Arts & Culture
Arts & Culture
Fair Observer's exploration of human creativity in all forms including literature, theater, film, opera, art, sculpture, music, dance, cuisine and travel.
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By Hanna WolfFor many decades, street artists have made San Francisco’s Mission District one of the most colourful and fascinating places to see, mirroring the city’s vibrant multiculturalism and diversity. We are walking through some of the stinkiest alleys in San Francisco, yet still tourists from all over the world come here to take pictures and admire the street art gallery surrounding them. Whether huge murals, stickers on the floor or graffiti: art is all around in this area of the city. Our tour guide Russell Howze, who offers street art tours through the Mission District, has been walking through these alleys for 15 years, and still he discovers new pieces. “Once you train your eyes, it’s...
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By Tamás BereczWhile governments spend more time and funding on countering Islamic extremism, Europe faces an increasing threat from domestic extremist groups – both right- and left-wing – that are active in every country examined by the Athena Institute. After the 9/11 attacks, international terrorism became the bogeyman of the West, something that lurks in the dark and waits for the right time to strike. This fear was not unfounded. The first decade of the 21st century was dominated by Jihadi terrorism: Kuta, New York, Madrid, London. Islamist terror groups became the first priority to secret services and other authorities. The aforementioned attacks shocked the West and started an...
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360° Analysis / Art / Graffiti / Street Art / Vandalism / Europe / Arts & CultureA new kind of street art introduced by Peintre X adds color to grey city streets. “I believe that art can be more than a collector’s item that can be bought and sold.” These are the words of a Munich street artist who has started an urban art project that is trying to achieve exactly this. Peintre X literally takes art to the streets by painting small water colors which are then put in frames and attached to walls in different public places. Next to it there is a QR code connected to the artist’s homepage. A picture of the painting is taken and published on the Facebook page of Peintre X. Although paintings are mainly hung up in Munich, the paintings are also found...
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As more immediate economic concerns engulf Dutch politics, Geert Wilders’ Freedom Party is rapidly losing popular support. In The Netherlands, far-right politician Geert Wilders is a national treasure. He is the man the Dutch love to hate. But love-hate relationships can also end, and this might be the case for the politician. As the leader of the Freedom Party, Wilders briefly gained political power when he supported the minority cabinet in 2010. The minority cabinet’s cooperation with Wilders was seen as an unusual alliance, but after the Freedom Party (PVV) won 24 out of the 150 seats in Parliament, Prime Minister Mark Rutte could hardly avoid forming a coalition with them....
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Art / Banksy / Street Art / United States / Vandalism / Europe / 360° Context / Arts & Culture / Middle EastWhile street art is becoming increasingly more popular in the mainstream, artists still, more often than not, risk arrest and criminal charges, raising important questions about how we define and appreciate art. It is safe to say that all of us, at some point in our lives, have been exposed to street art. Lurking under bridges, spilling over billboards, splashing colour across grey concrete, derelict buildings and subway carts,the work of masked night warriors spans every city on every continent. To some, it brings joy. To others, it is mere vandalism. But with the recent explosion in street art’s popularity and its projection into the realm of critically acclaimed modern art, it is...
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360° Analysis / Iran / Iranian / Politics / Sanctions / Arts & Culture / Middle EastEconomic sanctions are not only shattering the lives of the Iranian people but also strangling Iran’s social and cultural development. Iran is headed for a humanitarian catastrophe unless steps are taken to avert it. [This article is based on a talk presented by independent researcher Mehrnaz Shahabi on November 17 at the Nour Festival of Arts in London, which seeks to celebrate, explore and promote culture and arts in the Middle East and North Africa.] For 33 years now, since the 1979 Iranian Revolution, Iran has been the target of US economic sanctions, which have increased in scope and severity over time. The impact of sanctions on populations is not always quantifiable and can...
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By Trevor CohenChina may have limited cultural appeal in Latin America, but its economic ideology has gained credibility over the US model. Hugo Chavez and Fidel Castro curse the evils of US imperialism and extravagance, but still enjoy baseball as a pastime. While they find their economic models much more in line with that of the Chinese, they are much closer culturally to the capitalists of the United States. Despite government efforts, China has had little success in exporting its popular culture. While Chinese history and philosophy might be highly respected worldwide, these cultural elements are old and cold in the modern age. Nor do they possess mass entertainment value or showcase...
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360° Analysis / Beer / Democracy / Infographic / Politics / United States / Wine / Europe / BRIC / Arts & Culture / Middle East / Americas / Africa / Asia / OceaniaBy Fact BlinkOn the coherence of liquor and liberty. Many people know that beer is the world’s third-most popular drink, after water and tea. Fewer are aware, however, of the remarkable correlation between a preference for beer, and a preference for democratic institutions. A coincidence? We are not so sure. A priori, there are strong cognitive associations between the brown brew and rule by the people. After all, more than any other drink, beer is the quintessential beverage of the common man. While wine and cocktails may be instinctively elitist; beer, by nature, is egalitarian. So perhaps it is not so surprising that across the world, beer-drinking countries have granted universal...
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360° Analysis / Lebanese / Lebanon / Music / Arts & Culture / Middle EastBy Munir Atalla Mashrou’ Leila, a Lebanese band that emerged from the Beirut underground indie scene, have captured what it is like to be young in the Arab world, and understand their listeners, sometimes better than they understand themselves. “Ya Albi, (my heart), I hope this message finds you healthy, inspired, and far from apathy. I’m sorry I haven’t written in so long.” Begins a love letter. This letter, however, is not between two lovers, but between a band and their audience. Mashrou’ Leila is the Lebanese sensation that emerged from the Beirut underground indie scene some five years ago. When announcing their concert dates, the band takes on the...