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EXPLAINED CULTURE NEWS - Page 15

Delicatessen

Zeitgeist, diesel, glitch – How you are using German words without even knowingSubscriber Only

July 2, 2023 12:24 IST

German lends to the English language more words than you may realise. We take you through some, today.

Michael Rosen

Michael Rosen wins this year’s PEN Pinter Prize: A glimpse into the work of the children’s writerSubscriber Only

June 30, 2023 10:30 IST

Rosen is known for making poetry accessible to children through his work and performances. His themes are often social, political and ethical.

Lady with a Fan by Gustav Klimt, the most expensive artwork to have been sold at a European auction.

Europe’s most expensive artwork sold for $108 million: Who was Gustav Klimt, the artist behind it?Subscriber Only

June 30, 2023 10:28 IST

Considered one of the greatest decorative painters of the 20th century, Klimt is perhaps best known for his oil-on-canvas painting 'The Kiss', with two lovers in an embrace. The piece that was sold recently is titled 'Lady with a Fan'.

Puri rath yatra

Rath Yatra in Puri: Significance of the deities’ journey ‘to their birthplace’Subscriber Only

June 26, 2023 10:32 IST

Every year, millions throng Puri to witness Lord Jagannath's Rath Yatra. What are the various rituals of the nine-day festival, and why does it attract so many devotees? We explain.

Robert Frost

Biden gifts Modi first edition collection of Robert Frost’s work: The poet and his connection with IndiaSubscriber Only

June 25, 2023 08:00 IST

The gifting of a first edition collection of Frost’s work to PM Modi may be emblematic of the poet’s stature in American literary life, but much before that Frost had found an admirer in India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

Yeats-Ten Principal Upanishads

PM Modi gifts Biden Yeats’ ‘Ten Principal Upanishads’: What are Upanishads and why was Yeats interested in them?Subscriber Only

June 23, 2023 10:41 IST

Translated from Sanskrit by Shri Purohit Swami, a scholar of Hindu scripture, and Irish poet WB Yeats, the book is considered to be one of the best translations of the original late-Vedic texts that are central to modern Hinduism.

Adipurush Sita

Amid Adipurush row, Nepal towns ban Hindi movies: Janakpur and the legend of JanakiSubscriber Only

June 20, 2023 17:13 IST

Why has Adipurush led to a controversy in Nepal, and what is the Ramayana connection between India and its neighbour?

Gita Press

Gita Press to receive Gandhi Peace Prize: A brief history of the publishing houseSubscriber Only

June 19, 2023 18:55 IST

Based out of Gorakhpur, the 100-year-old Gita Press is the world’s biggest publisher of Hindu religious texts, having sold 93 crore copies of over 1850 books in 15 languages.

Intersex-Inclusive Pride flag

The new Pride flag: Why the change, what the colours signifySubscriber Only

June 19, 2023 12:46 IST

While many organisations in India still use the older rainbow pride flag in their events, the new variation is increasingly being accepted as a more inclusive representation of the LGBTQIA+ community.

adipurush

Adipurush: A look at mythological narratives in Indian cinemaSubscriber Only

June 17, 2023 21:05 IST

Mythological films have spanned genres, and have even had subversive elements in them over the decades. Even though Adipurush is being marketed as a ‘pan-Indian’ film, most of the interest is being generated within the Hindi and Telugu industries. We take a look at the ways in which mythological narratives have evolved in these industries.

Bill Cosby

Who is Bill Cosby, currently being sued for sexual assault by multiple womenSubscriber Only

June 17, 2023 15:11 IST

This is the latest in a series of sexual assault allegations against Bill Cosby, previously one of the most beloved celebrities in the US. Till date, over 60 women have levelled accusations against Cosby, stretching all the way back to the 1960s.

Author Cormac McCarthy

Cormac McCarthy passes away: The darkness and the sparkle behind his enduring appealSubscriber Only

June 14, 2023 19:44 IST

Cormac McCarthy has been compared to authors like William Faulkner and Herman Melville, and considered one of the greatest American writers. Here is what made his writing special

Barbie movie poster

Did Barbie cause a paucity of pink, and controversies she caused in the pastSubscriber Only

June 9, 2023 09:41 IST

Since her birth, Barbie has had over 200 careers and counting, and is trying to take more inclusive and progressive forms. Here is a short history of the much-loved, and much-criticised, doll.

Remains and bricks of a Buddhist monastery.

New plans for PM Modi’s school in his hometown Vadnagar: What is the early history of the city?Subscriber Only

June 9, 2023 10:12 IST

Several archaeological excavations began here from 2005-06, when PM Modi was the Chief Minister of Gujarat. The excavation work taken over by the ASI from 2014 onwards has found over 20,000 artefacts.

The photo of the mural tweeted by Union Minister Pralhad Joshi. Twitter

History of the Akhand Bharat idea, and in the imagination of the RSSSubscriber Only

June 4, 2023 12:51 IST

Asked what he meant by his tweet, Joshi told The Indian Express on Thursday: “The concept of Akhand Bharat comes from ancient Indian culture. The new Parliament building depicts various facets of Indian culture, representing every region and all its facets.”

chamkila, diljit dosanjh

Imtiaz Ali’s new film ‘Amar Singh Chamkila’: Who was the controversial Punjabi folk musician?Subscriber Only

June 2, 2023 10:54 IST

From 1979 to 1988, Chamkila ruled the music landscape in Punjab with songs that were a commentary on village life, drug abuse, guns, extra marital affairs, dowry, alcoholism and matters of Punjabi masculinity among others.

Pencil gifted to Hitler

Hitler’s pencil to be auctioned: Who gifted it to him, its significanceSubscriber Only

June 2, 2023 10:53 IST

The pencil was gifted to Adolf Hitler by his long-term partner Eva Braun, who met him for the first time in Munich in 1929. According to reports, both of them married each other just days before they died by suicide in April 1945.

Dr Kathleen Stock Oxford

Uproar over Oxford talk by Kathleen Stock: Gender-critical feminism and its criticismsSubscriber Only

June 1, 2023 10:50 IST

At the talk, Kathleen Stock reiterated her views that while she wanted trans people to be protected from discrimination, she did not think it was 'fair on females' to share certain spaces with trans women

Red Cabbages and onions

Van Gogh’s onions now garlic: How artworks are titled and renamedSubscriber Only

May 26, 2023 10:29 IST

The title of the Van Gogh work was changed after a Dutch chef, Ernst de Witte, pointed out they depicted garlic bulbs and not onions.

Ilona Chernobai protesting at Cannes ukaraine

Anti-war to anti-dress codes: The many protests at Cannes over the yearsSubscriber Only

May 27, 2023 17:03 IST

A woman dressed in the colours of the Ukraine flag poured fake blood on herself at the Cannes red carpet. Cannes has been the site of many expressions of dissent. Here are some of the most well-known.

Singer Tina Turner, who died on Tuesday at the age of 83.

Tina Turner passes away: How the music icon became a trailblazer across genresSubscriber Only

May 26, 2023 10:44 IST

Tina’s singing prowess and on-stage persona amplified the foundational role of African-American women in the rock and roll genre. She was regarded as an icon by her peers, such as Mick Jagger, frontman of The Rolling Stones.

Georgi Gospodinov and Angela Rodel

First Bulgarian author wins International Booker Prize: Who is Georgi Gospodinov and what is ‘Time Shelter’ aboutSubscriber Only

May 26, 2023 10:41 IST

Gospodinov gained rapid literary acclaim for his profound examination of how the everyday life of citizens is impacted by political regimes.

Auschwitz Entrance

How video games commemorate the HolocaustSubscriber Only

May 23, 2023 09:10 IST

Video games often feature Nazis but rarely focus on their crimes. Now some developers are creating games that don’t shy away from the horrors of the Holocaust.

Martin Amis

Early inspiration, great style and rhythm: What made Martin Amis the writer he wasSubscriber Only

May 23, 2023 09:51 IST

Martin Amis, the author of 15 novels, a memoir, and several volumes of non-fiction writing and short stories, was one of Britain's most influential writers.

Khawas Khan

Explained: A brief history of India’s transgender communitySubscriber Only

May 22, 2023 16:21 IST

While many critics called the Starbucks advertisement "foreign propaganda", the transgender community in India has a long and storied history in India.

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