Shushan – Welcome to MSBC. I’m your today’s host Shushan and right now we’re live. Our journalists are sent to different, both democratic and non-democratic countries of the world during the start of the year to see their culture and some developments of their own. They are sent to Paris, London, New York and Tokyo, authoritarian North Korea’s capital Pyongyang.
Armen, our correspondent from Paris, the floor is yours.
Armen Malians – My mama always said, “When in Paris, visit the famous Louvre Museum.” There are plenty of good reasons to visit the Louvre! So many works of art to discover in this fabulous museum!
Following a closure due to the pandemic, the Louvre Museum has finally reopened its door to visitors since May.
You can’t go to the Louvre and not see Leonardo DaVinci’s most famous work of art, but be prepared for the crowds surrounding this mysterious masterpiece! However be aware, that you will be far from the only person wanting to get a glimpse of this famous lady.
But today is special, since a unique collection is exhibited here. The exposition consists of paintings from different collections. It is called Recreating famous artworks. Meet the curator – Lucy.
Lucy’s speech and display of artworks
Shushan – Thank you, Armen and Lucy
Now Let’s go to Milan and pass it along to Luiza.
Luiza – I am in Milan, Italy. Italy is the land of the opera, and you’ll find many opera houses in the country. “La Scala opera house is the city’s meeting place. ‘See you at La Scala,’ they say,” wrote Stendhal in 1817. Even today, La Scala continues to be a favored center for social activity and exchange, within a celebrated cultural setting. While many theaters elsewhere in Europe shut their doors, a premiere marks the opening of Milan’s cultural calendar.
Follow me. The show must go on and La Scala opera season is open despite COVID. The audience and orchestra members wear masks, while the singer performs standing at a distance.
*Saten and Karine perform La spangiola *
Shushan – Let’s see Karine’s report from USA, New York.
Karine – New York is one of the most famous cities in the world. Often referred to as the ‘Big Apple’, this vibrant city is known for its exclusive shops, flashy Broadway performances, and high-flying business tycoons, and it’s a city that has long captivated people from all over the world. Musicians and singers typically perform music for live audiences and recordings, audition for positions in bands, practice playing instruments and singing to improve their technique, rehearse to prepare for performances, find and book locations for performances or concerts.
By walking into any subway station you’re more than likely to find a subway performer. A number of performers have gone on to perform at prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. Some Guitarists practiced long and hard on the subway before making it big.
Oh, let’s see these musicians. The performers that you might see today, might be tomorrow’s greatest stars! Their story might be the fairy tale that all subway performers hope for.
How much money have you collected today?
Arax-We’re hoping enough to perform in Carnegie Hall.
Karine- Oh, great, we would like to hear your performance.
*The band performs*
Shushan – Now let’s see what our journalist in Tokyo will report. Arax?
Arax – Thank you, Shushan. Japan is the country of diversity. When we talk about a country with the modern and ancient cultures living together in a perfect harmony Japan is what comes to mind first. So without further talk, let’s get straight to the traditions of Japan, both old and modern.
1. Heavily inspired by Chinese ideology old Japanese way of thinking and value system was highly based on conservative close circle, valuing “Purity” and “tradition”.
Japanese modern ideology is more adaptive, and international.
2. Untill Heian period Japanese literature was similar to Chinese. Later on they together with changes in the alphabet started to have their own styled literaturee.
Now writers use another alphabet, the known Kanji, and they are not limited to the Buddhist themes only.
3. One of Japan’s best known cultural exports, anime is popular on a global scale. Anime refers to Japanese animation that’s either hand drawn or created digitally. Although Japanese anime accounted for 60% of the world’s animation in 2016, it’s biggest impact has been on modern Japanese culture. If you travel around the country, look out for anime statues, snacks in themed packaging, and character-based advertising.
Japanese music often shows itself in animes. Some songs that I personally enjoy listening to are The Japanese music industry is divided into different groups. Anime is one of them. Sometimes the opening songs of animes are performed by famous artists. Many anime songs actually easily blend in with regular music people listen to every day. The one I am going to perform today is from the anime “Given”. The song is called “Fuyu no hanashi”.
*Arax performs*
Shushan – Now it’s time to pass it along to our courageous journalist Mark. He is a member of Reporters without Borders. He is usually sent to hot spots for his reports and faced challenges. Today he is sent to North Korea. Let us listen to his report.
Mark – As one of the world’s most secretive and repressive societies, North Korea is an authoritarian state currently run by the supreme leader Kim-Jong Un. The government imposes harsh restrictions on freedom of information and movement by threatening the people with forced labor and public executions. UN reports document extermination, murder, enslavement, torture, imprisonment, rape, forced abortion and other sexual violence in North Korea.
Shushan – Thank you for following us throughout this journey. We are hoping you enjoyed it and learned something new.
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