Stories about Arts & Culture from May, 2017
The Myth of the ‘Nice Canadian’
Is Canadians' reputation for niceness preventing Canada from really achieving true greatness as a country?
Macedonian Students’ Photo Project Reveals Scenes From WWI, Then and Now
A photo exhibit combines street scenes in the southern Macedonian town of Bitola during World War I and their situation today.
A Jamaican Cultural Landmark Gets Some Much-Needed Tender Loving Care
"My first time putting foot inside the much touted #WardTheatre.... and immediately a sense of history dawned upon me..."
Lebanese Dancers See Growing Public Appreciation of Their Work
With the growing popularity of dance shows in Lebanon, dancers describe witnessing a sort of "bodily liberation" that is giving the art form a second chance.
Lost in Translation in Central Asia: My Tokol's Car Is a Toyota
A Kyrgyz or Kazakh man's 'younger wife' is like 'a cow without horns'. She suffers social stigma and enjoys few rights.
The Male Romper Gives the Caribbean Blogosphere a Lot to Ponder
Male rompers + the Caribbean = social media gold? Here's a glimpse at some of the discussion happening around Romphims in the regional blogosphere.
A Photographer Shines Light on the Abuse Women Suffer at Illegal ‘Conversion Therapy’ Clinics in Ecuador
"My first thought was that it could be me held there and told that, as a gay woman, I needed to change."
To Take a Stand for Love, Beirut Pride Had to Overcome Hate
A hotel where the first event was scheduled canceled on organizers after facing pressure from religious groups. But that hasn't stopped Beirut Pride from going forward.
Beirut Activists Launch Heritage Watch Day to Defend Threatened Historical Sites
The laissez-faire privatization and development frenzy in Lebanon’s capital has destroyed much of the country’s heritage. Activists are determined to stop that trend.
Dresden Musicians Take Reagan’s Advice for Gorbachev to the U.S.-Mexican Border
To protest against the border wall that divides the U.S. and Mexico, Germany's Dresden Symphonic Orchestra will stage an international concert with musicians on June 3, 2017, at the border.
Three Decades and Several Films Later, a Creative Translation of ‘Alien’ Endures in the Balkans
"Then there's Alien or Osmi Putnik which literally translates to "The Eighth Passenger". What was the sequel translated as? More Passengers?"
Everybody Is Hailing Billboard-Topping Musician Teddy Afro, Except Ethiopian State Media
State broadcaster EBC failed to air an eagerly awaited interview with a beloved artist known for his political independence.
Pakistanis Are Outraged Over a Washing Machine Ad That Makes Light of Domestic Violence
"Disgusting ad....giving concept that a man should be proud among his friends on beating his wife"
Law Enforcement's Selective Crackdown Curbs Indie Music Space in Hong Kong
"...the latest raid seems more like part of a well planned campaign aimed at crashing every business that does not belong to the big business."
Where to Find the Best African Food in Paris, According to the African Diaspora
Global Voices reviews of the best African restaurants in the Paris region, tried and tested by natives, as well as those discovering African food for the first time.
Russian Pensioners Troll Opposition Leader in Awkward Rap Video
The video was produced by a fringe activist organization in Krasnodar called "Social Justice."
Singer Teddy Afro's New Album Holds Fast to His Vision of a Diverse, Yet United Ethiopia
Known as the Bob Marley of Ethiopia, some claim that Teddy Afro’s songs represent a defeated ideology -- but his albums are generating record sales.
Mixed Martial Arts Fighter Uses His Ten-Second Defeat of Tai Chi Master to Challenge Chinese Kung Fu Bureaucrats
Have traditional Chinese martial arts devolved into too much performance and too little skill? One Mixed Martial Arts fighter thinks so, and has put his money where his mouth is.
The Proud Pacific Nation That Preserves Its Homeland With the Bikini Anthem
"No longer can I stay, it's true / No longer can I live in peace and harmony / No longer can I rest on my sleeping mat and pillow..."
Photographer Chronicles Day-to-Day Life in Tokyo
From stunning portraits to cultural scenes that may not be around for much longer, Lee Chapman is passionate about documenting life in Tokyo.
There Is a Wall Along the Mexico-U.S.A. Border and I Want To Show What It Really Looks Like
The big and “beautiful” wall that some politicians promised to build, it already exists. But despite the massive metal fences and militarized checkpoints, love has no borders.