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Mike Booch
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The musical genre of Narcocorridos uses sousaphones and accordions to provide a pleasant polka-like backdrop for lyrics that sensationalize the exploits of Mexican drug cartels. There has been a surge of violence against young narcocorridos singers in Mexico, resulting in many deaths and injuries. There's a parallel between Narcocorridos and American Gangsta Rap, in that some say the music merely tells a story based off real life violence and crime while others say it feeds the very crime it sings about. As with all controversial music, there is an ongoing debate over whether or not the art promotes acts of... Continue reading
Posted Apr 20, 2015 at Global Media News
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Norteno Corridos is a popular genre of music in Mexico. This folk-like poetic music has a history of telling stories and ballads. As drug cartels have come to power in Mexico, an offshoot genre has been created and is known as Narcocorridos; the music still tells stories and ballads, but the music is about the cartels themselves. Narcocorridos's lyrics glorify the drug cartels and their illegal activities, which often take deadly turns. Rogelio Brambila Lizárraga, 22-year old member of a Narcocorridos group known as Los Plebes de Arranke (Above) was found dead in the driver side of a car in... Continue reading
Posted Apr 19, 2015 at Global Media News
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This past week has seen a graphic hostage situation in Istanbul. A prosecutor named Mehmet Selim Kiraz had been investigating the death of a boy who had been injured by police during a protest in 2013. When a group known as the Revolutionary People's Liberation Party-Front took Kiraz hostage, Turkey banned media coverage on the crisis. The situation ended when both the gunmen and the prosecutor were killed. Whereas the turnout was very tragic, one must think why the media coverage had been halted. The prime ministry of Turkey says that a ban can be introduced "under circumstances that national... Continue reading
Posted Apr 2, 2015 at Global Media News
Sticks and stones may break our bones, but words can never hurt us... Right? This did not seem to be the case this last week in India when a 19 year old student made a Facebook post that officers said "could incite communal tensions and spoil peace and harmony" The post was speaking out against State Minister Azam Khan, and resulted in the jailing of the student. After being held for 14 days, the student was released on bail of Rs 40,000 (Indian Rupees, over $600.00 in U.S. currency). While being held in police custody, the student said the he... Continue reading
Posted Mar 26, 2015 at Global Media News
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In 2012, a 23 year old female student in Delhi along with a male companion were victims of a vicious assault. The young woman had been brutally gang raped on a public bus for several hours before being left to fight for her life in a hospital. In the end her injuries were so bad that she died from them. Wishing to shed light on the crime, director Leslee Udwin interviewed one of the rapists in prison and made a documentary about it. The documentary titled "India's Daughter" has been banned from release in India. Every country has problems with... Continue reading
Posted Mar 20, 2015 at Global Media News
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Attention classmates! I'm collecting money for St. Baldricks, a charity dedicated to helping children with cancer. On March 14th I'll be shaving my head and beard as a show of solidarity with those battling the illness, and donating the money I collect to the cause. The following is a link you can go to and donate to the cause. It would be greatly appreciate if you could not only donate but also share this link with your family friends, anyone who would be able to help. Last time I raised over $600.00 and shaved off my iconic Afro. This year... Continue reading
Posted Mar 4, 2015 at Global Media News
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Popular all over the world, Japanese animation (Commonly known as anime) has become a multibillion Yen export. Lots of Anime series and movies are based off their illustrated counterparts, Manga (Japanese comic books). If a single story is created in manga form, chances are it can be turned into an anime series, launch action figure, video game, and apparel sales, even inspire live action films. In some cases, theme parks could even spawn from the womb of artful creation that is manga/anime. In 2009 Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso aimed to create 500,0oo new jobs, raise exports of Japanese "soft... Continue reading
Posted Mar 4, 2015 at Global Media News
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It's no secret that Japan and China have a very brutal and bloody history . China's malice towards Japan goes back ages, some of the most prominent conflicts between them being the Nanjing Massacre and the Japanese atrocities of World War II. China's hate for everything Japanese is prevalent, especially in 2012 when anti-Japanese protests resulted in the vandalizing and destruction of any Japanese stores or stores selling Japanese goods; during these acts of violence protesters were met with no resistance from Chinese law enforcement. So keeping in mind how much distaste the Communist-run country holds for Japan, it becomes... Continue reading
Posted Feb 26, 2015 at Global Media News
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Politics is often considered one of the taboo subjects one should not discuss, lest they wish to start an argument. People have particular convictions about political opinions, and will defend them to the death. So what are politicians to do when political satire comedian Al Murray made his bid for parliament? Popular for his on stage persona, "The Pub Landlord", Murray has decided to run as his character. Not many are taking his bid seriously, including UKIP (United Kingdom Independence Party) leader Nigel Farage. Farage has sarcastically said that Murray is welcome in the race, and that there will be... Continue reading
Posted Feb 18, 2015 at Global Media News
What's the name of the show that was taken off the air?
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The internet has been buzzing ever since Academy Award nominee Benedict Cumberbatch used the term "colored" to describe Black actors during an interview. Many used social media to lash out against Cumberbatch's insensitive use of the term, missing his overall message. Cumberbatch used the term whilst sharing his opinion on how Black actors are underutilized and underappreciated in British television and film; this opinion does not belong to him alone, and is shared by much of the entertainment community in the U.K. "Selma" star David Oyelowo came to Cumberbatch's aid by calling the backlash "disingenuous" and saying that the message... Continue reading
Posted Feb 10, 2015 at Global Media News
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Ever since its inception in New York, Hip Hop/Rap has become a voice for the voiceless, speaking out against social injustices. Urban youth were let down by America and created an art form with which to strike back and claim an empowerment that would help their voice span the globe. This is the case in North Africa as many rappers have emerged as a result of corrupt politics, conflict, and revolution. Though their lyrics are not in English, their message is clear: "We want change." Revolution has occurred in places like Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria and Libya, but some artists feel... Continue reading
Posted Feb 4, 2015 at Global Media News
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Jan 22, 2015