Stories about Arts & Culture from May, 2008
Haiti, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago: Caribbean Nostalgia
Haitian blogger kiskeácity links to an interview with Nicholas Laughlin, who is at the Calabash International Literary Festival in Jamaica talking about “Caribbean literature, imaginary roads, creoleness…”it all makes you a bit nostalgic…
Jordan: Shy of Bras
An exhibition with a difference is being held in Jordan – that of bras – and the media is shy from covering it, writes Ahmed Humeid.
China: Earthquake Relief Posters
Red Cross (China) together with other media companies launched a campaign, Together we are, and called for submission of earthquake relief posters for expressing solidarity with the earthquake victims. A list of posters can be found here.
Venezuela: The Poet Who Enjoyed the Simple Things in Life
Poet Aquiles Nazoa had always led a simple life. His poetry illustrated the beauties of daily life and the humorous soul of all Venezuelans. He was also one of the most furious advocates of Human Rights during the 1960s in Venezuela. Venezuelan bloggers pay tribute to this poet, who had a certain love of the simple things in life.
Jordan: On Top of the World!
According to Al-Ghad newspaper, Jordanain Mustafa Salameh became the first Jordanian to plant the Jordanian flag on top of Mount Everest, reports Jordanian blogger Hareega.
Jordan: Talent Show Star Returns
Jordanian Naseem Tarawnah describes what happened when an aspiring pop star returned home from a talent reality show – and has a video to document his findings.
Israel: Holy Land Rehab? Amy Winehouse Rumor Debunked
Rumors that Jewish English singer Amy Winehouse, famous for her song, “Rehab,” will be attending a second bout of drug rehabilitation in Israel have been denied by her handlers. Simply Jews, IsraelityBites, and Jewlicious have the story.
Israel: Diplomatic Relations Don't Extend to Soccer Field
“I guess the Egyptians would rather quit than fight,” remarks Israel Matzav's Carl in Jerusalem. “An Egyptian soccer team which included diplomats from the country who are stationed in Rome decided to boycott a soccer tournament after a lottery determined that they would play an Israeli soccer team consisting of...
Israel: How Well Do You Know Jerusalem?
How well do you know your Jerusalem trivia? Jacob Richman of Good News from Israel puts your knowledge to the test in preparation for Jerusalem Day, which will be celebrated this year on June 2nd.
Israel: Crop Graffiti Celebrates Israel's 60th Birthday
“I am a man of the land and deeply connected to this country. The field is my canvas, and my tools are the paintbrush,” says Israeli farmer Peter Viner, who grew his fields to read “Israel at 60″ in honor of the country's 60th anniversary. “Apparently, no-one’s ever done this...
Europe: Liveblogging Eurovision
Belatedly, a link to a what was a Eurovision liveblog on Saturday – at Greetings from Kyiv.
Kazakhstan: Diplomacy of Stars
Publicist reports on the “Diplomacy of Stars” Festival that has taken place in Almaty, Kazakhstan, and provides photos of the post-Soviet classic music celebrities [ru].
Kazakhstan: Top Boxer Played a Trick on Borat
KZBlog says that Wladimir Klitschko, the world champion in boxing, who was born in Kazakhstan although he now lives in the Ukraine, spotted Sacha Baron Cohen at the LA restaurant and decided to have a little fun.
Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago: Calypso Music
Jamaica's Abeng News Magazine gives a lesson in the roots of calypso music.
Japan: The Secret of Mizuki Shigeru
At age 86, Mizuki Shigeru is one of the most well-known manga artists in Japan thanks to work that stretches over more than four decades, including among them some of the most popular Japanese manga and anime TV series. GeGeGe no Kitarō, a manga series he created in 1959, is Mizuki's most famous, featuring an orphaned yōkai (monster) named Kitaro who fights for peace between humans and monsters. In a post entitled “Why has GeGeGe no Kitaro remained popular for this long?”, blogger ta26 proposes an explanation for the popularity of this manga.
Vietnam: Miss Universe 2008
Vietnam Extremes is happy to report that Vietnam will host this year's Miss Universe beauty pageant
China: International Anthopology Congress Called-off
Angry Chinese Blogger reports on the calling off of the International Union of Anthropological and Ethnological Sciences Congress at Yunnan University, Kunming City, from 15 July to 23 July.
Cape Verde: Africa Day
To celebrate the Africa Day today, Baluka Brazao [pt] publishes and provides info on a picture by Robert Colescott, Marching to a Different Drummer in which according to the Cape Verdean “Colescott addresses the white perception of the black and the black perception of the white, and shows how racism...
Caucasus: Eurovision Results
The Armenian Observer says it is satisfied with fourth place in last night's Eurovision Song Contest going to Armenia's Sirusho. However, it also raises the question of political voting in the international song contest, something which my The Caucasus Knot examines in more detail. Regardless, Unzipped: Gay Armenia says it...
Hong Kong: Floating Voices
An independent video maker Law Man Lok has produced a video, called floating voices (with English subtitles), on inmediahk.net, a citizen journalist site in Hong Kong. (via inmediahk.net)
Israel: Religious Communities Object to “Sex” in Advertising
“[Blank] in the City?” An Israeli media company is protesting advertising promoting the release of the new “Sex and the City” movie, claiming the word “sex” is offensive and should be removed. “You really don’t know whether to get angry or just laugh at the ridiculousness of this whole thing,”...