Stories about Arts & Culture from October, 2006
Russia: Putin's Rape Remarks
White Sun of the Desert writes about rape and Vladimir Putin's sense of humor: “Russian humour, often thought not to exist, is very dry and often exceptionally dark. In many cases, it cares little for the sensibilities of those who are easily offended. This is, after all, a country which...
Russia: The Ongoing Golden Calf Translation
Languor Management links to the site of Maciej Ceglowski and Peter V. Gadjokov, who are translating The Golden Calf, a 1930 Soviet classic by Ilya Ilf and Evgeniy Petrov: “Seventy years after its publication, The Golden Calf remains a cult classic among Russian readers, but it is out of print...
Russia: Balcony Embellishments
Copydude writes and posts pictures of the Russian balconies: “Balcony infill is not taught at any Russian technical school. Neither are there any known materials which bond easily with Soviet drill-resistant iron and concrete. Every unsuccessful attempt is therefore a triumph of individual creativity.”
China: writers meeting
Maryannodonell blogs about her experience in participating the second nanshan district writers federation council meeting on literary creativity in her Shenzhen fieldnotes.
The Week That Was in Bahrain
It has been yet another busy week on the Bahraini blogsophere, with some bloggers rallying behind an anti-sectarianism campaign, Just Bahraini; others just back home from a long holiday; and one celebrating his/her (?) birthday! In local politics, Mahmood Al Yousif is keeping us abreast with all that's happening on...
Senegal: Stargazing
Chroniques de Ndoumbelane is sad (Fr) that city life in Senegal no longer allows for the stargazing that is so cherished in rural towns.
South Afria: lesbian photo-activist
Sokari, who is visiting South Africa, writes about Zanele Muholi, a South African lesbian photo-activist: “Met Zanele Muholi, a lesbian photographer-activist. Progressive, radical, beautiful, challenging. Zanele took the photos behind “Tommy boys, lesbian men and ancestral wives” and is also the Community Relations Officer at FEW (Forum for the Empowerment...
India: Podcast on Diwali
Kamla Bhatt has a wonderful podcast with Indian diaspora from around the world on how Diwali is celebrated by those outside the country.
India: On Calcutta
Cuckoo's Call reflects on Calcutta and its people. “But you would'nt know all this when you first meet them. They are up-standing human beings, with a sense of self, with a sense of dignity, aware of their equality with anybody else in a democratic society, articulate; being crushed relentlessly by...
Guyana: Reality Shows
Providence Stadium puts forward a few ideas for Guyanese reality shows.
Cuba: Havana in photos and video
Flickr user silvertopixel has a series of lovely art photos of street life in Havana. And Lisetcruz posts a YouTube video with views of Havana's famous Malecón and a matching photo of her own.
Trinidad & Tobago: Folk wisdom
Christopher Yee Mon dishes out some Trinidadian folk wisdom gleaned from his Auntie Kim. An example: “To Cool You Down in the Sun (Heat Stroke?): Drink Maryshutyuhdoor. Maryshutyuhdoor is the grass in the savannah whose leaves close up when you walk on it. (Could Kill You)”
Nigeria: Africa Salsa Congress
Africans love salsa! Naija Blog announces that Africa Salsa Congress will take place in Nigeria.
Mali: the music of Ali Farka Toure
Matsuli music remembers the great Malian musician, Ali Farka Toure: “Cancer claimed Ali Farka Toure's life earlier this year. I'm thankful we can continue to feel his presence in the recordings he has left behind. Nick Gold and the producer Jerry Boys captured some of his greatest moments for the...
Argentina: History of Opera and Football
Some history today from Buenos Aires. The upcoming renovation of the downtown opera house, Teatro Colón has inspired Jeff Barry to to begin a series on the history of opera in Buenos Aires. eBlog, meanwhile, points out that today is the 30th anniversary since the debut of Diego Maradona [ES]...
Kenya: the collector of worlds
Kikumuyumoja's Realm writes about a book reading event in Nairobi, Kenya: “There was this public reading (organized by the German Cultural Centre (Goethe-Institut) & the German Department @ University of Nairobi) by Ilija Trojanow and Binyavanga Wainaina at the Goethe Auditorium (@ Maendeleo ya Wanawake House – used to be...
Cambodia: A bookseller's tale
Chlim01 in Cambodia is happy that his favorite bookstore in Phnom Penh got some media coverage.
Africa: opening door to African cinema
“For decades, African cinema has been poised for the kind of international breakthrough that Asian and Middle Eastern films have enjoyed. There are lots of stories to be told and there have been directors willing and able to tell them, but the financial resources available to filmmakers on other continents...
Chile: Participatory Journalism and the Ministry of Culture
Citizen media and the Chilean government continue to collaborate. This time Atina Chile announces its alliance with the Ministry of Culture [ES]. According to the post, a series of joint projects will soon be announced.
Arabisc: Protests, Human Rights and Cultural Repression
With labour union elections coming up soon in Egypt, Manal and Ala are reporting about labour strike in Ain Shams University, where salaries were almost halved. على خلفية الصراع الطبقي اللي محتدم في البلد بقاله 5 سنين و اللي وصل ذروته السنة دي كع اقتراب موعد انتخابات المقابات العمالية بدأ...
Blogging Tunisia: ban, censorship and more censorship…
The major issue that has attracted the attention of the Tunisian bloggers in the last two weeks was the campaign against the Islamic veil launched by the Tunisian regime to wipe out what senior officials describe as “sectarian dress”. This last depiction finds its roots in the decree “108”, pioneering...
