This Is Worldtown

AIDS 2010 :: The Shuga Effect

Sana — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 22:10:55 +0000

Behavioural change through media and social networks, it’s the buzz phrase of NGO’s and larger organizations alike. Commercial outlets have caught in the last few years, capitalizing through a social marketing framework - playing on ...

Live from AIDS 2010 :: All About The Now

thisisworldtown — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 15:22:04 +0000

I’m in Vienna at the International AIDS Conference, an event with 20 000 delegates in attendance from over 185 countries. With pushing boundaries the mantra, sexualized messages intermix with inter-faith celebrations and ...

Retrospective: ‘Streets’ Change Shape

thisisworldtown — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 18:08:19 +0000

The Chicago-based Inner-City Muslim Action Network (IMAN)’s urban festival of music, faith and social justice took place on June 19th to an audience as diverse as the cultures represented onstage at Marquette Park. The festival, ...

Worldtown Via Londtown :: The Siege of Beirut and the Ethics of Representation

Sana — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 17:37:12 +0000

There’s an interesting new project based out of the University of Kent who’s methods seem really cool, even if the ultimate ends seem questionably ambiguous. Through four new projects, the research programme Radical Distrust hopes ...

Worldtown Hearsay :: Searching for the ‘Real’ South Africa

Sana — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 15:56:15 +0000

And just like that, one month later, the magic is over. If you're like us - the withdrawal has hit you hard and all your freetime is now spent Googling the names of those previously unknown players for some Wikipedia insight into their lives, replaying videos of the greatest - and ugliest - moments and checking the stats on how likely Ghana is to take the next one home (we all need a feel good story, don't we?). Through the lens of an all-encompassing, universal and non-elitist game of football, South Africa's had a new platform on which it can be showcased. And with football as the focal point, what exactly did journalists, commentators and spectators expect from an "authentically" African World Cup? (Surely, it wasn't Shakira's Waka Waka as the break-out hit of 2010).

Worldtown Hearsay :: And the World Watches Africa

thisisworldtown — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 23:40:08 +0000

It’s here and the excitement can’t be contained. In case you’ve been buried somewhere… or live in North America, the World Cup is in full swing in South Africa. The first few days may have had ...

Post Your Maps :: Yusuf Sayman

thisisworldtown — Fri, 28 May 2010 10:30:29 +0000

We will regularly be presenting a featured artist, writer or performer who is exploring questions of identity and personal narrative through their medium of expression. The map is your representation. No rigid lines, no defined routes. You direct it on your own account.

Who Speaks for Arizona?

Sana — Thu, 27 May 2010 23:13:45 +0000

It’s been nearly one month since Arizona passed law SB1720 into procession, effectively aiding the discrimination of all migrants in the state. The law may purport to stem the flow of “illegal” immigrants across ...

Post Your Maps :: SoundRight

thisisworldtown — Sun, 16 May 2010 11:49:54 +0000

Worldtown Hearsay :: Arabs are funny too

thisisworldtown — Wed, 12 May 2010 00:13:49 +0000

Bombs, turbans and chanting “In the Name of God” - these are the limited satirical portraits distributed of Arabs when it comes to comedy. Fortunately, there’s a growing positive association with Arabic comedic timing as ...