Stories about Arts & Culture from February, 2010
Trinidad & Tobago: Poetry in the Mas’
Trinidad & Tobago Carnival inspires a poem by blogger Andre Bagoo.
Trinidad & Tobago: “Dat is Carnival”
MEP Caribbean Publishers explores the question of what constitutes Trinidad and Tobago Carnival, while My Chutney Garden adds: “That the ‘mas’ has become sanitised is beyond dispute.”
Armenia: Eurovision 2010
Unzipped comments on what it considers to be the two main contenders, Mihran & Emmy and Eva Rivas, as Armenia's entry into this year's Eurovision Song Contest. The blog says that it is not entirely happy with all the choices on offer, but at least notices how coverage in the...
Japan: J-Music 2000-2009
A brilliant review [en] of a decade of Japanese music by W. David MARX at Néojaponisme.
Japan: Top Ten Successful Expats
Alex at VictoryManual.com lists “Top Ten Successful Expats in Japan” – “Definitely English-speaking, American, white males have the easiest access to success as a foreigner in Japan.”
Japan: Guide to Tokyo Gallery Geography
In “A Beginner’s Guide to Tokyo Gallery Geography“, William Andrews at the Tokyo Art Beat blog describes some of the key areas for enjoying contemporary art in the city.
Open Video: Worldwide Wireside chat with Lawrence Lessig
What is fair use, how does copyright fit into the digital age and how can commentary, teaching, remixing and research with video be freely developed? Tune in on February 25th 6:00pm US Eastern time (GMT -5) to watch and listen to Lawrence Lessig as he discusses these topics at the Open Video Alliance website or check out for screenings in your city.
Ukraine: Protests Against Sergei Bratkov's Art
IZO writes about protests against Sergei Bratkov's current show at Pinchuk Art Center and posts a YouTube video of one of the protests, as well as a note with the artist's response (RUS) to the protesters.
India: Mahalakshmi Derby
Anand Rao at Mind Sparks posts some pictures of the Mahalakshmi Derby in Mumbai with interesting captions.
Nepal: Ex-King Breaks Taboo
United We Blog! for a Democratic Nepal reports that: “Nepal’s deposed king Gyanendra himself has broken a centuries-old taboo by attending a religious fair in a town till now considered out of bounds for the royal family.”
India: The Kala Ghoda Arts Festival Blog
An interesting panel discussion on the delicious variety of ‘Food Writing’ took place at the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival in Mumbai, India. Read this and much more in The Kala Ghoda Gazette, the official blog of the festival.
Mongolia: “Khoomii doesn't belong to China”
On PetitionSpot, a new petition goes on to ask China officials to stop registering “Khoomii” or Mongolian throat singing in their Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in UNESCO.
Trinidad & Tobago: Parenting & Carnival
“Yes carnival is here, the greatest show on earth. The music, the [mas], the freedom and…babies at fetes”: Media Callaloo is appalled at the irresponsibility of some of the parents in Trinidad and Tobago.
Trinidad & Tobago: Kiddies Carnival
A Caribbean Garden posts an array of photos from 2010 Kiddies Carnival celebrations in Trinidad and Tobago.
France: International Students in Paris Blog on Cité Babel
The International City of Paris houses a community of international students living and learning at French universities. Their blog and journal "Cité Babel" addresses issues related to identity, cultural exchanges, language, and views of France and the world.
Arab World: Should the New York Times Reassign Ethan Bronner?
Over the past couple of weeks, a much-discussed topic in the broader Arab blogosphere has been a news story that broken by a member of the blogosphere itself. On January 25, the Electronic Intifada (EI) reported that the son of Ethan Bronner, New York Times' Jerusalem bureau chief, had recently been inducted into the Israeli Defense Forces. Arab bloggers discuss the case.
India: Death of a Prehistoric Language
The last speaker of the ancient Bo language, Boa Senior, has died in her native Andaman Islands (part of India) in February 2010. It's a vivid confirmation of last year's report from UNESCO, warning that 2,500 languages are at risk of disappearing.
Trinidad & Tobago: Radio Face-Off
Underground Trini Artiste thinks that Facebook is the new radio.
Trinidad & Tobago: Robber Talk
Just in time for Trinidad and Tobago Carnival, Pleasure interviews one of the festival's traditional characters, the Midnight Robber.
Video: Peruvian Cuisine on the Net
Peruvian food is considered one of the most diverse foods in the world, due in part to the varied geography of the region, the blending of different cultures into iconic dishes and the way in which ancient recipes are still being interpreted and adapted in modern cooking. In this post,...
Uruguay: Internet Spreads Carnival Around the World
Thanks to the internet and social media, the Uruguayan Carnival can be enjoyed by nationals living abroad and tourists who once fell in love with the forty-day celebration.
