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Pikachu Protesters, Studio Ghibli Memes and the Subversive Power of Cuteness
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Pikachu Protesters, Studio Ghibli Memes and the Subversive Power of Cuteness

In Antalya, Turkey, in the early hours of March 27, 2025, Pikachu was spotted fleeing the police, making a getaway as fast as his short yellow legs could waddle. The person dressed as the popular Pokémon character had been objecting to the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, whose political party later posted on X,...

Dice, Desire, and Destiny: Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s Carmen Takes Center Stage
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Dice, Desire, and Destiny: Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s Carmen Takes Center Stage

When Annabelle Lopez Ochoa set out to reimagine Carmen, she wasn’t looking to revive the well-worn story of a fiery seductress caught in a doomed romance. Instead, she sought to unearth something deeper—something urgent and modern. Her Carmen is not a woman ruled by passion, but by purpose. She is a force in motion, claiming...

What Ancient Animal Fables from India Teach About Political Wisdom
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What Ancient Animal Fables from India Teach About Political Wisdom

In today’s volatile world, where wars can be fought over territory, commerce can be abruptly subjected to tariffs, and friendly nations can turn hostile after a single election, political leadership is more consequential than ever. So, one must ask, what makes a leader effective, and how should we choose who should lead? Classics such as...

Carmen Takes Miami: A Duel of Opera and Ballet
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Carmen Takes Miami: A Duel of Opera and Ballet

This spring, Miami will experience a cultural confluence unlike any other: two of the city’s premier arts institutions, the Florida Grand Opera and the Miami City Ballet, will simultaneously present Carmen — Georges Bizet’s fiery opera about love, jealousy, and fate. The unexpected, yet undeniably exciting, pairing of these two productions raises intriguing questions about...

A Night of Fire, Femininity, and Freedom: Inside the VIP Carmen Experience with FGO
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A Night of Fire, Femininity, and Freedom: Inside the VIP Carmen Experience with FGO

Last Friday evening, Miami’s cultural enthusiasts gathered at Lafayette Steakhouse for a rare and intimate prelude to one of the season’s most anticipated operatic revivals—Florida Grand Opera’s (FGO) powerful new production of Carmen. Hosted in partnership with Haute Living and Mr. Hospitality, this exclusive VIP cocktail celebration offered more than just elegance—it provided a personal...

How Laure Prouvost Reimagined the Myth of Icarus in Marseille
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How Laure Prouvost Reimagined the Myth of Icarus in Marseille

In an exhibition at Mucem, the French artist immerses herself in the Mediterranean and examines the connections between humans, living beings, and objects Men in black clothing busy themselves around a purple crane preparing to hoist a metal sculpture. Rain is falling over Marseille. The ochre color of Fort Saint-Jean, constructed during the Middle Ages...