Good morning,
And welcome to the Cultural Reads Newsletter with worldwide book, music, and movie recommendations.
This time with a one-day delay because I was on a fantastic holiday in Colombia with my girlfriend.
In today’s newsletter: Famous Mexicans, Arabic Rap Battles, Dark Side of Science, Pablo Escobar, Iranian Music, Dystopian Movies.
What better way to learn about a country than through its people?
That’s why I’m presenting 10 famous people in Mexico you need to know about now. They include writers, movie directors, and a world-famous indigenous healer.
Get an insight into the Arabic hip-hop scene with Rap Shar3. Young underground rappers from all over Africa show their talents on this popular YouTube channel.
One great one is this rap battle between Sudanese and Egyptian rappers. Turn on the subs to understand the lyrics!
Are you tired of reading the same things and looking for an entirely new genre?
Then you should read When We Cease to Understand the World.
After researching Nobel-prize-winning scientists of all time, Benjamin Labatut wrote this novel to highlight how life-changing discoveries have moral consequences beyond their imagining. It’s intriguing, a bit dark, but it reads surprisingly smoothly.
Pablo Escobar seems to have reached cult status. I’ve seen board games, T-shirts, mugs, and even ponchos with his face on them.
There’s been significant interest in the American and Colombian series (the latter does an excellent job of telling what happened, by the way). Still, it seems we’ve forgotten about his horrific impact on the country.
When visiting Medellin’s Memorial Park with my girlfriend’s aunt, I learned that Escobar was responsible for 46,000 victims. In addition, she showed us a stone dedicated to her sister, a judge in Medellin murdered when investigating the cartels’ money laundering.
It reminded me to be sensitive about a country’s past. When something happens far from you, there’s no emotional link. Although the Mexican cartels or Vietnam war could be a thrilling topic for you, for many locals, they’re traumatic experiences fresh in their memory.
Looking for relaxed music with one of the most beautiful voices you’ve ever heard?
Check out Iranian singer Marjan Farsad, who combines Indie-Pop with elements of Persian Folk music.
I recently enjoyed watching the latest Mad Max movie. Do you also like Dystopian Hollywood movies?
Then check out these series and films with a similar vibe.
1. Mad Max I and II
2. Dune I and II
3. Divergent I, II, and III
4. Maze Runner
5. Blade Runner 2049
6. Hunger Games
7. Death, Love, and Robots
8. Ex Machina
9. Black Mirror
10. Sense 8
