Diversity Rainbow!
We love and embrace racial and cultural diversity! We believe that the world is a better place because of it. As a result of this belief, we reject all forms of racism. We detest all ideas associated with white supremacy or the supremacy of any other race. We believe that nudity amongst all races should be encouraged. We would love to see much more racial diversity in the nudist and naturist...
- created by TonyKhiladi
Expanding our cultural horizons - recommendations wanted!
Return to DiscussionsTo me, the fight against racism is not simply that you don't discriminate against someone based on their skin color, etc, but that you actively take an interest in other cultures, especially cultures that don't speak English. In other words, if you live in a majority "white," English-speaking culture, you should try to break out and see the world from new perspectives by learning about what's going on in other cultures. So, in an effort to do that, I invite members of TN to share some recent pop cultural knowledge that a good, well-rounded citizen of Earth should know about. For example, what's the most iconic Bollywood movie of the last five years that is a must-see? What about the best recent Bollywood soundtrack? What about best or most iconic K-pop song? Or J-pop song? What about iconic movies or songs from Latin America or Africa or the Arab-speaking world? Anyway, you get my idea. Let's share our recommendations and become more rounded world citizens!
Wolfsteve's link is worth taking a look at. I realized watching it how I miss a lot of wisdom as an American because I disregard things where I need to struggle with an accent or miss a smooth and pointed delivery like our media trains us. This student is not a professional speaker and English is not his native tongue, but his message of accepting the Other as our teachers is one we can all take to heart.
As far as international pop, I can't say I'm up on our own American popular culture to start with.
I wouldn't say I'm a J-pop fan per se, but there are a couple of Japanese artists I love. Actually, Ayumi Hamasaki is probably my favorite musical artist ever. Discovered her in high school. Her latest stuff is pretty crap, TBH, but at her artistic peak (1999~2005), she was turning out one masterpiece after another. Great lyrics, great melodies, great videos. Probably my favorite song of all time is the first one she composed herself, M. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03y-KyezDS4 Can't believe that song is going to be 20 years old this year.
My favorite composer is probably Yuki Kajiura. Did the soundtrack for my favorite television show of all time, Madoka Magica. Definitely worth a watch--only 12 episodes, so it's very binge-able.
Taiwanese pop has some great stuff too. Jolin Tsai, S.H.E., A-Mei. I'd say Jolin really only hit her stride after 2012, but the stuff she's released since then is phenomenal, and her videos keep getting better and better.
Not a fan of current K-pop, but I do love me some Wonder Girls and BoA (although it's mostly BoA's Japanese stuff I listen to.) I guess I've gotten to that point in life where all the popular stuff sounds the same lol. The dance routines are killer, though.
My favorite K-pop earworm from six years ago: "A" by Got7
https://youtu.be/eISomx-VMow
And my favorite Mexican pop song of the last decade: "Morir Tres Veces" by Moenia (from 2012)
https://youtu.be/j_V1Fg23Ylk