Stories about Arts & Culture from March, 2011
Russia: Voina Art Collective
At OpenDemocracy.net, writes about the Voina art collective (RUS: @free_voina; ENG: @free_voina_en) and “explains how their controversial methods have made it difficult to mobilise support.” Kevin Rothrock (@agoodtreaty) re-posts a video of Voina‘s recent prank action (1,178,969 views, 3,023 likes, 658 dislikes): “unwelcomely, without warning kiss female cops on candid...
Puerto Rico: Unique traditions
The team of #EnProfundo have posted their 41st podcast titled: “Unique and Innovative Traditions” [es]. They talk about a recently launched political candidate, the earthquake in Japan, and a new culinary product in Puerto Rico, among other topics.
Brazil: The Cost of Financing Culture
Recent news that the Brazilian Ministry of Culture has authorized famous singer Maria Bethânia to raise R$ 1.3 million tax free (Brazilian reais - approximately US$ 777,000) to create a poetry blog, has aroused the anger of bloggers, Twitter users and other cultural activists.
South Korea: Controversial Memoir Mixes Art, Sex and Politics
An art curator who shocked South Korea with her fake Yale diploma and government connections released a memoir on March 22, 2011, rocking the nation once again with her revelations. Called the 'art world Cinderella', Shin Jeong-ah's alleged relationships with high-profile political and social figures have made her something of a celebrity.
Argentina: The Conflict between Teatro Colón and the City of Buenos Aires
After twelve years since his last performance in Argentina, Plácido Domingo was scheduled to sing on March 23 at the Teatro Colón theater in Buenos Aires. However, the concert inside the theater was canceled as the very musicians of the theater refused to play there because of their conflict with the city's administration. As a compromise, a concert was held outdoors, but the conflict between the theater's musicians and the city is far from over.
Burkina Faso: Burkinabé Drums
Learn about different types of drums from Burkina Faso: “Percussion forms the basis of music making in Burkina. Drums are used in daily life, to signal a journey or a return from the fields, to accompany mask dances and to codify secret languages solely understood by initiates.”
Cameroon: Remembering Cameronian artist Goddy Leye
No Art On $2 A Day is a video in memory of Cameroonian artist Goddy Leye (1965-2011). Goddy's work focused on videos, installations and conceptual art.
Brazil: Satirical Video pokes fun at famous singer's blog
The Javipior blog has made video spoof on the upcoming poetry blog [pt] by Brazilian singer Maria Bethânia, estimated at R$ 1.3 million tax free (Brazilian reais – approximately US$ 777,000). The poem recited at the video criticizes using tax incentives to cover the blog expenses, “I know I'm taking...
Gabon: Citizen Web Documentary Wins Award
Website Web Docu [fr] has announced that the citizen web documentary Gabon : violences d'un coup d'état électoral [fr] (Gabon: The violence of an electoral coup) has won the award for best web-politics documentary at the Web TV-Festival 2011 [fr]. The documentary was produced in 2009 during the post-electoral turmoil that...
Japan: Fundraising through art
A group of international artists realized paintings and drawings dedicated to the victims of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. The works are part of an open project called Tsunami, Des Images pour le Japon. You can send your original illustrations here [fr].
Russia: Life of Migrant Workers in Pictures
Photoblogger zyalt publsed a selection of pictures on the life of migrant workers in Russia. The pictures with English captions are re-posted by English Rusia here.
Venezuela: Learning to Play the Cuatro on the Web 2.0
The cuatro - an instrument in the guitar family - is the principal icon of traditional Venezuelan music. A love for the cuatro has also reached citizen media, where songs are shared, and its history, musicians and even how to play the instrument, are widely discussed.
Macedonia, Japan: Anime vs. Reality
poljaff, a contributor to Japan@MK blog, compared [MKD] the experiences of learning about Japanese culture and disaster response by watching the award-winning anime Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 a year ago, and intensely following the aftermath of the March 11 catastrophe. According to her, reality is much scarier, but the Japanese people...
Trinidad & Tobago: Upsetting Issues
From the state of health care to advertising campaigns, Plain Talk posts a list of all the things that are upsetting him.
India: Lakme India Fashion Week In Twitter Conversations
Ugich Konitari at Gappa posts some imaginary Twitter conversations describing the Lakme India Fashion Week catwalk event.
Thailand: Bangkok International Book Fair
The Bangkok International Book Fair 2011 in Thailand opens this week at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center
Trinidad & Tobago: Soca Stars on Twitter
Outlish has a list of the Top 20 Soca Stars to follow on Twitter.
Russia: Photos of Saint Patrick's Day Parade in Moscow
Photoblogger Dervishv publishes [ru] extravagant photos of Saint Patrick's Day celebration: all kinds of green, Moscow hipsters, Irish flags… and police (the parade was officially banned). At least, some parts of the police forces were in green uniform.
India: Colors of Holi
In these troubled times, the world perhaps needs a bit of cheer, and what better than the bright, sparkling colors of Holi, the festival of Spring, to renew our optimism, hopes and joy.
Guinea: Miss Guinea France 2011 Speaks Out against Excision
Interviewed by Mrs Nenette Baldé on the blog nenehawa.com, Binta Diallo, the winner of Miss Guinea France 2011, thinks [Fr] that: “The worst is that little Guinean girls associate excision with purity and believe that this is what will make them honorable, exceptional women. That's why I evoked the risks...
Japan: Manga artists draw comics to support Japan
A post at the Italian independent news website Linkiesta shows [it] the comics that several Japanese manga artists drew to express solidarity to their country.
