Stories about Arts & Culture from June, 2017
Slimmed Down Garvey Sculpture Gets Thumbs Down From Jamaicans
Ambivalent — and often dismissive — about public statuary in general, Jamaicans turn their ire towards a bust of national hero Marcus Garvey that they say needs "more identity".
Beatles Memorial Day Marks the Anniversary of the Iconic Band’s First Visit to Japan
The 1966 visit by the Beatles to Japan is regarded as a turning point in Japanese postwar culture.
Thousands of Japanese Woodblock Prints Just Became Available Online
The Library of Congress prints collection depicts a vast number of subjects including actors, women, landscapes, scenes from Japanese literature, daily life in Japan, and views of Westerners in Japan.
People Around the World Celebrate International Day of Yoga, an Ancient Indian Tradition
"Many countries which do not know our language, tradition, or culture, are now connecting to India through Yoga. Yoga connects body, mind, and soul."
Where Did Indians’ Ancient Ancestors Come From? The Indo-Aryan Migration Debate Rages Once More
"The linguistic evidence for the #AryanMigration theory is very strong. [Now there is something] for those that need hard science."
Japanese Traditional Sweets Day Means Twitter Is Full of Mouth-Watering Photos of ‘Wagashi’
Did you know Japan has observed "traditional sweets day" on June 16 for more than a thousand years?
The Disturbing Wedding Trend in China of Groomsmen Sexually Assaulting Bridesmaids
"Bridesmaid is such a high risk role -- sexual harassment, rape and now death."
Why Is the ‘Banksy of Bangladesh’ Asking Someone Called Subodh to Run Away?
"This Subodh is representative of Bangladesh at the present time. He is the representative of the unemployed and the marginalized people. He is the representative of good sense."
Indian Journalists Demand Press Freedom Protections After State Agents Raid Broadcaster Offices
“We have one message to those who are trying to destroy the institutions of India and everything it stands for: we will fight for our country and overcome these forces."
China Bans ‘Soft Burial’, an Award-Winning Novel About the Deadly Consequences of Land Reform
'[...] as for the living, when they seal off their past, cut off their roots, reject their memories, either consciously or subconsciously, their lives are soft buried in time.'
In Ethiopia, Authorities’ Reshuffling of the Oromo Language Alphabet Touches a Nerve
"This is yet another fraud perpetrated on the Oromo people and it must be rejected."
Iranian Photographer Mehrdad Naraghi: “No Medium Can Ever Be ‘Finished'”
"No medium is ever “finished.” It is only an artist who can be finished."
A New Festival in Madhya Pradesh Revives a Lost Indigenous Culture
Thousands of people have gathered in Verwada village in Barwani district to celebrate the newest festival in Madhya Pradesh – the festival of Rani Kajal Mata, an ancient, indigenous deity.
Artists and Writers Celebrate the Work of Missing Syrian Developer Bassel Safadi
"I’ve lived all my life dreaming of Freedom, and Bassel taught me to embrace it. I feel overwhelmed when I mention his name."