Stories about Arts & Culture from March, 2017
Sudden Death of Aqua-Blue-Eyed Model Shocks Maldives
Raudha Athif, the 20-year-old aqua-blue-eyed Maldivian model, was found hanging inside her dormitory room in north Bangladesh on Wednesday. On social media, Maldivians are mourning the loss of this woman.
With Rhinoplasty on the Rise, Whither the Armenian Nose?
“If the [economic] situation is bad, there are fewer operations; if the situation is good, there are many more operations.”
Kyrgyzstan's Capital Through the Cracked Windshields of Its Beloved Trolleybuses
Do Bishkek's trolleybuses have style? You bet they do!
Art in Transit: Meet the Commute Sketchers of Singapore
"With dwindling interests in traditional art, the public commute presents a unique, safe and condensed setting to practice what I love."
These Activists Helped Kurdish Families in Iraq Celebrate Newroz With Color and Resistance
A tradition of resistance inspired Kurdish activists in Iraqi Kurdistan to donate traditional clothes to those who can't afford it for the Kurdish New Year of Newroz.
Concrete Lovers, This Is What Social Housing Looks Like in Japan
An interesting blog devoted to documenting the concrete housing projects that have been home to several generations of Japanese since the end of the war.
There Are ‘No Borders to Music,’ But the U.S. Consulate Still Rejected These Indonesian Choir Members’ Visas
"Regardless of the “borders” instilled by politics, there are no borders to music, no borders to unity through artistry, no borders from humanity that thrives from singing of the heart."
Meet Ara Malikian, the Cosmopolitan With a Violin
Global Voices interviews Ara Malikian, an Armenian violinist who grew up in Lebanon, about the influences that shaped his life and his music.
After Planting the Caribbean in Our Collective Imagination, Sir Derek Walcott, ‘One of the Great Poets of All Time’, Has Died
"He showed that even the most humble village on a tiny island on the fringes of the world could be a place of epic beauty and significance."
Disney’s New ‘Gay Moment’ Outrages Religious Conservatives in Malaysia and Singapore
Religious groups and state censors in Singapore and Malaysia are unhappy about the live-action remake of Disney's “Beauty and the Beast,” because of a “gay moment” in the film.
Macedonians Mourn Folk Singer Vanja Lazarova, Whose Plight Inspired Facebook Activism
Vanja Lazarova became part of digital activism history in Macedonia after her tough circumstances late in life inspired the innovative use of Facebook as a tool to petition the government.
Live Streaming at Trinidad & Tobago Carnival Brings Issue of Copyright Infringement Into Focus
"While this live streaming option has been praised in providing unique perspectives for current events and breaking news...[it] has provided more opportunities for infringement of copyright laws."
Nyango Star, the Apple-Shaped Mascot Who Drums for Japan's Tohoku Region
"Anytime Nyango Star makes a public appearance it is to help Tohoku recover. The mascot isn't drumming for its personal gain but for its beloved home."
Silicon Valley Giant Uber Caught up in Kazakhstan Wooden Stool Scandal
"Uber. Are you completely nuts? Is this what a Californian startup looks like?"
These Light-Art Installations in Singapore’s Marina Bay Also Promote Energy Conservation
Look how some of Singapore's most iconic buildings become even more stunning during the “Light Festival,” where art installations from nine different countries are displayed at the Marina Bay waterfront.
Japanese Art Lovers, New York's Metropolitan Museum Has 300,000 Gifts for You
Anyone can use the artwork for any purpose, as long as they credit the original donors of the artwork, as well as the Met itself.
In Kyrgyzstan, Gender Discrimination and Violence Get a Boost from Popular Culture
A popular new reality TV show and an advert for a construction company have enraged feminists by trivialising abuses against women.
India Bans Two Movies For ‘Being Too Lady-Oriented’ and ‘Glorifying Homosexuality’
"According to the Cinematography Act, a film can only be banned if it compromises on national security. What security is a romantic film on a gay couple compromising?"
Reality and Homesickness Meet in Venezuelan Artist Leonardo Gonzalez's Colorful and Troubling Work
"Lots of people have found their voices represented in my drawings, and this motivates me to keep speaking for them."
As Starbucks Mulls Entry Into Jamaica, a Look at Coffee Culture (or Lack Thereof) in the Land of the Blue Mountains
Jamaica produces one of the world's highest quality coffee brands -- but does the country itself have enough of a coffee culture to support an international chain?
Vybz Kartel Supporters Threaten Former Jamaican Culture Minister Over Remarks About Dancehall's Violent Lyrics
"I pray that Jamaicans who value common decency will push back against this new normal and defend Jamaica’s true culture. If we lose this battle, we will have lost Jamaica."
