Kazakhstan prides itself on being an inclusive and progressive state, dedicated to the safety of all its citizens. Human rights organizations and markers of development like the Democracy Index argue that this…
Author: Teagan
To See is to Believe: Examining the Impact of Media on Destination Image
Living in a technologically interconnected-world it is hard to resist documenting experiences with the intention of sharing these images through social media. However, for countries pushing to create a distinct national image…
A Coming of Age Despite Forced Adulthood: A Review of Chingiz Aitmatov’s “Jamila”
What love story is complete without the backdrop of war and influence of a growing dictatorship? And what historical narrative can be considered captivating without a little romantic plotline? Instead of spending…
From Mouth to Memory: A Review of Anuar Duisenbinov’s “Testimonies About Tea”
In American popular culture the phrase “to spill the tea” has been used to indicate the need to discuss a topic of interest with another person, often this topic can be described…
An Ode to Hardworking Worms: Exploring Silk in Uzbekistan
Stretching as far back as 114BC, documentation of the Silk Road describes the vital role of trade routes and the production of silk throughout Central Asia. Although these ancient roads cease to…
“Painted” Rock, “Mulberry” Paper, “Silk” Scissors: The Entertaining World of Ethnic Crafts in Uzbekistan
In America our passion for artisanal workmanship has suffered in the face of growing technology, but in Central Asia ethnic craftsmen provide visitors with the ability to see firsthand how products are…
Art, Audience, and Axe Murderers: A Review of the ARTиШОК Crime and Punishment Production
What is the best way to honor a crucial text of the Russian canon? Maybe write an opera based on the novel like Eugene Onegin, or direct an eight hour movie like…
The Nomads at Nomad!
Our most recent excursion took us to NOMAD ethnocenter just outside of Almaty! We learned about the evolution of Kazakhstani armor, the traditional Kazakh yurt, and the crafts which are central to…
What it means to be Qazaq in contemporary Kazakhstani literature
After the fall of the Soviet Union, the Soviet Socialist Republics had to cope with the sudden lack of a literary publication system among the collapse of other institutional infrastructure. Kazakhstan has…
Visualizing the “Illustrated Guide to the City of Almaty”
With the goal of experiencing the emotions and connections felt by the writers of the poems in this collection, we chose three stories and visited the locations around which and about which…
