Stories about Arts & Culture from May, 2011
Azerbaijan: Armenian Eurovision boycott dilemma
Following Azerbaijan's success in Eurovision, Eurotrash or Eurotreasure comments on speculation that Armenia might boycott next year's event to be held in Baku. Locked in a bitter stalemate over the disputed territory of Nagorno Karabakh, the blog says that the international music competition could provide both countries the opportunity to...
Brazil: Special Coverage on Sounds and Colours
During the month of May, Sounds And Colours dot Com - an online magazine dedicated to southamerican music and culture – is focused on Brazil. A good opportunity to learn about the “importance of music in Rio de Janeiro” and the “unmistakable tarde and flavour of cachaça“, among other cultural...
France: Anti-Racism Group Expelled from Slavery Commemoration Event
During a National Slavery Day ceremony in Paris attended by French president Nicolas Sarkozy on May 10, eight members of anti-racism group Alliance Noire Citoyenne [Black Citizens Alliance] were expelled for wearing shirts that said “Anti Negrophobia Brigade”. A video of the action has been viewed more than 600,000 times.
Brazil: Police Crackdown on Street Performer
Hugo Albuqueque from the blog O Descurvo, posts a video report [pt] on the police crackdown against a street performer in the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil. The local Mayor's decision to prevent the happening, undersigned by Grupo Disparada, was considered by many as discriminatory.
Armenia-Azerbaijan: Eurovision Diplomacy?
Global Voices’ Caucasus Editor rounds up opinion to the possibility that winning this year's Eurovision Song Contest could contribute to change in Azerbaijan. The post looks at the situation in terms of LGBT and political rights, in addition to the ongoing conflict with Armenia over the disputed territory of Nagorno...
Costa Rica: Day Against Homophobia
Costa Rica celebrated the International Day Against Homophobia on May 17, and both online and offline people celebrated sexual diversity.
Russia: Pictures of Skolkovo Center Design Projects
Popular photoblogger Ilya Varlamov (zyalt) posted pictures of design proposals for Skolkovo research center, Russian equivalent of Silicon Valley. English Russia has English translation of zyalt's post.
Azerbaijan: Eurovision-induced sexual revolution?
Turkhan's blog [AZ] posts video and photos of a woman celebrating Azerbaijan's Eurovision victory in a less than expected way considering the otherwise traditional and patriarchal nature of local society. Stripping to her waist in the center of the capital, Baku, the blog wonders about the likelihood of a sexual...
U.S.V.I., St. Vincent & the Grenadines: The Caribbean Through a Camera
A Nation or Nobody admires the work of Nadia Huggins, whom he describes as “one of the artists who is bringing an authentic Caribbean voice to digital photography.”
South Korea: Cartoons Commemorating the Gwangju Massacre on May 18
May 18 is the day a mass democratization movement took place in Gwangju city, South Korea. The military regime ruthlessly clamped down the movement and over a hundred innocent civilians were killed. The nation's famous cartoonist, Kang Pull drew cartoons commemorating this tragic history in order to enlighten youth with...
Panama: Remembering Raúl Leis
On April 30, sociologist, writer and committed member of Panamanian civil society Raúl Leis passed away. His death has left a void and also a place full of fond memories and learning, shared both by traditional media and by the Panamanian blogosphere.
Ukraine, U.S.: Chornobyl Songs Project
Maria Sonevytsky writes about the Chornobyl Songs Project: “To mark the 25th Anniversary of the Chornobyl disaster, raise awareness of the continuing environmental damage created by the nuclear disaster and stimulate efforts to prevent such catastrophes from occurring in the future, a group of singers based in New York City...
Lebanon: Getting Typical Directions in Beirut
“Meet me by the church next to the mosque across from the nightclub in Downtown” is a typical direction that you may get in Beirut, according to This is Beirut.
Brazil: How a Blog Post Ended Up in the Cannes Festival
A brazilian blogger, Alê Felix, unintentionally made it to the Cannes Festival, after writing [pt] about a moving and random conversation she had had with a boy in Rio de Janeiro. Her post was picked up by the film-maker Felipe Joffily who is presenting a short film on it today...
South Korea: Clashes Surrounding Fur Fashion Show
South Korea's capital, Seoul city has told Italian fashion house Fendi to pull fur products from a fashion show scheduled for next month in Seoul as animal rights groups and net users condemned the city government for inviting Fendi for its promotion event. Fendi is trying to negotiate. Korea's citizen/blogger...
Portugal: A Proposal to Make Free Culture Illegal
Luis Alves writes about the Socialist Party proposal regarding privacy copies [pt], which says that authors have the inalienable and non-waivable right to the perception of a compensation for their work. Glyn Moody adds “if Creative Commons licenses become illegal in Portugal, this would presumably mean that contributing to Wikipedia...
Azerbaijan: Eurovision Pride
Scary Azeri comments on her country's success in this year's Eurovision Song Contest by saying that she doesn't understand how ecstatic many of her fellow Azerbaijanis are about their victory. In particular the blog notes the high level of poverty in the country while also wondering if Eurovision fans from...
Uzbekistan: The authorities ban American cartoons
The authorities in Uzbekistan have started a massive attack on American cartoons and animated movies, available on cable television, citing ‘violence’ and ‘negative pressure’, Avicenna says.
Azerbaijan: Euro “Vision”
Etiraz comments on this weekend's Eurovision success for Azerbaijan in Düsseldorf, Germany. The blog says that while proud of the victory, the country still lacks basic democratic credentials and hopes that the year ahead will bring positive change although it also warns that surveillance of activists might be even more...
China: Shenzhen Cultural Industries Fair
Mary Ann O'Donnell from Shenzhen Noted blogs about the Seventh Shenzhen Cultural Industries Fair and highlights the debates about cultural creativity and copyright law.
Puerto Rico: Honoring Ismael Rivera
In 80 Grados [es] César Colón Montijo honors the memory [es] of one of the greatest salsa singers of all times, Ismael Rivera, “El Sonero Mayor.”