Culture Bites

The National News
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Culture Bites Podcast

Join hosts Enas Refaei, Farah Andrews and Maan Jalal as they guide you through the arts and culture scene in the UAE, the Middle East and the world. A new episode of Culture Bites drops every week from The National News in Abu Dhabi.

  1. 5 DAYS AGO

    Episode 46: Are con artists cultural icons and are awards ceremonies still relevant?

    This week on Culture Bites, hosts Enas Refaei and Maan Jalal break down the appeal of Netflix’s new show, The Perfect Couple. The murder mystery follows the lives of the wealthy Winbury family on the day of their son’s wedding, when one of the guests is found dead on the beach. The Perfect Couple has become Netflix's most popular show in the UAE since its release last week. The Culture Bites hosts dissect binge-worthy shows that centre around seemingly picture-perfect families that are not all they seem behind closed doors. They also discuss Nicole Kidman’s leading role and her more recent small-screen career choices. With the Emmys around the corner, Enas and Maan share their thoughts on the titles with the most nominations and ask: are award ceremonies still as relevant as they were a decade ago? The hosts look at how streaming has changed our viewing choices and how the focus on viral moments at awards shows may be pushing away younger viewers. The infamous Anna Delvey, who posed as a fake heiress to scam people, is competing in Dancing with the Stars after her early release from prison. The news has started a conversation about how the entertainment industry glamourises con artists, making celebrities out of them. Enas and Maan discuss the public's fascination with Delvey and other scammers turned cultural icons, who have used their notoriety to make even more money.

    33 min

  2. 5 SEPT

    Episode 45: How language illustrates cultural connections and the great Oasis wait

    What can the evolution of languages tell us about a place and time in history? In this week’s Culture Bites podcast, hosts Enas Refaei, Farah Andrews and Maan Jalal draw inspiration from the multi-volume Arabic-Latin dictionary project led by Sharjah Ruler Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, and discuss common root words across languages. They draw links between Arabic and Latin languages, like Spanish, and reflect on the role of etymology in enriching cross-cultural exchange. As we approach autumn, the UAE's art scene is gaining momentum. Maan highlights five key exhibitions to visit before the end of the year, including the first solo exhibition by Syrian artist Randa Maddah at Tabari Artspace and an Andy Warhol collection at The Foundry in Dubai. Oasis reunion hype has been felt worldwide, with millions of fans vying for tickets over the weekend. Many hope the British rock band will add an international leg to their 2025 tour, currently limited to the UK and Ireland. Fortunately, both Enas and Farah secured tickets for dates in London and Edinburgh. The hosts discuss the revival of the popular 90s band after a 14-year hiatus, and talk about fans’ frustrations with lengthy online ticket queues.

    39 min

  3. 29 AUG

    Episode 44: What does fine art smell like?

    In this week's episode of Culture Bites, hosts Enas Refaei, Farah Andrews and Maan Jalal imagine what it would be like if art were appreciated not just visually, but also through scent. Inspired by a project at the National Museum in Krakow, The National speaks to curators at Louvre Abu Dhabi to decipher the smell of selected pieces in their collection. Considering the era, materials used, the content and the artists' environments, the hosts discuss how art appreciation could become a multisensory experience. They also share some of their most memorable scents. In the music scene, British band Massive Attack have put on a live show that, they say, is powered through renewable energy. It has revived the conversation about live music's heavy carbon footprint, especially with mega tours that move around the world. Enas, Farah and Maan discuss the environmental toll of being a musician – and a fan. They also highlight artists, like Coldplay, who have been taking a proactive approach towards climate action. And who is Tul8te? The masked Egyptian singer, known for hiding his identity behind a crocheted balaclava, has amassed a huge following, with people speculating about who he is. Raking in millions of views on YouTube and becoming a viral sensation on TikTok, the intrigue around him has the hosts wondering why some artists choose to be anonymous.

    41 min

  4. 22 AUG

    Episode 43: Has Blake Lively proved there is such thing as bad movie publicity?

    In this week's episode of the Culture Bites podcast, hosts Enas Refaei, Farah Andrews and Maan Jalal break down the press tour drama surrounding new film It Ends with Us. Beyond reported rifts on set between lead actress Blake Lively and co-star and director Justin Baldoni, critics are unimpressed with Lively’s movie marketing approach. Farah points out the problematic disparity between the film’s serious subject matter, which includes domestic abuse, and the actress’s interviews and appearances, which feel more framed to a romcom. Enas watched the film and gives her take on it, while Maan poses an age-old question: is there such thing as bad publicity? There’s much art and culture from the region for London visitors to discover before the summer wraps up. The hosts highlight two notable shows taking place. Sharjah's Barjeel Art Foundation is showcasing its Hudood: Rethinking Boundaries exhibition at the SOAS Gallery, which was curated by the institute's students. Meanwhile Sotheby’s hosts Hafla, celebrating regional fashion, Islamic art and Saudi culture. Also in the UK, one of the biggest performance art festivals in the world, Edinburgh Fringe, is taking place. The hosts give honourable mentions to some of the most compelling acts from the region, including Dubai's Sunil Mashari, Khawla Ibraheem with her solo piece Knock on the Roof, and British-Lebanese stand-up comic Isabelle Farah.

    39 min

  5. 15 AUG

    Episode 42: What do Banksy's animal artworks really mean?

    Enas Refaei is back for this episode of Culture Bites, joining Farah Andrews and Maan Jalal to preview the popular 1990s and 2000s music artists coming to the UAE this season. The Backstreet Boys are returning to Abu Dhabi this October, a little more than a year since their last performance in the capital. But they are not the only act bringing nostalgia to town this autumn. The hosts look ahead to performances by artists from various genres, including Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix concerts by Maroon 5 and Eminem, as well as a concert by Green Day in Dubai. Across London this past week, animal-themed Banksy artworks have been appearing in multiple locations, driving the public to speculate about their meaning. Since last Monday, a series of animal silhouettes have appeared in different locations across the British capital. It hasn't taken long for art commentators to read deeper political and social meaning into the pieces, particularly about the situation in Gaza. Enas, Farah and Maan break down some of the theories and share their interpretations. The hosts also discuss who they think could play the main roles in a Britney Spears biopic, which seems to be on the horizon after the movie rights to her memoir were acquired. In a post on X, the artist had teased the news, announcing that she’s working on a “secret project” with producer Marc Platt. To wrap up this week, the hosts share a spectrum of personal recommendations including a film, an audiobook series and a Dubai dining experience.

    30 min

  6. 8 AUG

    Episode 41: Why shawarmas are an unexpected star of Marvel movies

    This week on Culture Bites podcast, hosts Farah Andrews and Maan Jalal give a roundup of House of the Dragon as season two ends. With eight episodes, it was already short, but the finale also left the hosts feeling short changed. They review the show and discuss the challenges of adapting fantasy novels into TV series. With the Olympics almost coming to a close, Farah and Maan uncover a lesser known aspect of the sporting event’s history. In staying true to the values of the original ancient Olympics, the event included fine art competitions alongside its sporting categories in the early 20th century. This included contests in literature, architecture and music, with the winners awarded medals the same as athletes. Also, Farah noticed a recurrent quirk in Marvel films when she watched Deadpool & Wolverine at the weekend. What’s with the shawarma? She and Maan speculate on what this Easter egg could possibly mean, and how culturally familiar themes may not always be favourable.

    35 min

  7. 1 AUG

    Episode 40: What we’ve watched, read, listened to and enjoyed this year so far

    It’s a special summer edition of Culture Bites this week. To mark the halfway point of the year, hosts Farah Andrews and Maan Jalal take the opportunity to look back at their favourite cultural experiences so far. From books and movies to art exhibitions and music concerts, the hosts share their top picks in a moment to celebrate all the year has had to offer. They discuss some of the biggest pop culture hits, including The Bear and House of the Dragon, and all things Taylor Swift. They also highlight their most memorable visits to galleries and performances in the UAE. Looking forward, the hosts cast their sights on entertainment they are anticipating later this year. Maan is looking forward to the release of the Wicked movie later in November, and Farah awaits Laura Marling’s music album, Patterns in Repeat which will be out in October. Catch more of their cultural forecasts in this summer special episode.

    30 min

  8. 25 JUL

    Episode 39: Was Adidas right to axe Bella Hadid from its SL72 campaign?

    In this week's episode of Culture Bites, hosts Farah Andrews and Maan Jalal highlight some of their top picks from this year’s Primetime Emmy Awards nominations. With Shogun and The Bear leading the race, the hype has officially begun ahead of the awards ceremony taking place on September 15. To mark the tragic passing of Iranian contemporary artist Farhad Moshiri, Maan and Farah pay tribute to the creative often dubbed the “Middle East's Andy Warhol”. They reflect on his artist philosophy of “looking for the undiscovered” and on his pop art-inspired style. Moshiri, who was represented by Dubai’s Third Line Gallery, died aged 61. The hosts also discuss the controversy surrounding adidas axing Bella Hadid from a recent SL72 trainers campaign. The shoes were created to pay tribute to the 1972 Munich Olympics. Adidas dropped Hadid after receiving public backlash for featuring a half-Palestinian model in a campaign linked to the Olympic Games, in which 11 Israeli athletes and a coach were killed by a Palestinian militant group. The hosts question the role that brands are expected to play in the face of mounting political pressure.

    37 min
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About

Join hosts Enas Refaei, Farah Andrews and Maan Jalal as they guide you through the arts and culture scene in the UAE, the Middle East and the world. A new episode of Culture Bites drops every week from The National News in Abu Dhabi.

Information

  • Channel
    The National News
  • Creator
    The National News
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2024
  • Episodes
    47
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2023 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Culture Bites

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