Culture
Truth-Teller for All 10 Villages
In his show “Olu Deniz” (“Dead Sea”), Deniz Göktaş skewered the audience, lampooned the state and took jabs at sacred cows of Turkish culture. Then the rising satirist was arrested.
Jerusalem’s Culture War
Israel is slowly squeezing Arab cultural life from East Jerusalem, using a series of laws banning Palestinian self-rule and raiding cultural institutions, including a historic bookstore and theater.
A New Generation Is Redefining Pakistani Cuisine in the US
As young chefs and entrepreneurs embrace their Pakistani identity openly, a small but growing Pakistani-American food scene is emerging beyond traditional immigrant enclaves, with supper clubs and cookbooks expanding its boundaries — and pushing back against decades of being flattened into “Indian” food.
Not All Pierogi Are the Same
A new generation of chefs and media personalities is reshaping Poland’s culinary landscape, with local, traditional and artisanal foods acquiring greater prestige and visibility. That exposure has also raised questions about the role of food in defining national identity — and revealed gaps between the country’s haves and have-nots.
Jeita Grotto and the Price of Heritage
When videos surfaced of a private wedding held inside Lebanon’s Jeita Grotto, the country erupted in outrage. But the story goes beyond one event: It speaks to a wider crisis in the Arab world, where heritage sites are being turned into spectacles of privilege.
The Ballad of Fadel Chaker
Once the “King of Emotion,” the Lebanese singer Fadel Chaker’s career was derailed by his association with a radical cleric and alleged involvement in violent clashes. Yet despite his arrest this weekend, he’s topping charts again and is defended by legions of fans.
Coffins, Champagne and Status in Lagos Nightclubs
Nigeria’s nightclubs have turned into theaters of wealth, with coffin parades, sparklers and hype men’s chants. But away from the champagne shows, raves are bringing back the old spirit of nightlife.