Culture

Notre-Dame: The Lifelong Mission of Itaru Sekiguchi
Notre-Dame: The Lifelong Mission of Itaru Sekiguchi

At the age of 10, Itaru Sekiguchi experienced a shock that would change the course of his life. "A deafening sound," he recalls. He first heard it while standing in front of the great organ of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris. This pivotal moment sparked an uncontrollable passion for music and the "king of instruments," a love that, forty years ...

Le Monnot Theater Presents 'Abl Ma Fell', a Play Exploring Humanity
Le Monnot Theater Presents 'Abl Ma Fell', a Play Exploring Humanity

Le Monnot theater responds to the call to revive the performing arts despite the challenges. In these uncertain times, the play Abl Ma Fell embodies an act of theatrical resilience. By reopening its doors, Through this production, the play’s team demonstrates that theater remains a vital space for expression and connection, even in times of ...

Notre-Dame de Paris: A Jewel of French Popular Culture
Notre-Dame de Paris: A Jewel of French Popular Culture

In a month, on December 7 and 8, 2024, Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris is set to reopen for visitors and worshipers, five years after it was devastated by fire. Beyond being an emblematic (religious and historical) monument of Paris, and more broadly of France, Notre-Dame de Paris has, for decades and even centuries, inspired numerous writers, ...

Istanbul Film Festival Canceled After Authorities Ban ‘Queer’ Screening
Istanbul Film Festival Canceled After Authorities Ban ‘Queer’ Screening

The organizers of a film festival in Istanbul announced its cancellation on Thursday in protest, following local authorities' ban on the screening of the film Queer, starring former "James Bond" actor Daniel Craig. "A few hours before the opening, authorities in the Kadikoy district informed us that the screening of Queer, scheduled for the ...

 Asterix Speaks in Grondspraatsi to Save a Rare Dialect
Asterix Speaks in Grondspraatsi to Save a Rare Dialect

One of Asterix's classic comic adventures has been translated into a rare Swedish dialect spoken by just a few thousand people in Western Finland, marking a unique effort to preserve the language. Asterix and the Great Crossing, originally published in 1975, is now available in grondspraatsi—a local Swedish dialect spoken primarily in the ...

Notre-Dame: Contemporary Stained Glass and a New Reliquary for the Relics
Notre-Dame: Contemporary Stained Glass and a New Reliquary for the Relics

Nearly four years after the devastating fire that ravaged Notre-Dame de Paris on April 15, 2019, the restoration project is in full swing. Two significant events mark this pivotal week: the hearing of the finalist artists for the design of the new contemporary stained glass and the presentation of the new reliquary intended to hold the Holy Crown ...

A Mysterious German Song Identified After 17 Years
A Mysterious German Song Identified After 17 Years

Dubbed "the most mysterious song on the internet," this German pop song was at the center of a virtual treasure hunt for nearly two decades. Through the dedication and passion of an online community, the song was ultimately identified as Subways of Your Mind, performed by the little-known 1980s German band FEX. The story began in 2007, when a ...

Heraclitus: 'War is the Mother of All Things'
Heraclitus: 'War is the Mother of All Things'

"War is the mother of all things, the queen of all things." Heraclitus's famous phrase, the ancient Greek philosopher, seems at first glance to praise violence and conflict. However, we will attempt to demonstrate that Heraclitus’s wisdom, in this quotation, aims to highlight the creative potential within any conflict. Far from glorifying war, ...

Demi Moore’s Paris Appearance Sparks Oscars Buzz for 'The Substance'
Demi Moore’s Paris Appearance Sparks Oscars Buzz for 'The Substance'

“Americans are really uptight!” exclaimed Demi Moore at the Paris premiere of The Substance, a daring horror film that critiques society's obsession with beauty and youth. “America is built on puritanism,” the actress said during a presentation at the Cinémathèque, where the film, set to release this Wednesday, November 6, tackles ...

Beirut Shorts International Film Festival Achieves Oscars Qualifying Status
Beirut Shorts International Film Festival Achieves Oscars Qualifying Status

The Beirut Shorts International Film Festival has reached a significant milestone, becoming an Oscars Qualifying Film Festival—the first in Lebanon and one of the few in the Arab world. This recognition offers a unique opportunity for Lebanese and international filmmakers, as winning films in the categories of Best Live Action, Best Documentary, ...

Tumaini Festival in Africa: Unity Through Music
Tumaini Festival in Africa: Unity Through Music

At the Tumaini Festival in Malawi, in East Africa, a 72-year-old singer, sporting tinted hair, oversized sunglasses, and a vibrant tracksuit, made her way onto the main stage, eliciting a wave of excitement from the crowd. “Who am I?” she asked the audience of approximately 12,000, who enthusiastically responded, “I am Jetu!” Tumaini, ...