Latest in Culture Highlight
Latest in Culture
When Charlie Chaplin imitated Adolf Hitler
Premiering 75 years ago, it was the first major Hollywood production that took a clear stance against the Nazis. Parody and satire: Charlie Chaplin’s “The Great Dictator” was a stroke of genius. World War II raged in Europe when “The Great Dictator” premiered in London on December 16, 1940, just two months after the film …
German Word of the Year 2015 is ‘Flüchtlinge’ – refugees
The Society for the German Language has revealed the word encompassing this year’s politics the best: Without a doubt, the dominant issue in Germany was refugees. Discover the Words of the Year of the last seven years. The Wiesbaden-based Society for the German Language (GfdS) has chosen the most important word of the year since …
Born 100 years ago: Frank Sinatra’s ups and downs
The world celebrates Frank Sinatra on December 12. DW asked biographer Johannes Kunz how rock’n’roll, his mafia and presidential ties and the amazing women he seduced affected his career. Deutsche Welle: Mr. Kunz, some Sinatra fans claim that his collaboration with Nelson Riddle was the climax of his career. Do you agree? Johannes Kunz: That’s …
Amsterdam unveils tips for wobbly tourists on their bikes
Navigating the busy, narrow streets of Amsterdam can be risky at times due to an unexpected hazard: tourists wobbling around on bikes carelessly breaking the rules of the road. A humorous video tells them how to survive. Visitors wanting to enjoy the Dutch experience, but unused to two wheels or how to manage the clogged …
Is there another woman behind Mona Lisa?
For over five centuries, art lovers have been wondering what’s hiding behind Mona Lisa’s enigmatic smile. A French scientist believes she’s actually covering a whole other portrait. French scientist Pascal Cotte claims to have reconstructed a portrait which was previously made on the same canvas using a special technology “projecting a series of intense lights” …
Piano Festival of the Ruhr (pt. 1 of 2)
Alexander Scriabin died a century ago but still seems very much a part of our time. This hour is dedicated to the visionary Russian pianist and composer. Scriabin is fascinating in his musical inventiveness – and in his later works, his bent towards mysticism and interest in multimedia. The composer’s only piano concerto dates from …
Why Hajo Jahn struggled for 25 years to create a center for persecuted artists
Journalist Hajo Hahn has spent a third of his life fighting to make his dream come true. His Center for Persecuted Arts documents and commemorates artists who have suffered discrimination. It is unique in Europe. There’s an imposing Art Nouveau building where city elders in the town of Solingen used to meet. But now, the …
Classic toys in children’s rooms throughout the world
With Christmas just around the corner, children and parents all have one thing on their mind: toys. After reading the kids’ letters, Santa might have to make a pit stop in Germany to fulfill some of their wishes. Germany is well known for its state-of-the-art engineering, top manufacturing and high quality products, particularly in industries …
Cairo airport gets its own antiquities museum
Objects from all eras give transit passengers a taste of Egypt’s history
Painting for self-expression and communication
“I feel like I connect better with myself through art, I never feel as focused and on point as I am when I am painting,” says Ashraf
Hanukkah, Christmas and Ramadan, celebrated together
For 22 years, and against all odds, one cultural center in Israel has organized a festival celebrating three holidays of three religions all together. “It gives hope to see that people can coexist,” one participant says. This week Jews all over the world celebrate the holiday of Hanukkah, marking the success of the Maccabean revolt, …
Coldplay releases a happy seventh – and perhaps last – album
Coldplay is back. After the previous album filled with sad and lovesick songs, “A Head Full of Dreams” returns to a happier mood. Apparently, Chris Martin finds it has something in common with Harry Potter. “A Head Full of Dreams” is a final departure from the Brit-Pop und indie style that once clearly influenced the …
Born 125 years ago: Celebrating the films of Fritz Lang
“Metropolis” was his most famous work. One of the most influential filmmakers in the history of cinema, Fritz Lang was born 125 years ago on December 5 – an opportunity to rediscover his masterpieces. His famous silent films have been shown in countless retrospectives in Germany, especially after their careful restoration. Few other films have …
Democracy for sale: German Bundestag offers souvenirs
From souvenirs such as shirts and hats to writing utensils and quizzes, the new Bundestag store sells a wide variety of products branded with the German parliament’s insignias. Sipping coffee from a mug with a Bundestag eagle on it? Staying dry under an umbrella resembling the Reichstag’s dome? All of this is possible now that …
Rise-Up Summit: First platform to connect stakeholders at entrepreneurs’ market
Youth of today stopped waiting for of good job opportunities and started creating their own jobs, says founder
French prime minister urges tourists to ‘come spend money in Paris’
France’s premier Maniel Valls sent a call to tourists to come to Paris, spend money and enjoy the capital’s cultural attractions to help boost the city in the wake of deadly jihadist attacks. “Come to Paris, security conditions are assured,” Prime Minister Manuel Valls said on French radio, in what he described as a “message …
German-Afghan photographer reveals feminine side of Kabul
German-Afghan photographer Lela Ahmadzai tells DW how she stays safe while working in Afghanistan and how she’s molding a new image of the country. Her works are now on show in Berlin. DW: Pictures from Afghanistan in the German media mainly show war and violence. What image do you want to convey with your work? …
Word of the Week: Dominosteine
Eat one, eat them all! This is a German Christmas word you won’t be able to resist. Dominosteine, which literally means domino stones, are layered pralines primarily sold during Christmas time. Of course they’re much easier to eat than actual stones, but beware they can easily have a domino effect – once you eat one, …
The art of French resistance
On murals and makeshift memorials, the French are responding to November’s deadly attacks in the French capital with graffiti, music and poetry – art that is helping a nation to heal. Elizabeth Bryant reports from Paris. Hours after the terrorist attacks, Patrick Jardry headed out with flowers and a few choice phrases from what he …
Opinion: No miracles, just signs as Pope Francis ends Africa visit
In Kenya, Uganda and the Central African Republic, everyday life resumes as Pope Francis returns to the Vatican. Nothing has changed, yet the visit by the pontiff was timely and significant, writes DW’s Daniel Pelz. He did everything right. He lashed out the political elite for creating social and economic disparities, brought to the world’s …
Is Nefertiti hiding in the Valley of Kings’ secret chambers?
Hidden chambers adjoining King Tut’s mausoleum promise exciting archaeological finds. What they conceal remains a mystery. Nicholas Reeves believes it’s the mysterious queen Nefertiti – and others don’t. In a paper British Egyptologist Nicholas Reeves published last August, he claimed that Nefertiti’s tomb may be hidden in rooms adjoining King Tut’s burial chamber. Now Egyptian …
Handmade aluminium cookware: Unprotected job to uphold heritage
Almost every item people use in their daily lives, from the moment they wake up until they fall asleep, is usually produced electronically as technology has become an essential part of manufacturing. But aluminium cooking pots have remained as a large part of heritage that is not electronically manufactured. In small factories, workers stand …
In Video: Cairo’s famous cartoon artists speak at DNE
Experts confident secret chamber in King Tut’s tomb belongs to Nefertiti
Experts say they’re ’90 percent’ sure they’ve uncovered a chamber in King Tut’s tomb containing the final resting place of Nefertiti. If true, archeologists say it would be one of the biggest discoveries of the century. Egypt’s antiquities minister said on Saturday experts were ’90 percent’ sure they had uncovered a hidden chamber in Tutankhamun’s …
Selfies forbidden: Replace your smartphone with a pencil and a sketchbook
The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam now encourages visitors to draw their works of art – instead of just taking a picture. Other museums all over the world have selfie sticks on their blacklist. Everybody likes to remember their favorite moments – and many do so with photos. Especially when on vacation, people take pictures of touristic …
Rome banishes centurions, rickshaws over tourist scams
Fake gladiators with plastic helmets, swords and shields – long a tacky feature of the tourist experience in Rome – are now banned in the city, part of a public decorum drive by the local city officials. After two millennia, the last Centurions have finally been banished from Rome. As of Thursday (27.11.2015), men who …
Where can one travel in times of terror?
Should worried travelers stay at home? DW spoke about these challenges with Sandra Carvão, chief of the Communications and Publications at the UN’s World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)
Is tourism in crisis?
The terrorist attacks in Paris and the Sinai airplane crash affect everyone – tourism as well. Do vacationers feel insecure? Here’s an appraisal.Terror attacks in Paris, Brussels on the highest level of security alert: the tourist industry is feeling the effects. Terrorists have struck in popular tourist destinations this year.
On the brink of nuclear war in 1983: TV series ‘Deutschland 83’
The first German-language series to air on a US network, “Deutschland 83” concerns Cold War tensions as seen through the life of a young spy. Director Edward Berger tells DW what he found inspiring about thát year. Deutsche Welle: Mr. Berger, how was your series “Deutschland 83” received in the US? Edward Berger: The series …
Remote Saint Helena evolves into tourist destination
Located half way between Africa and Latin America, Saint Helena used to be a very remote place. Now an airport has placed what was once Napoleon’s place of exile on the tourist map