Hip-hop has always been recognized as the most politicized genre of music. Compared to pop, rock and other genres, hip-hop has been franker and more ruthless. However, no one could have predicted that hip-hop, which was supposed to be another form of entertainment, would overturn the modern way of understanding the function of art in…
Category: General
22nd Udine Far East Film Festival: Ashfall Review
Recently, filmmakers have been attracted to making disaster films more than ever. Whether they show that we would be swallowed by a tsunami, a whirlwind or fires, blown away by a comet, burnt by an erupting volcano or perished by inhaling poisonous gases, the productions have become bold, filled with endless CGI, harrowing action, but…
In Conversation with Valerie Ebuwa
Over the last month we have all been invited to reflect upon the injustices of history. Encouraging a different perspective on the human narrative and highlighting the need for further representation of minority groups within our cultures, institutions, policies and businesses. The education and dismantling of oppressive structures, we could argue, has only just begun…
D-2: The Pursuit of Perfection (Album Review)
Min Yoon-gi’s alternative rap persona Agust D (as separate from Suga) dropped his second mixtape, appropriately titled D-2, on 22nd May 2020. Earlier the same week, Big Hit started a mysterious countdown showing a barely distinguishable shadowy figure against a black background with the timer at the centre, starting from D-7. On D-2, the mixtape…
A Syrian Woman: Human Stories from Jordan Review
When Syria plunged into a civil war in 2011, no one could have predicted that the conflict between its own people would turn into a multi-sided battle, in which mostly civilians had suffered. Brutal slaughter, acts of terror, political and social consequences of military operations led to an unprecedented humanitarian crisis: almost half a million…
Time to Hunt Review
South Korean cinema is well-known for its perturbing thrillers such as Oldboy, Lady Vengeance, I Saw the Devil, Memories of Murder as well as the latest hit, Parasite. Although those films broke into the mainstream film market, South Korean productions are still not ‘in fashion’ like French, Scandinavian or American cinema. However, with the new…
“I Draw Inspiration from My Own Experiences and from the Intimate Stories of the Women I Give a Voice To.” – In Conversation with Clemence Vazard
What is your first memory of harassment? This is the simple, yet difficult question that interdisciplinary artist Clemence Vazard first began asking women in 2016. Although realising the importance of her work through the documentation of their stories, Vazard was unaware of what huge significance this would have. Then in 2017, the world began to…
“We Will Work Harder Every Day until Our Sincerity Can Reach the UK Audience.” – In Conversation with UNVS, a South Korean Idol Group
The trend, where K-pop was mostly built of incredible dance performances and not so much of strong vocals – let’s put aside experienced groups such as SHINee, EXO, Brown Eyed Girls, Super Junior, Girl’s Day or BTS as those guys can deliver striking shows – has recently changed its course. While dance performances are still…
Hanxiong Bo’s Drifting Review
Since the late ‘70s, China has implemented a strict policy enforcing that each family is only allowed to have one child in order to control China’s growing population. Although this policy was reformed in 2016, the controversial ‘one-child’ policy has had devastating and traumatic effects on families for generations. Growing up during the height of…
Gets Good Light Review
Coming out of the growing ‘Abolish ICE’ movement – Gets Good Light is a compassionate and powerful protest against the growing powers of the Immigrant and Customs Enforcement Agency in the United States. Since the start of Trump’s administration, the number of individuals apprehended by ICE has only grown – approximately 4,143 undocumented immigrants without…
“With Our New Album, We Wanted Listeners to Get a Complete Picture of Who We, BURSTERS, Are.” – In Conversation with BURSTERS
With BURSTERS’ 2nd album, Once and for All, being released in March of this year, the Korean hard rockers have recently focused on producing something different. While keeping their heavy sound, the band embraced different genres as well, making their new album explosive and musically ambitious. Once and for All, fully written in English, showed…
“I’m Still Running Towards My Dreams” – In Conversation with Model Kwon Tae-eun
For the past few years, South Korea has been introducing the Western world not only to new styles every season, but also to the hottest fashion talents in the industry with Park Soo-joo and Choi Sora paving the way. Towering at 186 cm tall, the 20-year-old Kwon Tae-eun can effortlessly pull off any style. His quirky…
70th Berlin International Film Festival: Semina Il Vento Review
Nica (Yile Yara Vianello), a 21-year-old student, returns to Apulia to her parents’ home after being gone for three years. There, she finds that her father (Espedito Chionna) struggles with debts, the local workers are about to be laid off and her grandmother’s land and its olive trees are dying of an insect infestation. Deeply…
1917 Review
With no time to waste, 1917 dives headfirst into its protagonists’ terrifying venture into the heartland of German-occupied France. Somewhere along the north-eastern French trench lines in the midst of WWI, Lance Corporal Blake (Dean-Charles Chapman) and Lance Corporal Schofield (George MacKay) are given orders to cross the frontlines through into German territory to find…
