Culture
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From Sofia, with love
Bulgarian songstress Lili Ivanova became her country’s biggest star under the communists. Today she’s just as famous and is revered as a champion of the nation.
Media face-off
On 7 June, Lebanon holds its most hotly contested general election. The fiercest fights are not on the streets but in the media, as factions battle it out on the airwaves.
Oceania
Samoa mounts operation healthcare and the truth about those fit Aussies - they are actually too busy on twitter to play sport.
Sounds Like Teen Spirit
Sounds Like Teen Spirit, Jamie Jay Johnson's warm and witty documentary following four contestants in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest, is a sure contender as one of the strongest factual films of 2009. Monocle's…
Q&A: Alain de Botton
From the art of travel to the architecture of happiness, author Alain de Botton's writings filter everyday life through a philosophical lens. Monocle Editor-in-Chief Tyler Brûlé met with Alain de Botton at his London…
Pleasures and Sorrows of Work
In The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work, Alain de Botton reveals why we need an art that can proclaim the intelligence, peculiarity, beauty and horror of the workplace and, not least, its extraordinary claim…
Hit factory
Despite years of turbulence between Taiwan and China, this island’s pop culture leaves the mainland standing. From idols to protest singers via television talent shows, Taipei pop is the country’s new heavy industry.
Culture
Culture editor Robert Bound asks if the arts can console us in a time of crisis. Plus, reviews of the latest in film, books, art, and music from around the world.
Culture
This month's culture roundup features real-life football yarns, a fictional White House exposé and an ode to the migrating swallow. Plus, films from Armando Iannucci and new art shows in Tokyo and Paris.
Observation
How can a nation get its voice heard on the world stage? If you lack resources and numbers, perhaps it’s time to wield some ‘soft power’ to encourage trade and tourism. By Tyler Brûlé.
