Stories about Arts & Culture from August, 2021
Eccentric reggae pioneer Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry dies at 85
"Jamaica has lost the rhythm and soul of a prolific music icon who has inspired many. Perry was one of the most important creative figures to come out of Jamaica."
Belly dancing class in Kuwaiti ladies gym stirs uproar, prompting government intervention
The gym, located in the northern city of Al-Jahra, infuriated its conservative and tribal residents who saw belly dancing classes as violating their traditions and values.
New homophobic attacks in Kazakhstan rally support behind activists
Over the course of three months, LGBTQ+ activists were targeted three times by conservative mobs in various cities across Kazakhstan. An artist was bullied online for drawing same-sex kisses.
The decline of Occitan: A failure of cultural initiatives, or abandonment by the state?
A setback for Occitan, spoken by more than half a million people in France, due to failed cultural initiatives or to the policy of the French State?
Netflix animation “Trese” brings Filipino supernatural beings to our screens
"It’s so inspiring and hopeful to think about how Trese is going to open so many doors for other local artists who are dreaming to get their works published."
Graffiti in Almaty between scandals, competition, and trolling
Graffiti in Almaty have become a contested space between state authorities, commercial companies, and independent artists. As the competition continues, Kazakhstan's largest city is enjoying a renaissance in street art.
Ukrainian library reinvents itself for a New Age
A youth library in Kherson shows the way to thriving in uncertain times as an educational and literary hub for the local community and wider region.
The first woman dub poet, Jean ‘Binta’ Breeze, dies at her rural Jamaican home
Reflective of Jamaica’s storytelling tradition, her work involved repeated chanting in a narrative style.
‘I demand 100 percent freedom’ — Hong Kong political artist leaves for Taiwan citing crackdown
Wong sought to push the boundaries of art as a means of political dissent on the streets and was a regular attendee at the annual July 1 pro-democracy rallies.
In Georgia, a book with stories to empower women written by men garners criticism
"Love yourself," a book featuring 13 women who share their stories of stigma over body image, may have had all the good intentions at heart.
