Stories about Arts & Culture from August, 2009
Bolivia: Honoring Dogs on the Feast of St. Roch
Bolivians recently celebrated the Feast of St. Roch, the patron saint of dogs. On this day, many people give extra attention to pets that have given them so much throughout the year.
Colombia: The Other Side of the Flower Fair
The Flower Fair in Medellín, Colombia is a highly anticipated event, which attracts many visitors to the city. However, Xady of Expresate [es] shows another side to the fair, which includes traffic congestion and an increase in accidents.
Azerbaijan: Eurovision voting scandal
Although held in May, some media outlets in Azerbaijan last week reported that 43 people who voted for the Armenian entry in the Eurovision Song Contest have been identified by police and one has even been called in for questioning. Bloggers react.
Azerbaijan: Sheki
Joe's Tripping posts photographs and reports from visiting various destinations in and around Sheki, Azerbaijan. In the first post, the blog says that the King's Palace in Sheki is the most impressive building in the country, while Kish is notable for its fresh air and friendly atmosphere. The blog also...
Serbia: Belgrade Murals
Photos of new Belgrade murals – at Belgraded.
Iran: A cartoon depicts Mousavi as a ‘brutal killer’
Some Iranian bloggers have published a cartoon depicting Iranian opposition leader, Mir Hussein Mousavi as a ‘brutal killer’.
Iran: Bella Ciao song and Iranian protest movement
Here is a video film where Bella Ciao, an old anti-fascist resistance song has been added to the Iranian protest movement's photos.
Azerbaijan: Another Eurovision controversy
A Fistful of Euros comments on news that the telephone numbers of Azeris who voted for the Armenian entry during this year's Eurovision Song Contest have been obtained by police and one person has already been called in for questioning. The blog compares the situation in both Armenia and Azerbaijan...
Bangladesh: Krishna Janmashtami Parade
Sadiq Alam at Inspirations and Creative Thoughts writes about the Janmashtami Parade in Dhaka, which is celebrated to mark the birthday of Lord Krishna: “(the) most striking feature of Janmashtami Parade is the custom of dressing up as Krishna, Radha and other characters from the life of Krishna.”
Suriname: W.I. Identity
Trinidadian Nicholas Laughlin discovers unexpected proof of Suriname's Caribbean connections – through “clothing and fashion as a badge of social identity.”
Haiti: The Revolution & Human Rights
Repeating Islands reports that an international colloquium, scheduled to take place in Port-au-Prince, will examine “the universalization of the social, economic, political, cultural, and philosophical dimensions of human rights in the context of the legacies of the Haitian Revolution.”
Lithuania, Ukraine: Shoot Nations Photo Contest
Eternal Remont highlights two winning entries of the Shoot Nations 2009 photo contest: Monika Urbutyte, 17, Lithuania, and Olena Fedorenko, 22, Ukraine.
Cambodia: Miss Landmine Pageant Raises Questions
The Miss Landmine pageant intends to empower landmine victims and challenge traditional notions of beauty. The winner receives a high-tech prosthetic limb. But the Cambodian government canceled the pageant this month.
Cuba: Concert for Peace?
The Cuban Institute of Music has announced that popular Colombian singer Juanes is scheduled to perform at a "concert for peace" in Havana come September 20th. Cuban bloggers are divided on whether the event is a good idea.
Bhutan: The Influence Of Mobile Phones
Bhutan entered into the era of mobile phones only in 2003. HBO at Kuzu Bhutan Weblog informs that in past six years mobile phones have become an integral part of the Bhutanese society.
Russia, Ukraine: Music vs Politics
LJ user oleg_kozyrev asks (RUS) Ukrainians not to get offended at Russia because of president Medvedev's address and suggests that fellow-bloggers post “something Ukrainian today,” ending his post with a YouTube video of Vopli Vidoplyasova‘s Vesna (“Spring”) song.
Laos: Discotheques to be closed down
To prevent the degradation of Lao culture, the Laos government plans to shut down discotheques in the country.
Suriname: Questions Seeking Answers
Artist and curator Christopher Cozier, blogging at Paramaibo SPAN, seeks to “generate a fertile exchange…towards transforming predicaments into mutually shared sovereign understandings.”
Pakistan: Shutting Down Lahore Food Street
Talkhaba feels disgruntled by the decision of the Pakistani government to shut down the Lahore Food Street.
Mexico: Telling Secrets on Twitter
Rafa Saavedra is a connosseiur of underground culture from Tijuana, México. In an interview, he tells about his most recent project combining Twitter and the telling of secrets.
India, Pakistan: A Karachi Family In An Indian Mall
Mayank Austen Soofi at Paksitan Paindabad portrays the reactions and excitements of a visiting three member Karachi family, whom he met at the Metropolitan Mall in Gurgaon, near Delhi.
