Stories about Arts & Culture from July, 2015
Japan’s ‘Double’ Miss Universe Tests the Country’s Changing Attitudes on Race
"So what if Ariana doesn't look like a pure-blooded Japanese? Her mom's Japanese...and she said her daughter's acclimated to Japanese culture. Ariana's an elegant Japanese woman!"
The Tajik “False Prophet” Sent to Jail for 16 years
'It is hard to understand what is behind this verdict. Sheikh was a Sufi, had no interest in politics, lived somewhere in the mountains, did not bother anyone...'
Moscow Street Musicians Tape Their Mouths Shut to Protest Police Pressure
Moscow street musicians are protesting what they say are illegal police detentions and exorbitant fines that violate their artistic rights and freedoms.
Japan's Cosplay Culture Helps a Global Community Experiment With Identity
Cosplay, a term that describes dressing up like fictional characters, transcends ethnic and cultural borders and promotes personal empowerment.
Russian Police Want to Save Your Life With This Selfie Safety Guide
An Interior Ministry selfie safety microsite has caused a stir on the RuNet because of an infographic created for the campaign, outlining the riskiest scenarios for selfie-taking.
Do You Know These 10 Afro-Puerto Ricans?
The reclaiming of history as an ally of marginalized groups is key to their very survival. This is especially true in a colonial context such as Puerto Rico, where history has been and continues to be used as a means to justify inequalities and deny visibility. In the spirit of...
53 Echoes of Zaire: Popular Painting From Lubumbashi
Liese Van Der Watt, a South African art writer based in London, writes about 53 Echoes of Zaire, exhibition of popular painting from Zaire that is going on in London: The exhibition was curated by Salimata Diop from the Africa Centre in London in cooperation with the Sulger-Buel Lovell gallery....
Provocative Images Depicting Differences Between Hong Kong and China Highlight Inter-Cultural Conflict
As China continues to undermine the 'One Country, Two Systems' accord, artists in Hong Kong strike back with provocative comparisons between the two territories.
In the World's Most Violent City, Graffiti Artists Use Their ‘Weapons’ for Good
San Pedro Sula, Honduras, has earned the bloody title of world's deadliest city four years in a row. Graffiti artists hope to change that with some spray paint and imagination.
Iran's Version of The Muppets Makes a Comeback
Kolah Germezi (or "Red Hat") is a beloved Iranian TV program featuring a collection of skits and musical numbers. Its producer says the program officially has 35 million viewers.
You Can Now Legally Dance the Night Away in Japan
Late-night club-goers are celebrating the end of a police crackdown that shut dancing just when the party was getting started.
Documentary ‘Too Black To Be French’ Wants to Start an Honest Conversation on Race in France
“Too Black to Be French” is a documentary made by Isabelle Boni-Claverie, a French-Ivorian writer and filmmaker. Boni-Claverie's goal is to provide unexplored ideas and start a conversation on French society's inequalities and discrimination. The documentary includes commentary and analyses from renowned Francophone thinkers such as Eric Fassin, Pap Ndiaye, Achille Mbembe, Patrick...
