Romanian Folk Art: the Value of Ancient Tradition in a Modern World (Part 1)

       

    Today and in the next couple of days I will teach you some secrets about a side of Romania which exist far away in time and space, but during the past few years people have started bringing it back into modernity. After we, as a nation, had enough of modernity and the western world, we started looking towards the past, towards folklore - national costumes and all sorts traditional artefacts with national motives. 

     

     Every year, on the 24th of June, we celebrate the Sanziene, who in Romanian folklore are known to be good fairies, dancing and floating in the air, and blessing the inhabitants of the Earth. Of course, in this part of the year there is an abundancy of folklore events, such as festivals and fairs. And today I attended one of these fairs.

      

    For the last couple of years, this day has also been decided as the International Day of the Ie, which is the blouse of the Romanian popular costume, available both for men and women, and each model varying among the country's region - on a white fabric, different patterns and colours of embroidery. Therefore, this newly found tradition says that all proud Romanians, ladies and gentlemen, living in Romania or abroad, should wear it. And today, in our hectic and modern Bucharest, many people did. And it looked pretty. It looked like "something else" - a nice Ie in combination with a business-like pencil skirt and high-heels is not something you get to see every day. ;) The models and patterns are numerous - as you can see in the pictures. Besides, they are also used on other garnments, such as belts, skirts or trousers. 

          

        Apart from costumes, creativity is at home in Romania. Be it costumes, coloured wool carpets, painting on wood, ceramic art (which will all have special sections in the future), and handmade toys are being rediscovered these days, in their simple beauty, from a world that many young people may not even have met in first person. They are not cheap to buy - but, thinking about all the manoeuver that goes into making them, rightfully so. On the other hand, they give a pleasant feeling: a feeling of belonging. And it is great! :)

       

            

Traditional Culture vs. Modern Culture: Which One Do You Mostly Identify with?

        

      

        I love the fact that my city is having an increasing openness to other cultures, and especially now, as summer has arrived, a broad range of events from various countries are available to the wide public. Every year I attend the Night of the Cultural Institutes, when several European countries put their cultural heritage and their creativity into play, by organizing representative cultural events throughout the entire evening. 

           

      Last year we spoke about the challenges of making such an event attractive, and this year there was something else which caught my attention. Each of these institutes is doing their best in order to offer variety. However, for each segment of the public, some of these diverse events will be undoubtedly more interesting than others. Something that I notice is the fact that in many cases traditional culture (handmade artefacts, flokloric music and dance performances, traditional cuisine) is presented alternatively with modern culture (graphic design, animation, alternative music, modern cinema). The former represent a very "colourful" part of a nation's culture, the point of curiosity for most foreigners, but may not be seen as representative of everyday life, just like people don't normally dress in traditional costumes. On the other hand, the latter would only be addressed to a niche audience, and perhaps not everyone would enjoy it. 

           

         Tradition represents the basic part of any culture, and if we're interested in learning about other countries, that is where we should start from. Besides, that could even be combined with something useful in everyday life, such as trying some beginner language workshops, or learning to cook some national dishes. And afterwards, one could move to bigger "missions", traditional or modern, depending on personal taste and interests. Last night, my attention was mainly caught by Turkish and Hungarian art, Austrian and British sweets, but also contemporary theatre performances at the French and Hungarian institutes. Other than that, there have been many more manifestations to choose from.

         

        The final point is that all cultures offer a mix of old and new, and most surely everyone would find something interesting for themselves. But none of these parts should be neglected. If you were to organize such an event dedicated to the culture of your own country, region, or city, what would you do? Which part of your culture do you feel is most representative, and worth identifying with?

Italians Do It Better. Or Should We Say... MAKE It Better!

   

  
     On the occasion on the National Day of Italy, I will share with you something very unique about this country's culture, and which has also been considered branded identity accross time. The generic brand "Made in Italy" refers to products that are entirely designed and produced in Italy, using Italian materials or ingredients. It is used in domains such as fashion, design, jewelry and luxury goods, artwork, automotive industry, cuisine, and so much more. 
   When my family (with my extremely-little self included), first moved to Italy, in the first part of the 1980s, they were a little under shock. Coming from what used to be communist Romania, where merchandise such as clothes, cars and furniture came in a few standard types and creativity and originality were not exactly a priority, we realized that there is something special about all that was "Made in Italy".  I grew up listening to my parents praising Italian brands and products as being refined, original in style, long-lasting, made of good-quality fabrics, and so forth. "Real wool", "real leather", "real goose feather" - things that in Romania were rare at that time. Years later, and as I had the chance to see and test with my adult perception, I still agree. Whatever that is "Made in Italy" has a special personality. 
   But what do people who study or work in fields such as fashion, design or luxury goods have to tell us? I asked two very good friends of mine to share their opinion. What makes "Made in Italy" special, and why should we choose it (especially if we go to Italy)? And here is what they said...
 ... "Think about how many people in the world are able to build a gondola and make it float elegantly, while guiding millions of couples accross the canals of Venice. How many people can turn a vibrant piece of wood into a violin, which afterwards will perform in the world's most elegant concert halls? How many grandmothers can cook exquisite dishes like no one else, using special and rare ingredients? Heritage: all this is the result of centuries of artwork. 'Made in Italy' means artwork, taste, art, naturally born gestures that we, Italians, reproduce on a daily basis without even realizing. 'Made in Italy does not mean fashion: fashion passes, knowledge remains. 'Made in Italy' means luxury, not because prices are inaccessible, but exclusively because savvy, simple and careful hands give live to unique and un-repeatable. Luxury is kept in the hands of our people: Greek, Arabic, Christian, German, Austrian, French, Spanish... Italy is the heritage of all those civilizations who conquered, enriched and robbed it, and which throughout the centuries have given it splendour." (Carmela - Fashion and Luxury Marketing Specialist)
... " 'Made in Italy' has surely been a synonym of high quality for a long time, its fame has remained almost unaltered throughout the years, and it is an established reality in the whole world. There is a very precise motivation behind all this, and it can be found both in the humanistic cultural heritage of the Italian nation, and in the social and economic structure of small businesses and artisans in 'the Boot'. We must keep in mind that on one hand we find the inclination towards beauty, proven by numerous examples in painting, art and architecture. On the other hand, there is a 'know-how' culture, transmitted from generation to generation, mixed with the attention to detail. Today, even though the quantity of manufacturers and artisans of the Italian economic landscape is slowly diminishing, making room for more advanced and Hi-Tech production techniques, the creative capacity and the technical skill remain unaffected, making the Italian product something of exceptional quality." (Salvatore - Industrial Designer)
          Now, something that has been going on during the past years, and which, quite frankly, breaks my heart, is seeing Italian-made products being "defeated" in the competition on the market by international store chains and Chinese shops. Which is a pity! You may not be able to afford clothes from Armani or Valentino, or to drive a Ferrari, but there are so many more options: Italian shop chains and family-owned shops. Even street markets can offer the quality we are looking for. And the quality is visible, in the design and choice of materials. It may not cost 3, 5 or even 10 euro (although sometimes they even do), but the quality is worth even a medium to medium-high price. Look for the "Made in Italy" label, and you will know that you're buying something of very high quality. If you live in Italy or traveling there, absolutely keep that in mind. It is about the country's economy and the work of its craftsmen, but, more than that, it is about preserving a tradition which is about quality and originality. Italians MAKE it better! ;)

World Day for Cultural Diversity: what Does It Mean for Us?

       

   Today we celebrate the World Day for Cultural Diversity. "Cultural diversity" is a term which has become a part of our daily lives only during the past decade or two, although some countries started facing it a longer time ago. Although it is celebrated one day a year, I cannot help but wonder: isn't this social phenomenon actually becoming the norm, rather than a peculiarity?

        Having lived in and visited various European countries, I dare say that "monocultural" societies have disappeared almost completely. If in the past the most common aspect of cultural diversity countries had to show for was the existence of ethnic minorities and regional differences, now everything is increasing with every single year. There are countries with a longer tradition, such as the United Kingdom, where cultural diversity has started to become an issue since the first part of the 20th century, thanks to the populations of the former colonies, such as India, Hong Kong, or the Carribbean, who have emigrated to the UK, gradually creating what is now known as one of the most multicultural societies in Europe, and where each of these cultures have made room for their own identities and traditions, mixing with the local ones into a colourful mosaic. 

          On the other hand, there are countries like Romania, or the other former communist countries, which have started to experience cultural diversity on their own territory only in the recent years. Until recently, Romania was a rather monocultural country, with the exceptions of ethnic minorities in various regions of the country: Hungarian, German, Serbian, Turkish, and others. Lately, though, our country has started to stir the interest of foreigners from several parts of the world - merchants, investors, cultural operators, high-skilled workers. Furthermore, I noticed an increasing curiosity of the Romanian population towards "otherness" and the cultural practices of different countries. Several countries have their own cultural institutes organizing events and language courses, the center of Bucharest is full of restaurants and bars with international specific, there is a Chinese community with their own shopping center in a populated area of the city, Indian and South-American artefacts shops, and so much more. Not to mention the cities which took part in European programmes meant to promote cultural diversity, such as Sibiu (European Capital of Culture 2007) and Cluj-Napoca (European Youth Capital 2015). We may not be a very culturally-diverse society, compared to other countries, but we are definitely on the right track. 

      What should cultural diversity mean to each one of us? Acceptance, tollerance, curiosity, knowledge, exchange. No nation will live its future in a crystal ball, and cultural interaction will become more and more evident in the future, either because we get to travel more often than in the past, either because this cultural diversity will start happening around us, maybe even in our own neighbourhoods. The key to making it an enjoyable experience is to be open to learn about the other, but also to share about ourselves. Let's embrace cultural diversity - today and every day! 

             

Creative Europe: the Financing Programme for Culture and Media Projects (Part 1)

     

  

   Tomorrow is Europe Day, and I have already celebrated it today. I am sure that those of you who are working in the culture or media fields, or even those who are simply following everything that happens in these domains, are perfectly aware of all the possible transnational activities that could be carried out on the European level. But what about financing? Is there a European grant that applies to us?

      Today I attended a seminar about the Creative Europe grants, and we will talk about it for the following weeks. Let's start with some general information, for those of you who are not familiar with the programme. 

    First of all, we must know that this programme is being implemented between 2014-2020, and is replacing the past programmes of the EACEA (Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency), Culture 2007 and Media 2007. The only difference is that Creative Europe is a broader programme, encompassing the two subprogrammes, Culture and Media. Through this programme and across the years, the European Union is investing 1,46 billion euro into innovative cultural and audiovisual projects from all EU member states and not only. 

       For this introductory part, we will take a quick look at the types of financed activities for each of the two subprogrammes from the Creative Europe umbrella.

        

The Culture subprogramme is about...

• transnational cooperation programmes between a minimum of three countries;
• literary translations;
• European networks dedicated to the mobility and promotion of artists and creative professionals;
• platforms for launching and promoting European artists at the start of their career, as well as their cross-border mobility.

The Media subprogramme is about... 

• formation for media professionals;
• financing for the development of audiovisual programmes;
• financing for European television programmes;
• new market penetration and promotion for European audiovisual projects;
• financing for European film festivals;
• European film distribution;
• financing international cinema co-productions.

    In the upcoming posts, we will talk about each one of these subprogrammes and financing lines, general eligibility conditions, examples of initiatives that have been financed through the Creative Europe programme, as well as the competitions your projects can enter. Stay tuned! 

     

   

  

            

Charlie Hebdo vs. the Kenya Massacre: why Solidarity Should Be Equal for All

      As we know, the world is becoming an increasingly stressful place - near and far, on a bigger and smaller scale. Lately watching the news is proving itself harmful on our general state of mind. However, there are some facts and their consequences, which I cannot help but notice. 

        If you remember, shortly after the Charlie Hebdo murders, a massacre with hundreds of victims took place in Nigeria, and two days ago another atrocity of proportions occurred at a Kenyan university. What is being rightfully contested by many people is the way the Charlie Hebdo murders, involving 12 victims, got a far bigger amount of media coverage and support from political leaders than the massacres in the two African countries. "Why is nobody sharing the slogan 'I am Nigerian' or 'I am a Kenyan student'?, "Why is nobody marching for all these innocent victims in Africa?" etc.

         Journalistically speaking, and digging up the memories of my university courses, there are many characteristics of an event that make it more or less newsworthy. These characteristics include geographical proximity and elite nations. It is not fair, but it is the way the media reason. And this is the only thing that explains the difference between the levels of coverage and attention given. 

      However, as I said before, and as I am going to emphasize again, it is not fair. In front of God, or the Universe, or whoever we believe in, we are all equal. There is not one life more valuable than another, no matter which country we come from. So, what should be done? I would say that we should, first of all, not over-analyze the level of media coverage. No matter what, we are keeping ourselves informed, remaining aware and unbiased. We "are" not any of those victims, fortunately, just some people who can at least keep solidarity and a wish for peace in their hearts, without forgetting that maybe we are luckier than we realize, simply for being alive and for being safe. Let's enjoy these things while they last!

Not so Lost in Translation

    

  During the past two weeks, I have been experiencing the role of translator and interpreter more often than before. I am not a languages graduate - I am a native Romanian speaker, with almost mother-tongue level in Italian and English. At least, these are the two languages I am mostly confident in. And I must admit I enjoy learning languages. My latest adventure was Russian, but it is still at basic level. The next one... I am contemplating German or Japanese. :) 

     Therefore, I have often been asked by friends and relatives to help with translations: legal documents, professional texts, web content and even literature. And even yesterday, I had to act as an interpreter in a professional meeting of a friend of mine. 

       What did I enjoy and what did I find challenging? 

      Translation requires creative thinking and attention to detail. We have to be careful with the nuances of a particular word, so that it refelcts exactly the same thing from one language to another. Plus, we have to make sure that the words flow naturally and not sound artificial, especially if we are translating literature, or even articles - as if they had been originally written in the language we are translating into. We have to know slang and colloquial expressions, as many of them may not make any sense to someone who doesn't know the language well. Last but not least, we have to beware the so called "false friends" - those words that sound (almost) the same in two different languages, but mean something completely different. And I have seen so many people making the latter mistake! Even an authorised translator!

        As an interpreter, an extra challenge is that you have to be mentally focused on the conversation all the time, without leaving one single detail slip away. Plus, you must be familiar beforehand with the topic of the meeting, so that you have the chance to catch up with any possible gaps in specific terminology. I must admit that it is particularly funny to be an interpreter between Romanian and Italian - very often, the participants in the discussion discover that they actually understand each other. But again, there are also many false friends lurking around! :)

           Do I think it is difficult? No. Moreover, it puts your mind to work, and if you are actually translating a more consistent text, it is even a pretty relaxing process. I am actually exploring this option as an extra activity, as it will always be needed.