve Yourselves!
A well-known Peruvian educational outreach blog has listed 70 Spanish-language texts available on cultural and women's struggles.
Refugees in the US Keep Musical Traditions Alive With Kids’ Songs
A folklorist at the Erie Art Museum in the US state of Pennsylvania dreamed up the idea: helping refugees gain work skills while working with them to preserve their songs.
The Bengali New Year’s Celebration of Democracy and Diversity Is Declared Intangible Cultural Heritage
"As long as Bangladesh lives, there will be this type of New Year's celebration...This is the image of a secular Bangladesh.
A Decades-Long ‘Conversation’ Between Yugoslav and Polish Rockers
Rock music available online shows how a peculiar bridge, bringing the people of former Yugoslavia and Poland closer together, developed over the last four decades.
Dancehall Directory? A New Yellow Pages Cover Stirs Controversy in Jamaica
"When [they] attacked the Yellow Pages for their representation of this aspect of our culture, they didn’t just attack a genre of music…they attacked an identity, a way of life."
