· May, 2011

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

  19 May 2011

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

  19 May 2011

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

  19 May 2011

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...

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...

South Korea: Cartoons Commemorating the Gwangju Massacre on May 18

  18 May 2011

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

  18 May 2011

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...

Brazil: How a Blog Post Ended Up in the Cannes Festival

  16 May 2011

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

  16 May 2011

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

  16 May 2011

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...

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...