History & Culture

Loy Krathong festival in Thailand

In Thailand, today - 17th November 2013 - is the day of the Loy Krathong festival. This is the time of the year when lighting krathongs and lanterns overwhelm the waters and the sky in order to let one’s anger and bane float and fly away.  The released pain gives space for loftier and refreshed emotions and brings good luck for people.

Thailand is not only a popular travel destination for tourists longing for white beaches, blueish -greenish sea and the closeness of nature or the never ending full moon parties, but is also a place for spirituality and inner magic. For example, Koh Samui has long been favoured by Buddhist monks as a sanctuary for spiritual retreat. The island, they say, has a special energy that enriches and enlightens their spiritual path and helps them connect more profoundly with the universal energies. 

Thai people every year organise their Loy Krathong festival from the middle of the eleventh to the middle of the twelfth lunar month, which is also the great flood season. The origins of Loy Kratong is believed to be started in Sukhothai (north of Bangkok) one of the most powerful cities in Asia 800 years ago.  Supposedly, the tradition has been started by Nang Nophamas or Tao Sri Chulalak, the Brahman consort of the King.  She was the first person who introduced Krathongcherm, the banana leaf krathong in the form of lotus blossom on the festival night.

As believed, there are multiple roots of the festival. One of them is to ask for apology from the water goddess for having used and sometimes made rivers and canals dirty.  Second, it is to offer flowers, candles and joss sticks as a tribute to the footprint of Lord Buddha on the sandy beach of the Nammatha River in India.  Third, it is to show gratitude to the Phra Mae Kong Ka or Mother of Water.  Fourth, it is to wash away the previous year’s misfortunes.

In the hours preceding sunset, you may notice many makeshift stalls selling krathongs along the streets. As the sun dips below the horizon and the full moon begins to hover in the night sky, everyone takes their krathong to the nearest beach, lake or similar watery area and release it with the outgoing tide or current.Loy actually means to float, and krathong is the leaf cup or bowl. It is also believed the boat will carry your bad luck into the distance, and enable a better start to the following year. The ornaments are made from loaves of bread or the bark of banana trees and are decorated with banana leaves and flowers.  People sometime cut their fingernails or hair and placed the clippings on the krathong as a symbol of letting go of negative thoughts.

For young couples and lovers, Loy Krathong is the time to make a wish for happiness together and success in love. It is believed that couples who make a wish together on this day will enjoy long-lasting love, especially if their krathongs remain together on the water. Nevertheless, beauty contest are also regular feature and fireworks have become common in recent years.

If you are in Thailand around this time of the year do not miss this magical event.  The lighting lanterns flying high on the sky and the remote floating krathongs give the impression of a mysterical fairytale that brings warm feelings and inner peace to the ones participating in it.

Helmut Newton in Budapest

A German-Australian photographer, famous from his provocative and erotic photos of women that became mainstay of fashion magazines and other publications. He bought his first camera when he was 12 years old.

 Newton's works appeared in magazines including, most significantly, French Vogue and Harper's Bazaar. He established a particular style marked by erotic, stylized scenes, often with sado-masochistic and fetishistic subtexts.

His images were calculated to shock, often featuring tall, blond, sometimes naked women in heels, perhaps illuminated by headlights or trapped in a dark alley. His work was closely associated with designers like Yves Saint Laurent, whose penchant for tight, wide-shouldered suits and long-legged models suited him.

Newton moved fashion photography from a staid reflection of today's styles to a more artful presentation of mood and story.

More than 250 photos of Newton are being displayed currently at the Budapest Museum of Fine Arts. Don't miss if you are a fan of him.

 The museum of Fine Arts of Budapest is located at the Heroes' square (above) at the end of the famous shopping boulevard, Andrássy street.

Discrimi-Nation, an animated documentary movie that needs your help to make it happen!

Discrimi‑Nation is a documentary film series based on the trials of socially discriminated groups around the world. The first part explores the struggle and rise of Christianity in Bali.
The first episode of Discrimi-Nation went through a year of on-the-ground research in Bali. Peter Batory, a graphic designer, and Kata Molnar, research leader, both traveled the island and developed the idea of documenting social discrimination while researching century old tensions between traditional Balinese Hindus and the upstart Christian Church.
With the research finished, Peter and Kata have put together an international team to make the first episode of their vision a reality.

The island of Bali is a land of many faces. Beyond the natural paradise, the local people have an amazingly complex connection between life and religion. Hinduism is an intrinsic part of Balinese culture and every aspect of daily and spiritual life.

But what happens when a low caste Hindu boy takes another road, going against the many generations of his Balinese Hindu relatives, and becomes a Christian?

This untold story of social discrimination in the 1950's follows one man's journey carving a different path in unknown territory. The choices of Bishop I. Wayan Mastra not only altered the destiny of his family but also influenced history. His controversial ideas brought elements of Balinese Hinduism into the Christian Church, and changed the theological landscape in Bali forever.

Our group have already collected the materials for the first episode, and now we need to finance the post-production. Future episodes will travel the world and explore different aspects of discrimination, like political, gender, race, etc. Your donation will make this project happen.

While the research and filming has concluded, there are many things needed to finish the production of Discrimi-Nation's first episode:

• Character design
• Storyboarding
• Animatic (moving storyboards)
• Animation: boning, moving, background, models and compositing
• Sound design: music licences, remixing, mastering and atmosphere
• Editing
• Office rental and facilities

All of us from the Discrimi-Nation project wish to thank you for all your help in making our dream of building this documentary into a reality! Please know that your contributions are important to finishing our film. Without your help, it would not be possible. Thank you!

You can donate our campaign here:  http://www.indiegogo.com/discrimi-nation

Check out our trailer on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZfTwqRKsXk



Donate and share our campaign on Facebook, Twitter and other social networking platforms, help us make it happen!









The Chinese Rock Generation


Rock and roll originated in America, developed in the 1950s and lived its golden age in the 1960s, while rapidly spread throughout US and UK. The rhythm has developed and was heavily influenced by Rhythm and Blues and Country music.

Rock and Roll wasn’t just a style of music, it served as an instrument for social and cultural movements. It was a tool for public diplomacy when the West and the East was separated from each other. It played an important role in political changes in the 1950s and 1960s. Taking an example, in 1958 NATO published a report speculating on the intentional use of rock music for subversive purposes.

Rock music from the very beginning has been linked with political activism, with changes in social attitudes to race, sex, and drug use, and was often seen as an expression of youth revolt against conservatism, consumerism and conformity. In its lyrics dealt with a much broader range of topics than its predecessors; such as sex, social concerns, and the rebellion against the Establishment. Rock and roll is rebellious, its the existence of free spirit breaking out from long-term restrictions and lashing, and breaking down the rules and obligations of society, thus can be  a product and symbol of a changing society.

The Beatles was a powerful example of how rock music induced political change in society. In the 1960s The Beatles disseminated the love of rock and roll within the Eastern bloc. Their music was smuggled into the Soviet Union, it embodied protest against communism. The youth started to imitate their styles, lifestyles and their feeling of freedom, it changed people’s thoughts and the way of their living.  People listening to tunes about love and peace has stopped regarding the English-speakers as enemies. It was an important step towards the later implemented political transition.

 

But how about China’s rock generation?

 

Chinese rock music has emerged in the early 1980s, when economic reforms started taking their place. Chinese rock music is originating in the Northwest Wind style of music. Northwest Wind was a style of mainland China, it had strong beats, fast tempo and heavy bass lines, and  included some traditional and folk-style beats, however was different from the well-known Cantopop.

Xintianyou was one of the most well-known song of this type:

Cui Jian is believed to be the father of Chinese rock music. He grew up in a musician family, and got introduced to rock and roll by smuggled recordings from Hong Kong. At first he created his band Qi He Ban, but later decided to pursue a solo career. His first solo album called Rock ’N’ Roll on the New Long March was the first ever Chinese rock album. It included the famous song Nothing to My Name, which is known by everybody in China. In its lyrics often parodied the Communist Party, and brought something fresh in its genre, still including some folk motives. In the spring of 1989, "Nothing To My Name" became the de facto anthem of the student protestors at Tiananmen Square.”

With this song the Chinese rock generation has kick started, later some songs also included idealistic and political messeges as well. The music embodied the dissatisfaction of the Chinese youth and the growing effect of the Western-style culture.

At the same time another branch of rock music has started to emerge, initiated by Chi Zhiqiang, who was an actor, and was sentenced to prison for four years for hooliganism (non-conventional sexual life) and created music from the time he was sentenced to jail. The Prison Songs became popular in the late 1980s, they were a bit different from the Northwast Wind style in terms of lyrics, it often used vulgar language, and expressed more negativity, but still included some folk elements. 

The main hub for rock music was the capital, Beijing. In the 1980s it was still marginal, there were only live perfomances in small bars and hotels. The new style was popular mainly between university students and underground circles.

In the 1990s rock has become part of the urban youth culture, in 1990 the largest rock concert was organized in the Capital Gymnasium with the participation of Cui Jian, and other rock bands. The rock culture underwent a change, in type there was a shift from the original Northwest Wind style into western-style rock. It also came along with the change of style and adapting to the new attitude. Chinese rock has separated itself from the pride of the northwest rural culture. 

In 1993, Beijing Midi School of Music, the first school was established which offered classes for jazz and rock music. It ensured a platform for young artist to develope their proficiency in rock music.

Today Rock and Roll is widely popular among Chinese young people, there are several clubs and bars organizing rock concerts weekly, and big concerts are also frequent. Underground places are also popular between the youth. There are many new bands, some of them are even touring in the United States with great success. One of the most popular rock band in China nowadays are Carsick Cars and PK14. They are also well-known in the Western media. 

Rock in China is not anymore about protesting or being rebellious, but about staying different from others, and having a unique lifestyle. 

Dorina Gyurkócza

 

Understanding China's Mid-Autumn Festival and National Holiday

I love holidays. Well, who doesn’t?

Every year, Chinese and foreigners in Shanghai would plan on where to go and spend their National holiday which usually lands on October 1^st-7^th. But in China, there seems to be an additional day of holiday as they celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival or Mooncake Festival making the vacation a day longer. Flights coming in and going out of China on these dates would be insanely expensive that most people would consider staying in town despite an amazing long week of no-work and no-school days. Anyway, there is so much to do in Shanghai that even I would consider. And for the smart ones, who booked earlier before prices hiked, let’s have a toast to that!

But what is Mid-Autumn Festival really about?

I was once iMessaging with my good old friend who is now living in Canada and was asked what was special about this holiday. I was dumbfounded. And so, it made me think about researching on a few about this longest holiday in China and write my first post in our blog.

The Mid-Autumn Festival also called Mooncake Festival or Zhongqiu Festival falls on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, usually in October. This year, the Chinese are celebrating it on the 30^th of September, a day before the National Holiday. The day is also known as the Moon Festival, as at that time of the year the moon is at its roundest. Tons of legends have been written about the famous festival like Chang E legend, but this one has specifically caught my attention.

The Mid-Autumn Festival was a commemoration of an uprising in China against the Mongol rulers of the Yuan Dynasty in the 14th century. At that time, group gatherings were banned that it was impossible to make plans for rebellion against the Mongols. Liu Bowen of Zhejiang Province, advisor to the Chinese rebel leader Zhu Yuanzhang, came up with an idea to start the rebellious movement on the day of Mid-Autumn Festival. Knowing that Mongols doesn’t eat moon cake, he asked permission to distribute thousands of moon cakes to Chinese residents in the city as a way of blessing the longevity of the Mongol emperor. But, inside each cake was a piece of paper with the message “Kill the Mongols on the 15^th day of the 8^th month”. On the night of the Festival, the rebels attacked and had overthrown the government following the establishment of the Ming Dynasty under Zhu.

But then again it is a legend, so asking a few more Chinese would have different stories. In any case, what do they do during this festival? The most significant custom is offering sacrifice to the round bright moon and eating moon cakes. There would also be a few dragon dances too.

And what is a moon cake anyway? As every festival there is in China, there is a special food for each occasion. For the Mid-Autumn Festival, it is basically the moon cake. The moon cake is a kind of cookie with various fillings with printed artistic patterns on the surface depicting the story of Chang E (a legend) flying to the moon. People treated this kind of food as one of the sacrificial offerings to the moon in the old days. Nowadays, moon cakes comes in a variety of flavors which changes according to the region but the common fillings are nuts, sugar, sesame, ham and egg yolk. As the moon cake is round in shape, it signifies the reunion of a family. In the new generation, people give moon cakes as a present to relatives and friends to wish them a long and a happy life.

What about this week-long holiday? Basically called the National Holiday everybody is looking forward to.

A few weeks or even a month before this official holiday, you would hear people asking “Any plans for the National Holiday?”. And when you live in China for quite some time, this you always look forward to. Either doing a cross-country trip or even a much better out-of-China trip, they are all worthwhile. Most people would travel to Southeast Asia since it’s the closest, cheapest trip next to China.

Getting some tan and spending time in the beach to get that island-feel away from the city life or just a few R&Rs before coming back to their usual work-social dinner-bar kind of lifestyle which is quite particular in Shanghai. Because sometimes, you just need a breather and this is the perfect time. But what is there really with the National Holiday?

October 1^st is the National Holiday for People’s Republic of China as it is the day it was founded in 1949. From 1943 to 1976, Mao was the Chairman of the Communist Party of China. During this period, Mao was called Chairman or the Great Leader Chairman Mao. The ceremony was held in Tiananmen Square in Beijing and was declared 7-days holiday for Chinese to celebrate. Since then, many government-organized festivities, fireworks and concerts are usually done during the holiday. And in Beijing, many portraits of Mao Zedong are usually publicly displayed.

Better yet, if you aren’t really a fan of such a crowd, avoid the big cities and famous tourist spots in China during these dates. You will be shocked with how much population there is in the country.

Otherwise, welcome to the crowd and enjoy the fun.

Happy Holidays!

Catherine Valencia