Tagged with United States

DISSENT VS. DIPLOMACY | Did the US exact revenge against Bulgarian-German writer Ilija Trojanov for his critique of America’s NSA surveillance powers?

DISSENT VS. DIPLOMACY | Did the US exact revenge against Bulgarian-German writer Ilija Trojanov for his critique of America’s NSA surveillance powers?

Ilija Trojanov, a Bulgarian-German author, was on his way to a Denver conference of the German Studies Association, and had been issued an invitation to appear at the Goethe-Institut’s “New Literature From Europe” Festival in November. “Barring Mr. Trojanov, an outspoken critic of America’s controversial surveillance powers, from attending an academic conference in the United States will hardly calm the anxiety our colleagues around the world are feeling about America’s electronic spying,” said Suzanne Nossel, executive director of PEN American Center. Continue reading »

AWARDS | “A Song for My Mother” wins Plaridel Award for Outstanding Editorial Essay

AWARDS | “A Song for My Mother” wins Plaridel Award for Outstanding Editorial Essay

The Plaridel Awards, a national competition honoring excellence in Filipino American journalism, were announced by the Philippine American Press Club USA (PAPC USA). The Plaridel Awards is named after Marcelo H. del Pilar, a Filipino journalist and publisher who over a century ago went into exile in Europe. Plaridel was his nom de plume, the anagram of his surname, Del Pilar. Continue reading »

FESTIVAL WATCH | Cuba hosts an international theater festival in Havana

FESTIVAL WATCH | Cuba hosts an international theater festival in Havana

Companies from more than 70 countries in Latin America, Europe, the United States and China are taking part in the 15th edition of Havana’s International Theater Festival, better known as Festival de Teatro de la Habana. Kicking off on October 25, this year’s festival is dedicated to the legendary acting teacher Konstantin Stanislavski, for his technical contribution, his legacy, his aesthetic, his generative inspiration and his transformative impact on Cuban theater. Continue reading »

THEATER COMMENTARY | Viewing Jane Bowles and her “In the Summer House” through the prism of Tennessee Williams

THEATER COMMENTARY | Viewing Jane Bowles and her “In the Summer House” through the prism of Tennessee Williams

You’ve likely not heard of Jane Bowles, but she wrote a cock-eyed, mesmerizing play that was one of the signal achievements of postwar American drama. It’s right up there with the classic works of Arthur Miller, Tennessee Williams, Gertrude Stein, late Eugene O’Neill, Lillian Hellman, and Sam Shepard. This post is about Jane Bowles’s unjustly neglected play: “In the Summer House.” Continue reading »

IN EXHIBITION | Tyler Rollins Fine Art hosts Philippine artist Patricia Perez Eustaquio

IN EXHIBITION | Tyler Rollins Fine Art hosts Philippine artist Patricia Perez Eustaquio

The works in The Future That Was exhibitions in New York and Manila are reflections upon the structures and ideas that produce, frame and promote art and design. Philippine artist Patricia Perez Eustaquio weaves an open-ended narrative that examines notions of innovation and novelty, timeliness and timelessness, particularly as they relate to the language of design and fashion. She is interested in how material, fabrication, and intention combine to form an object that then takes on a life of its own. Continue reading »

CROSS-BORDER DIPLOMACY | European Union’s parliament supports new resolution for foundation cross-border initiatives

CROSS-BORDER DIPLOMACY | European Union’s parliament supports new resolution for foundation cross-border initiatives

BRUSSELS |  Will European foundations ever be able to work across national borders? At this moment this is not possible. But a new resolution for European foundation statute is presently running through the European Parliament that may change that situation. If the resolution passes, European foundations will be able to engage in transnational initiatives from country … Continue reading »

CONFERENCE ON DIPLOMACY | Think tanks and thought leaders push for smart power road map at foreign policy conference, June 25

CONFERENCE ON DIPLOMACY | Think tanks and thought leaders push for smart power road map at foreign policy conference, June 25

WASHINGTON, D.C.: How many people does it take to replace a light bulb? Probably as many people as it will take to find innovative value in smart power. That means a whole lot of them: businesses and NGOs; national security and foreign policy experts; and faith-based, academic and community leaders, all of whom will convene around … Continue reading »

FESTIVAL WATCH | Documentary theater seeks social change via international “Theater of the Voiceless”

FESTIVAL WATCH | Documentary theater seeks social change via international “Theater of the Voiceless”

To track this creative upswing, the Austrian Cultural Forum, Goethe-Institut Washington, Embassy of Switzerland and Georgetown University’s Laboratory for Global Performance and Politics have launched “Theater of the Voiceless,” an international symposium and festival on documentary theater that runs June 16 to June 19 at various venues in Washington, D.C. Continue reading »