Stories about Arts & Culture from August, 2012
Peru's Feminist Activist-Artist: María María Acha-Kutscher
Peruvian feminist, activist and visual artist María María Acha-Kutscher is using the Internet to share her work. From Mexico's Frida Kahlo to Spain's "indignadas" (outraged) and Russia's Pussy Riot, Acha-Kutscher's drawings reflect the life and struggles of female artists and activists from all over the world.
Syria: Ali Farzat Insults Al Arabia Anchor for her Sect
Al Arabiya correspondent Alia Ibrahim was allegedly insulted by famous Syrian cartoonist Ali Farzat for her sect. What happened saddened Syrian activist Mohammed Al Abdallah [ar] who apologized on the behalf of Farzat. Asa'ad Abu Khalil blogged about Farzat, saying: “The man has now exposed himself to be a petty,...
Saudi Arabia: Ramadan Documentary
Saudi filmmaker Mazen Al-Angary shares this documentary about Ramadan in Jeddah.
History of Cambodian Comics
John Weeks created a slideshow presentation about the history of Cambodian comics in the past half century.
Puerto Rico: In Conversation with Calle 13's “Residente” René Pérez
It's hard to imagine anyone betting on Calle 13‘s success back in 2005, as the popular Puerto Rican group prepared to release their eponymous debut. Back then, reggaeton was still very much the rage on – and off – the island, and René Pérez Joglar (“Residente” – the group's lyricist...
Graffiti in Times of Crisis
In the current economic crisis, graffiti in several cities is rife with social messages. Here is a sample of some urban artwork.
Guinea-Bissau: “Our Culture” in Photos
The Facebook profile of Nôkultura Associação (“Our Culture” Association), launched by Teodoro Gomes in late July, 2012, features a rich – though still small – set of photos on culture and traditions of Guinea Bissau.
Brazil: Bicycle Brings Books to the Homeless
If good ideas transcend boundaries, this one does it by bicycle. That is, by Bicicloteca, a bicycle that carries a small library through the city of São Paulo, Brazil.
Video: ‘I Was Here’ Campaign – Small Actions to Change the World
Join us as we see how small actions can change the world through the 'I Was Here' campaign for the United Nations World Humanitarian Day. The UN and American singer Beyoncé have given out a worldwide invitation - for you to make someone else's life better by doing something good for someone, somewhere.
South Korea: Controversial Launch of Online Music Video Rating
South Korean authorities have launched a new ratings system for music videos posted online. The new bill requires every music video (or promotional video) and even movie trailers to be rated prior to upload. Failure to comply could result in up to two years in prison or a hefty fine.
Russia: Zombies Versus the State in Omsk
Early last Sunday morning in the city of Omsk, a few hundred youths gathered together for a flashmob. Police were on hand to warn everyone that they represented an illegal assembly, and could be charged with breaking the law. Why had roughly 300 people come together? The answer to that question is the "Zombie Parade": the city's first attempted 'walk of the living dead.'
India: Pictures of Varalakshmi Vratham Festival
Anuradha Shankar posts a photo essay on the Varalakshmi Vratham (a festival to propitiate the goddess Lakshmi), which is popular in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamilnadu.
Russia: Pussy Riot's Guilty Verdict
'The judge said one of the reasons for a “real sentence” was to “caution others”. ' - Russian and anglophone Twitter users respond to the guilty verdict and two-year prison sentence handed down to Pussy Riot members.
Cambodia: Khmer Language Books Now Online
The Digital Library for International Research has made available more than 50 publications of Khmer books and educational materials from Cambodia.
Indonesian Street Art Database
The Indonesian Street Art Database is a project that documents street art and urban art culture in Indonesia. One of the themes in the past was to promote tolerance in response to religious violence in the country
DR of Congo: Congolese Star Koffi Olomidé Indicted for Assault and Battery
Congolese renown rhumba singer Koffi Olomidé was indicted for assault and battery [fr] on his producer in Kinshasa. His trial begun on wednesday. Olomidé was previously charged with rape and sequestration in february in Paris.
Colombia: Salsa Musician Jairo Varela Dies
On August 8, Colombian musician Jairo Varela Martinez died at the age of 62. Varela is known for founding the famous salsa band Grupo Niche. There were many comments on Twitter under different tags (Jairo Varela, Grupo Niche and Cali Pachanguero) as soon as his death was known.
Pakistan: Fighting Stereotypes and Celebrating with India on Independence Day
Pakistan's mainstream and social media is usually fraught with issues ranging from terrorism and sectarianism to economic and power crisis. However, there comes a day, once every year, when even the most cynical tend to let go of their skepticism and dwell in a rather romantic notion of hope. That day is August 14, the day Pakistan got its independence from British Raj.
Hollywood's Next Go-To Enemies: North Korea and China
North Korea Tech blog wrote about leaked movie scripts and photos of Hollywood's upcoming movies which Chinese media denounced as ‘reshoots of Cold War movie demonizing China’.
Russia: Moscow's Intelligentsia on Trial in Tver?
While this summer's 'hooliganism' charges against Pussy Riot have enjoyed the spotlight at home and abroad, there is another trial that perhaps reveals even more about tensions in modern Russian society. That is the case against Ilya Farber, a schoolteacher and eccentric recently sentenced to 8 years in prison and fined 3.2 million rubles for exhorting bribes from a building contractor.
Russia: “The True Blasphemy” – Slavoj Žižek on Pussy Riot
Russian collective “Chto Delat? // What is to be done?” published an essay by Slovenian philosopher Slavoj Žižek, who considers Pussy Riot “conceptual artists in the noblest sense of the word: artists who embody an Idea,” and fight against the cynicism of power-mongers who strive to return Russia to the...
