e-culture: La Frontera Vieja, Journalist Beena Sarwar, More Events
August 5, 2004


IN THIS ISSUE

- La Frontera Vieja
- Journalist Beena Sarwar
- More Upcoming Events
- The Edinburgh Festivals
- Pinoy Rock Review
- At The Aurora



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La Frontera Vieja

Michelle Ong has provided us with a variety of new articles related to Spanish history in Texas. The articles, combined with Cabeza de Vaca's book on line and reading assignments we feature in the Virtual Classroom, will provide a great resource for teachers as the school year begins. As the section grows, new materials will explore the influence of Spain from Florida to California.

Spanish Exploration in Texas
http://www.houstonculture.org/spanish/exploration.html

Spanish Missions in Texas
http://www.houstonculture.org/spanish/missions.html

Life in a Spanish Mission
http://www.houstonculture.org/spanish/missionlife.html

Mexican Independence
http://www.houstonculture.org/spanish/colonial.html

Anglo-American Immigration in Texas
http://www.houstonculture.org/spanish/anglo.html

Texas Independence Movements
http://www.houstonculture.org/spanish/texind.html


Cabeza de Vaca's Relación and other valuable resources are found in our La Frontera Vieja section:
http://www.houstonculture.org/spanish

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Journalist Beena Sarwar

Pakistani Journalist, Filmmaker and Peace Activist Beena Sarwar
Showing Documentary Shorts and Speaking on Dissenting Voices In Pakistan
A Cultural Narrative Art Series Event Presented by People for Progressive Radio and Voices Breaking Boundaries

Beena Sarwar, a journalist, filmmaker and peace-activist, based in Karachi Pakistan works on special reports for Geo Television news, Pakistan's first 24-hour news channel (launched August 2002). Her news features for Geo include Women in Prison, Hudood Ordinance, and two films on forced marriage (2003-04). Her documentaries include Chomsky in Pakistan (VPRO, Netherlands, December 2001), Naheed's Story (2001) and Ihina (2004). She has addressed and participated in various conferences and workshops focusing on issues of gender, media, and peace -- including as a keynote speaker at the North American Conference on Peace and Human Rights in Pakistan and India in Montreal (September 1999), and the Gender, Culture and Human Rights seminar, Copenhagen (March 1998), and an opening panelist for Women's Role in Building Peace between India and Pakistan (McGill University, Montreal, 2004). She is a Board Member of South Asia Foundation started by UNESCO, Council member for the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, and an active member of the Pakistan-India Forum for Peace and Democracy. Beena has a bachelor's degree from Brown University, (Providence, USA) and a Masters in documentary filmmaking from Goldsmith College, University of London (London, UK). Presently, she is working on a book that focuses on the history of dissent in Pakistan.

Thursday, August 5, 2004, 8:00pm
The Artery, 5401 Jackson Street
Houston, Texas
http://www.arteryhouston.org
http://www.voicesbreakingboundaries.org
Call 713.524-7821 for more information.

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More Upcoming Events

Speaker Julie Enzser

Julie Enzser, Executive Director of Nuclear Policy Research Institute in Washington, D.C., will speak on U.S. nuclear policy and the prospect of a new and wider arms race. The event is one of a series focusing attention on the need to restart grassroots action for nuclear disarmament.

Thursday, August 5, 7:30pm
Houston Peace & Justice Center (HPJC) meeting space in Ecclesia
2115 Taft Street
Contact Herb Rothschild, 713-861-2494

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Hiroshima Day

To mark the anniversary of Hiroshima, The Decade of Nonviolence-Houston will hold a commemoration featuring a display of peace crane folding, plus statements by representatives from Interfaith Ministries of Houston, the Diocese of Galveston-Houston, and the Japanese-American community.

Friday, August 6, Noon to 1:00pm
Front steps of Houston City Hall
909 Bagby
Contact Herb Rothschild, 713-861-2494

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The Political Evolution in Korea
Suchan Chae, Member of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea
Presented by Asia Society of Texas

"South Korean voters swept a broom through their national assembly in elections held on April 15. The clean-out was a remarkable show of democratic renewal: When the new 299-seat assembly sits for the first time, there will be 187 new legislators. Voters have turned out a political old guard, widely viewed as self-serving and elitist, and replaced it with a post-Korean War generation of politicians that vows a significant departure from the politics of its elders" - Far Easter Economic Review

Professor Suchan Chae is one of the new legislators but probably the only one elected while residing in Houston! While an economics professor at Rice University, Chae was elected to the KOREAN NATIONAL ASSEMBLY in the April 15 election. He ran as a candidate of Our Open Party ("Uri" Party). The number of votes he received in the district was the greatest in the nation in the April 15 election. Suchan Chae is a former fighter for democracy against military dictatorship. His activities started rather early: as a high school senior, he was expelled from school for staging a demonstration against President Park Chung Hee. During the Asian economic Crisis (1998-1999), he advised Korean top policy makers including President Kim Dae Jung. He is also a Board Member of the Asia Society of Texas.

Tuesday, August 9th, 7:30am
Breakfast Meeting, Four Seasons Hotel, Fairmont Room

The charge is $15 for Asia Society, the Consular Corps and collaborating organization members; $20 for nonmembers; Through the generous educational support of ConocoPhillips and ExxonMobil this program is free for students and teachers with valid identification. Cancellations must be received by August 5th. Send the form below with payment to: Asia Society - 4605 Post Oak Place, Ste. 205, Houston, TX 77027. Telephone 713.439.0051; Fax 713.439.1107; Email: txcenter@asiasoc.org
http://www.asiasociety.org/tx

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The Soul of the Caribbean

Much like the Caribbean sea itself, the work of Cuban-American fiction writer Beatriz Rivera shimmers with a provocative spirit distinguished by a wealth of influences and inspirations. Join Rivera as she reads from her latest novel, Playing with Light. Booklist praised Playing with Light, saying, "at first a straightforward story of Cuban-American women, it quickly becomes a fanciful blurring of life, art, and time."

Following the reading, Houston-based Venezuelan musical group Zaranda transports the audience to the Caribbean and beyond with a fusion of traditional and popular Latin American music in a wide range of styles, rhythms, and variations.

Thursday, August 12, 2004, 6:00pm
Brown Auditorium Theater
Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
The Caroline Wiess Law Building
http://www.mfah.org

Learn more about the author:
http://www.artepublicopress.com

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lakbay ng pagkaalam ("journey of consciousness")

Where is the only place in the Greater Houston area can you check out some independent Filipino films, hear some international multi-lingual poetry and hear some world beat bands in the month of August? HELIOS, thatıs where, 411 Westheimer at Taft. On Friday August 13, Helios will be hosting lakbay ng pagkaalam (lock-bye nung pawg-kah-ah-lumm) or "journey of consciousness" - a multimedia presentation exploring the Filipino cultural identity in the context of a global community of cultures, featuring short films and documentaries by Howie Severino, Rommel Eclarinal, Aimee Suzara, Oliver Eclarinal and Patrick Epino; poetry by Pola Anne Anicete, Jerome Vielman, Julio Marquina and Carlos Marquina; and the bands Atash from Austin, Kasama and kayumanggi Pinoy rock band.

Friday August 13, 2004, 8:00pm
Helios
411 Westheimer
Houston, Texas
http://www.heliosrising.org

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Travel Talk: A Travelers' Forum

The cultural exchange and educational value of travel will be explored during a lively informal program on Saturday, August 14 at the Montrose Branch of the Houston Public Library, 4100 Montrose Blvd at Colquitt. The event will survey many diverse cultural aspects of travel in Mexico, the Southwestern United States, as well as New York City, Washington DC, and the Southeastern states. The presentation will involve audience members in a productive workshop-oriented discussion. Presentations will feature the Colorado Plateau, Chiricahua Mountains, El Camino Real in New Mexico, the Texas Hill Country and more. The event is free and will offer a great opportunity to exchange travel ideas and advice, consider important issues throughout the region, and plan your own trips or get involved with ours. "Travel Talk" is a workshop for anyone who enjoys travel.

Saturday, August 14, 2004, 4:00pm
Eleanor K. Freed Montrose Branch of the Houston Public Library
4100 Montrose Blvd
Houston, Texas
Call 713- 521-3686, or email info@houstonculture.org for more information.


Thanks to Koy Severino for contributing to the events calendar.

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The Edinburgh Festivals
By Monika Hallqvist

Edinburgh, Scotland is one of the most beautiful and vibrant cities in Europe and the world. It is famous for its eating places and it supports a lively arts scene throughout the year. It is also famous for the festivals held during the months of July, August and September. Two of the largest festivals are the Edinburgh International Festival and the Fringe Festival. Both of them are over 50 years old and have earned great international reputations. The first one is considered the official festival which showcases the very best of opera, theater, music and dance; the second one is considered the unofficial festival geared more to open-access for all performers.

The Edinburgh International Festival was founded on 1947 with the principle of reuniting Europe after the wars. Although the festival only occupies three weeks of the year the scale and variety has still no rival anywhere in the world.

If you have the opportunity to visit Edinburgh during the month of August do not miss the Military Tattoo which is perhaps the most enduring international image of Edinburgh in celebration. The Scottish bagpipes prevail, but you will be delighted by many other forms of artistic expression from around the world.

The Jazz, Film and Book Festivals are also held during the summer and are part of this great cultural celebration in Edinburgh.

To learn more about the Edinburgh festivals please visit:
http://www.edinburghfestivals.com


Learn more on the World Music Show on KTRU:
http://www.houstonculture.org/world

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Pinoy Rock Review
By Kokoy Severino

July 17, 2004 - In front of a near-capacity crowd of Filipinos, who drove in from distant corners of the fourth largest metropolis in the US to the southwestern Houston suburb of Stafford, Mike Hanopol delivered a searing set, demonstrating to those of the second-generation Fil-Ams present who had never heard of him (until the week of) not only why he is one of the fathers of Pinoy rock, but why he has had immeasurable influence on countless Pinoy musicians, and why he should be hailed as one of the world's premiere rock guitarists.

Backed by a trio of local players that included expatriated former Manila session-drummer Bobby Gonzales, Mike took us on a ride down the streets of Pinoy rock history, streets he once ruled as he worked to define the genre in the 1970s with Joey Pepe Smith and Wally Gonzalez in the Juan de la Cruz Band. Blasting through a progressive rock symphony, meandering into a rock and roll blues ditty, and crunching out a heavy metal anthem, and then back around over and over, occasionally offering bits of advice like a good father should, Mike pounded out tapestries of rare rock guitar virtuosity that is indeed endangered in the 21st century. Listen and you could hear likenesses to Hendrix, Page, Townsend, Lifeson, Satriani and most definitely Santana. But Mike's originality and creativity is unmatched, even in the company of his legendary contemporaries.

With classic songs that my generation grew up listening to such as the definitive "Laki sa Layaw, Jeproks," the contemplative "Balong Malalim" and of course "Himig Natin," the song that spearheaded the Pinoy rock revolution, Mike Hanopol has already carved his name into the annals of Philippine pop art history, and is a cultural icon Filipinos must treasure. If Mike Hanopol were an Englishman, he would be knighted. In our case, he should be a Datu.

Next, it was Hotdog's turn to take the community on a trip back to Manila in the 1970s. With an ensemble of musicians from Los Angeles, composer-arranger-songwriter Rene Garcia and vocalist Karen Timbol presented a set of Hotdog's classic Tagalog pop hits peppered with American top-40 danceable cover tunes from the era. The result was a scene that could have been taken from a Makati discotheque-a raucous crowd dancing in the aisles to a hot band that transitions from "Ikaw ang Miss Universe ng Buhay Ko" to Deep Purple's "Smoke on the Water" as easily as a jeepney-ride to Cubao. Undoubtedly, Hotdog's set inspired not just many a flashback among those who were in Manila during the Pinoy pop renaissance of the 70's which they lead, but kindled desires of one day returning home to a nation and a culture that awaits to embrace them again.

Mike Hanopol and Hotdog are on their own respective tours - Mike Hanopol on to Aruba, and Hotdog to Canada. We thank and praise the Powers that Be for allowing their paths to converge in Houston, bringing their gift of music, history and memories.


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At The Aurora

Monday, August 9, 9pm
UNPRECEDENTED: The 2000 Presidential Election
Directed by Richard Ray Perez and Joan Sekler
Aurora at Dean's Credit Clothing [http://www.deanscreditclothing.com]
316 Main (downtown)
Part of the city-wide The Voting Machine [http://www.votingmachine.org] series

Unprecedented is the must-see story about the battle for the Presidency in Florida. Focusing on events leading up to Election Day 2000 and the attempt to count legally cast votes in the days that followed, Unprecedented examines the striking pattern of system irregularities, injustices and voter purges.


Mondays, August 16, 23, & 30, 9pm
Aurora at Dean's Credit Clothing [http://www.deanscreditclothing.com]
316 Main (downtown)
UNCOVERED: The Whole Truth about the Iraq War
Directed by Robert Greenwald
Part of the city-wide The Voting Machine [http://www.votingmachine.org] series

This controversial film takes you behind the walls of the US government, as CIA, Pentagon and Foreign Service experts speak out about the purported reasons for the war in Iraq. Among those interviewed are former Ambassador Joe Wilson, weapons inspectors Scott Ritter and David Albright, anti-terrorism expert Rand Beers, former CIA analyst Ray McGovern, former CIA operative Robert Baer and Washington editor of The Nation, David Corn.


Saturday, August 7, 8pm & Sunday, August 8, 3pm
BURNING MAN: BEYOND BLACK ROCK
Gone Off Deep Productions
Director Damon Brown in attendance!
Co-sponsored by Art Car Museum [http://www.artcarmuseum.com]
At Aurora Picture Show

Each summer, Black Rock becomes one of the largest cities in Nevada, with a population of over 30,000 and an infrastructure that provides everything from emergency services and electricity, to daily newspapers and radio broadcasts. For seven days and nights, Burning Man stands as a community free of commerce, bound by a social contract of tolerance and cooperation, and dedicated to the transforming power of art and self expression.

Director Damon Brown goes behind the scene, exploring the philosophy that fuels Burning Man, the tireless efforts that drive it, and the transcendent experience that makes it a worldwide cultural force.

Damon Brown most recently served as Director of Multimedia for Substance TV. His feature subjects included poet Robert Creeley, musical group The Polyphonic Spree, the Cinematexas short film festival, author Tim Sanders, photographer Tom Ruddock, and author Daniel Quinn. He also co-directed several current event features ranging from the reactions to the terrorist attacks on NYC to the WEF protests.


Saturday, August 21, 8pm (Program 1)
Sunday, August 22, 3pm (Program 2)
ANN ARBOR FILM FESTIVAL ANNUAL TOUR [http://www.aafilmfest.org/tour.htm]
At Aurora Picture Show

Ann Arbor Film Festival is the oldest independent and experimental film festival in North America. The 42nd Tour presents 22 award winning and highlight titles selected by Festival Director Chrisstina Hamilton. Works by Rick Raxlen, Cheryl Park, Lori Hiris, Tony Gault, Jenny Bisch, Doug Vitarelli, Robert Todd, Bill Brown, Sergio Batiz, Bob Makara, Micaela O'Herlihy, Jeanne Liotta, Dominic Angerame, Tim Szetela, Alfonso Alvarez, Naoko Sasaki, Denise Kaufmann, Trevor Fife, Diane Cheklich, Anna Abrahams, Kerry A. Laitala, and Joel Shlemowitz.


BEST OF AURORA PICTURE SHOW, VOL. 2 COMES 2U
Our staff is gallivanting around the country. Come see Lola and Andrea in the following cities:
AUGUST 14: Mini Cine [http://www.swampland.org], Shreveport, LA
AUGUST 28: Echo Park Film Center [http://www.echoparkfilmcenter.org], Los Angeles, CA
This program is sponsored by a grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts.

Admission to screenings $5 (an entertainment value)

Aurora Picture Show
800 Aurora Street
Houston, Texas 77009
713-868-2101



Thank you for supporting diverse activities in Houston.

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M  a  r  k @houstonculture.org


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http://www.houstonculture.org/report

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