What Makes a City (Culturally) Global?

                                                                 

  Recently, I had the occasion to read about the topic of global cities. However, the characteristics used to define such cities are numerous and complex. Generally speaking, most definitions revolve around global economy, international financial services and stock exchange, global media broadcasters,  public services and infrastructure. 

     

   But what about the cultural point of view? What makes a city culturally global, and what gives it a cosmopolitan, multicultural atmosphere? Some cities have been culturally global for decades, some others are just emerging as such, whereas others are completely closed to any kind of globalization and multiculturalism. According to the Touristmaker website (www.touristmaker.com), the top 10 multicultural cities of the world are:

1. New York

2. London

3. Toronto

4. Sydney

5. San Francisco

6. Los Angeles

7. Miami

8. Amsterdam

9. Paris

10. Dubai

   

   Speaking from personal experience whilst visiting some of these cities, and also from my own fulfilled and unfulfilled expectations whilst travelling in general, there are several factors defining the global culture in a city:

- the presence of a high number of foreign residents, of various nationalities and social statuses;

- an infrastructure and public services that are internationally-friendly, making it easy for a foreigner to find his/her way around the city and have access especially to medical and legal services;

- well-defined immigration policies and legislation;

- if the national language of the specific country is not of international circulation, the general ability of the native population to speak English would be ideal (I was pleasantly surprised in Amsterdam, where even the bus driver was fluent in English).

- internationally-recognized universities, and a high number of  foreign students and courses taught (at least) in English;

- the presence of a high number of international cultural institutions;

- availability of a wide range of products originating from other countries (brands, cuisine, fashion, etc.)

- friendly and helpful attitude of the native population towards the foreigners;

-ability and willingness to host international cultural manifestations;

- if you want a proper taste of that country's traditional culture, that particular city may not be the place that reflects it, because there is a bit of the entire world in it.

 I would say these are the most important needs that a city should fulfill in order to be considered global, or multicultural. Is your city fulfilling these criteria, or at least evolving in this direction? Do you think this global approach would be detrimental to the local or national culture?

100 Years since the Birth of Louis de Funes

 Today's coffee break is dedicated to a comedy genius, one of the most famous names in French cinema, and one of my favourite comedians: Louis de Funes. That is because today we celebrate 100 years since the birth of the great actor. 

We all know him (and for those who don't, I highly recommend his movies), for his on-screen personality which translates into most of his movies. Whether we're talking about the series "Le Gendarme" and "Fantomas", or singular comedies such as "L'aile ou la cuisse" ("The Wing or the Thigh"), "Le Grand Restaurant", or the movie adaptation of Moliere's play "L'Avare", Louis de Funes's characters are impulsive, agitated, argumentative, cheeky, intrusive, sometimes downright nasty, but always uncontestably funny. Plus, we should not forget the wide variety of facial expression and gestures which characterize the comedian. And some more particularities about Louis de Funes include the fact that he had Spanish descendency, that he had become a Knight in France's Legion d'Honeur  and he had a variety of rose named after him. And one thing is certain: more than 30 years after his passing, generations of cinephiles around the world are still being entertained by his comedy antics.  

Reality Shows: the Most Useless Type of TV Programme?

  Today I saw a funny picture saying: "A book commits suicide every time you watch a reality show". And it lit up a light bulb in my head (figuratively speaking, of course). Since the beginning of the 21st century, people in various countries have been complaining more and more about the intellectual regression of the population, and especially the younger generations. We cannot place the blame on just one factor, but I believe that the effects of the media on the people definitely play a big part. 

  Personally - and forgive me if you're a fan - I think that reality shows are useless. Of all types of TV programmes, they bring nothing that is enriching intellectually or spiritually. And if you want to have a laugh, even the cheesiest of comedies is a better solution, as even Ace Ventura has a bigger IQ than some of the participants in those shows. More often than not, reality shows provide us with a cocktail of random people, who may not have better things to do, forced to stay together in a house, or on an island, or to compete against each other in order to become  the best bride / groom / daughter-in-law / chef / whatever, and to win a big money prize. We basically have to watch their (generally contradictory) personalities interact, creating an "entertaining" show, often reaching the verge of scandalous and vulgar. Of course, all these shows are arranged and directed in order to create a certain atmosphere. I am proud to say that Big Brother was axed in Romania on the show's second edition, back in 2004, because of obscene behaviour displayed on air, but that didn't stop our television producers to come up with other stuff. And there we go again. The bigger the scandal, or the bigger the frequency of insults, the bigger the audience. 

   But is it worth it, really? What for? At maximum, I would only save talent shows, as they are mainly about music and dancing, and it is always worth discovering new talents, or even enjoying the show as variety. Although, in some situations, that type of talent scouting is not always fruitful, but I digress and we'll talk about it in another post. But generally speaking... I hardly see any benefits. Sometimes they are not even funny. I once tried to watch something, but after a couple of minutes I got a headache from the excessive shouting of the participants. 

     Don't get me wrong: people need and deserve to be entertained and laugh. But there are many other and more clever ways. What about a real comedy show? Or a funny movie or TV series? At least we see professional actors, witty scripts, and a certain sense of measure. So, I dare to say that not only a book commits suicide when we watch that sort of stuff, but also a movie or a good-quality TV programme does the same, to which we add the (spiritual) suicide of all the people working behind them, and who want and know how to make good-quality television. Let's choose carefully what we watch! 

The Romanian Traveller: the Black Sea and the Romanian Seaside

 

  It's summer and many of us might have already started the holidays. For some of us, summer without the seaside does not make sense, some of us come from countries that do not have a sea coast, whilst some of us do, but the waters are cold and the beaches are far from ideal for sunbathing. For all these categories of travellers, I will share something about my own country, because, after all, there is more to Romania than just Bucharest and the region of Transylvania, although these parts of the country are still top destinations in their own right. 
   

   As you all might know, Romania opens on the Black Sea, and no - the Black Sea is NOT a closed sea or a very large lake! First, let me give you some factual info. The Black Sea is bordered by 6 countries: Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Russia, Georgia and Turkey. In the North-East, it is connected to the sea of Azov through the Strait of Kerc, and in the South it flows into the Sea of Marmara through the Strait of Bosphorus, which, at its turn, flows into the Aegean Sea through the Strait of Dardanele. 
     

   The Romanian seaside may not be as popular as the ones from the Mediterranean countries, and it only has about 250 kilometers worth of coast, but it definitely has its own charm.  I went there almost every year of my life, and seaside holidays are a big part of the Romanian culture. People of all ages and statuses have been following the same tradition for generations, and I don't think that will ever change. Mamaia is by far our most popular and most trendy resort, followed by Vama Veche- the choice of the wild and free, Neptun, Olimp, Jupiter, Costinesti, and several others. 
    

    So, this is a general insight on what you can get....

• crowded beaches and vibrant nightlife - from restaurants and clubs in Mamaia to camp fires on the beach in Vama Veche.
• traditional Romanian food, from fancy or rustic restaurants to the kiosks selling crepes, pastries and corn on the cob. 
• a fair note of Turkish cultural influences, which are very present in the historical region of Dobrogea, which the Black Sea coast is part of.
• Water parks and water sports, for the most active of us.
• convenient and good-quality shopping, especially clothes, beach accessories, toys and souvenirs.
• the budget for accommodation may vary, and there are enough options to fit all budgets. However, if a hotel is your cup of tea, I would advise you to for a 3 star hotel - a good balance between quality and price.  

 Have I convinced you?  Then, all you have to do is book... and prepare your suitcase!

The American Dream: Myth or Reality?

                                               

  As I'm writing this piece, the radio is actually playing... what else if not Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the USA", so the perfect soundtrack is in place! :) Historically speaking, on the 4th of July in 1776, the United States of America were formed, declaring their independence from the British Empire. 

    Let's fast-forward from the times of George Washington to the present day. Apart from being a huge economic, political and military power, the USA are definitely a controversial country, from many points of view, and I often get the impression that people either love them or hate them. 

   But what about the cultural point of view? Being a relatively new country compared to the ancient civilizations of Europe or Asia, I would describe American culture as the culture of glamour and modernity, and of popular culture more than anything else. 

   I have never been to the States... or at least not yet. However, all my friends, family members and aquaintances who have been there only had good things to say. And still, compared to many other countries, the huge quanitity of popular culture that they exported and that we all consumed gave us a pretty detailed insight of American society. The USA gave us the Hollywood movies and their stars, from the classics of the 40s' and 50s' to today's blockbusters packed with visual effects. The USA gave us music legends such as Michael Jackson and Madonna, and the rock-chick inside me would also add the likes of Bon Jovi, Aerosmith and Guns'N Roses to the playlist. Last but not least, the USA gave us the TV series we grew up with on a daily basis. In the early 1990s' in Romania, everyone in the family, from children to grandparents were watching "Dallas" together. And later, we saw the arrival of teenagers' favourites "Beverly Hills 90210" and "Baywatch". 

     Putting all these things together, an image of an entire society could be created. In a way, I believe that was actually the American Dream: a world where everything sweeps you off your feet, a world of the highly successful, of wealthy businessmen working for big corporations, of beautiful and glamorous people with perfect lives, a youth where love and fun were on the top spot, and the famous houses with swimming pool. :)

     Many of us grew up loving the American society, and looking at it as a lifestyle role model. Are all these things real, or just a projected image? Is the so-called American Dream just a dream sold to foreigners?  Or being the best of the best is actually their way of life, and their major purpose? I think I will find out only when I get there, and I promise someday I will. In the meantime, let's wish our American friends a happy 4th of July! 

The Value of Folklore and Its Legacy

 

  

  National folklore is rarely part of our everyday lives, especially if we're talking about younger generations and city life, and as far as I noticed, some countries give it more importance than others. Romania, for example, tends to be one of these countries, although perhaps not many people are in touch with this part of our national culture. These days Bucharest is hosting an International Folklore Festival in Park Cismigiu, in the city center. The highest amount of participation, however, came still from Romania, featuring Turkish and Hungarian national minorities, plus foreign participation from Bulgaria, Serbia and Latvia. In spite of bad weather, I decided to take a look around and see what is going on. And that gave me some food for thought.

       

     What can we describe as folklore? Traditional music, dances, poems and legends sometimes belonging to anonymous authors, handmade objects and artefacts which are products of long and minutious work, and homemade food. They are not landmarks of modernity, but of ancient tradition, passed on from generation to generation. And the fact that during the event people still took an active interest in it, both Romanians and foreign tourists, made me believe that people do not lose touch with the past, no matter how modern their lives actually are. 

       

      And also, the part related to song and dance gave me a pleasant surprise. Numerous artistic assemblies of children and adults from all parts of the country have performed in front of the audience, and their performances were great - joy, simplicity, and a love for folklore. Now, I must admit I generally don't listen to folkloric music, and my knowledge of traditional Romanian dances is pretty basic. I've been a city girl all my life, and not even my grandparents were based in the country-side. However, leaving my own knowledge and abilities aside, I still appreciate folklore not as a consumer, although I love to buy traditional artefacts, all full of colour and different between themselves, according to the region they come from.  But my appreciation is especially for what folklore represents for people: a tradition which is still alive, even for the youngest generations, and which still keeps us in touch with our ancient culture.

    I believe folklore is something we should at least be aware of, no matter where we're from, and also if we don't perform it or consume it often. It does shape a country's national identity, and it will always be a part of who we are as a nation.

     

Synchronized Cultural Events: a Big Challenge to Promote Your Country's Culture

  

One of the latest trends in the social and cultural life of big cities is the organization of what I call synchronized events, such as the Night of the Museums, the Night of Cultural Institutes and so forth. Basically, several cultural institutions organize simultaneous events for an entire day or night. Personally, I am a big fan of such manifestations, because not only does it keep you rapidly up to date with what happens in your city's cultural life, but it also offers a wide range of shows, workshops, exhibitions, and so much more, to choose from, so that in theory it would be impossible not to find something that you like. 

     

   This evening I attended the Night of Cultural Institutes, which took place in Bucharest. And, as much as I was eager to attend this event, there was definitely some room for improvement. Nevertheless, I realized what a big challenge it is to organize an attractive cultural event, in a situation where fragmentation is a big problem. Tonight, the Cultural Institutes of Great Britain, Czech Republic, Austria, Turkey, Hungary, Spain, Romania, Greece, France, Belgium, Italy, Poland and Germany took part, to a bigger or smaller extent, in the event. Yes, all these Institutes exist in Bucharest, which is a landmark of a multicultural environment. Therefore, so many venues in just one night makes fragmentation unavoidable. Everyone wants to go to each place, and to spend a short amount of time everywhere. This means that it is crucial for each Institute to organize an interesting and lively event, which is able to grab the attention and involvement of the audience in a short amount of time. Nobody can afford to alternate lively sections with "chilling" ones, and this is what, in my opinion, was the big mistake of various institutions. Such events should be permanently upbeat, not just in certain moments. Of course, as a spectator, you will choose some events or sections of events instead of others, and you won't be able to attend everything. But at least you would be sure that no matter where you go and when, you would never be bored. And that would be the ideal Cultural Institute "crawl"! ;)

    So, what does it take? I would say that it is essential to take out the major weapons of your national culture, the most original traditions, lively traditional music and dance, interactive workshops of languages or arts and crafts, theatre and improvisation, and also traditional food and drinks. Whatever is alternative, not typical of your country, or too long to be followed actively should be avoided. In these situations, we look for something that resembles a proper celebration, is interactive, is colourful, and, most of all, gives a proper insight on the cultural identity of your country. Some Institutes succeeded, some others did not - or at least in parts. But let's hope that the following years would take this interesting typology of event to its maximum potential.