Culture / Television
Monocolumn
Friday 24 May
All in a lather
Soap operas – or 'telenovelas' – are enormously popular in Brazil, to the point that they have an effect on tourism, fashion and the president's speaking engagements.Brazilians love a good soap opera. No surprise there but it’s interesting to analyse the business of telenovelas in Brazil. I can tell you it is certainly big business – something I noticed even more after quite a sad event…
Culture / Sport
Monocolumn
Thursday 16 May
Hit for six
The Indian Premier League has ignited the enthusiasm of locals – and provides further proof of the complicated yet integral part that cricket plays in Indian society.I was fortunate enough to travel through India recently, from Mumbai up to the city of Jodhpur in Rajasthan. Throughout my trip I found it impossible to escape a sense of vastness, of a populous and diverse nation at a…
Culture / Film
Monocolumn
Wednesday 15 May
A bright past
A short film made in 1927 of London's unremarkable city streets has become an internet sensation – and all because it adds a bit of colour.The cameraman pushes through the crowd in London’s ramshackle Petticoat Lane Market. He is high up. Is he standing on the back of a cart? A car? As he pushes forward, the men – and they nearly are all men – turn and look…
Culture / Urbanism
Monocolumn
Friday 10 May
All mixed up
While the comforts of home are reassuring, the wealth of different cultures in Hong Kong is something expats should celebrate.For many people, the simple question of “where are you from?” rarely leads to a straightforward answer. In my case, I often start by saying London, as that’s where I grew up but I haven’t lived there in years.