Culture

ŠamaŠ: A Call for Peace Through Art and Music
ŠamaŠ: A Call for Peace Through Art and Music

Originally unveiled in 2017 at the Lebanese Pavilion of the Venice Biennale, ŠamaŠ (pronounced Shamash) seamlessly combines visual art and music. For the first time in France, visitors can experience this extraordinary piece at the IMA in Paris until April 6. Deeply symbolic, the project stems from Zad Moultaka’s profound reflection on ...

Martial Solal: Master of the Free Note, Eternally Unforgettable
PortraitMartial Solal: Master of the Free Note, Eternally Unforgettable

King of improvisation, Martial Solal left an indelible mark on the history of jazz as one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century. He passed away on December 12 at the age of 97. This prodigious musician, composer, arranger, and conductor made his name on the international stage, challenging the American giants of music. Born in Algiers in ...

Parastoo Ahmadi Defies Iranian Tyranny Through Music
Parastoo Ahmadi Defies Iranian Tyranny Through Music

In a video posted on YouTube, Iranian singer Parastoo Ahmadi appears in a traditional Iranian setting reminiscent of a caravanserai, dressed in a sleek black gown with her hair uncovered, performing for thirty minutes alongside her band. The performance, though devoid of a live audience, carried a powerful symbolic message. Through YouTube, she ...

Sarah Jessica Parker: The Journey of a Truly Unconventional Star
PortraitSarah Jessica Parker: The Journey of a Truly Unconventional Star

A true tour de force both on and off the screen, Sarah Jessica Parker has never failed to astonish and captivate. Her role as a juror within the prestigious Booker Prize 2025 provides the perfect opportunity to revisit the extraordinary journey of this actress, producer and entrepreneur who has shaped an entire generation. From her early ...

Matthieu Blazy to Redefine Chanel’s Artistic Vision
Matthieu Blazy to Redefine Chanel’s Artistic Vision

French luxury brand Chanel on Thursday named former Bottega Veneta creative boss Matthieu Blazy as its new artistic director, one of the biggest jobs in fashion tasked with finally turning the page on the Karl Lagerfeld era. Chanel confirmed the appointment shortly after Bottega Veneta announced that the 40-year-old Blazy was leaving the Italian ...

Festive Agenda (2): December in the Spirit of Christmas
Festive Agenda (2): December in the Spirit of Christmas

Khyal Sahra returns to Casino du Liban for the holidays After captivating over 26,000 spectators last August, the play Khyal Sahra, written, directed and performed by Georges Khabbaz, alongside Adel Karam, makes a grand return to Casino du Liban for a limited series of performances from December 18, 2024, to January 19, 2025. This theatrical ...

From 'Moonlight' to Mufasa: How Barry Jenkins Found Himself
From 'Moonlight' to Mufasa: How Barry Jenkins Found Himself

Oscar-winning director Barry Jenkins almost passed on the opportunity to direct Disney's latest blockbuster, Mufasa: The Lion King, a prequel to the iconic 1994 animated film. Initially hesitant, Jenkins changed his mind after his agents urged him to read the script. Upon doing so, he recognized that the film contained many of the themes that had ...

 John Galliano Bids Farewell to Maison Margiela After Decade
John Galliano Bids Farewell to Maison Margiela After Decade

John Galliano announced on Wednesday that he is stepping down as creative director of Maison Margiela after a decade at the helm of the iconic French fashion house. In a heartfelt post on Instagram, the British designer, 64, reflected on his journey with the brand, thanking Renzo Rosso, the Italian mogul and owner of Margiela, for offering him a ...

'The Room Next Door': Almodóvar’s New Emotional Drama
'The Room Next Door': Almodóvar’s New Emotional Drama

With The Room Next Door, Pedro Almodóvar delves into the complexities of friendship and life’s profound questions in an intimate and evocative film. The story follows two women, Ingrid (Julianne Moore), a renowned novelist, and Martha (Tilda Swinton), a seasoned war reporter. Once inseparable, the friends drifted apart over the years, each ...

'Tyrants Are Great Only Because We Are on Our Knees'
Analysis'Tyrants Are Great Only Because We Are on Our Knees'

"Tyrants are great only because we are on our knees." This quote about individual and collective voluntary subjugation is attributed to Étienne de La Boétie, author of Discourse on Voluntary Servitude. Published in 1576, the text presents remarkably modern insights into the foundations of tyranny and the reasons for people's submission, ...

Festive Agenda (1): December in the Spirit of Christmas
Festive Agenda (1): December in the Spirit of Christmas

Beirut Chants: A Celebration of Artistic and Cultural Resilience The Beirut Chants festival, held from December 4 to 23, 2024, provides a space for unity and togetherness through free concerts highlighting culture and prayer. Among the highlights already past are Mozart’s Coronation Mass, the Nativity Hymns, and various performances by local ...

Celebrated Poet and Activist Nikki Giovanni Leaves Legacy Behind
Celebrated Poet and Activist Nikki Giovanni Leaves Legacy Behind

Award-winning US poet Nikki Giovanni, who was at the forefront of the Black Arts Movement, has died at age 81 after a long battle with cancer, her friends and family said Tuesday. Widely regarded as one of the most prolific African-American poets, Giovanni received numerous awards and a Grammy nomination for her work on civil rights, gender, and ...