Media From Around the World
Apr. 23rd, 2014 11:16 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
livingdebI've heard of people who want to visit the highest peak of each state. (And some who would be happy visiting only the highest peak in every state in the continental US so they can get out of dealing with Alaska I presume.) And I used to read the blog of a guy who decided to travel to every single country.
The Goal
I like traveling but I don't like those traveling goals. Instead I've decided I want to experience at least one piece of interesting media from each country.
The Media
My first idea was to read a book from each country. Then I realized, do I mean a fiction book or a nonfiction book? Does it have to be from the place (even if a translation) or just about the place? Do they have to be set in modern times, or are ancient times okay? And what about movies? Popular, documentary and/or IMAX? And perhaps the Wikipedia article as an introduction or fall-back. I've decided that any of those things will be acceptable. Ideally I will have more than one per country (then it's okay if some of the things are slight) and they will mostly be interesting and not just the one thing I could find about the country. Fortunately, I live in a town which once had the second largest academic library in the country, so that may even be possible.
The Countries
The guy who traveled to every country found that the list of all the countries in the world changed between the time he started and the time he ended. I think as new countries appeared, he added them to his list.
I've decided to use this list of documented countries. Limiting myself to countries recognized by the UN is not really fair to the people of the world, but it's still a long and varied list so I should be a bit less ignorant about the world at the end. I also like that the list I found sorts the countries by continent. I always thought of North America as having three countries--so I've already learned something.
But I've also decided to add some undocumented countries to my list. Specifically, I've already read loads of books and seen loads of movies and TV shows from the United Kingdom, but they are mostly from England. And I don't know much about the other countries besides travelogues from some of my friends. So I want to add Scotland and Wales to my list (Ireland is already on it). I reserve the right to add more undocumented countries or cultural regions as well. Perhaps Aztecs, Mayans, and Incas for example.
The Timing
I'm not actually ready to start seriously yet (though I did just happen to finish a fiction book set in Afghanistan and watch a movie from Indonesia and so I have created my spreadsheet so I can stick those in). Right now I'm reading some US history books because I think that might help me with my job (and also be a little fun). The most wacko one is A People's History of the United States. Basically, the author describes the history from the viewpoint of the losers. Fascinating, if depressing.
The Recommendations
As I said, I'm pretty good with England. I'd recommend Georgette Heyer (say, The Grand Sophy, The Corinthian, and Frederica) and Nick Hornby (say, About a Boy and High Fidelity, but you guys probably know all about those, too.
And I'm pretty good with Japan--I read a fascinating book on the history of Japan, plus I like the original "Shall We Dance?" movie.
But I'll be giving you more recommendations later. [I can't highly recommend Born Under a Million Shadows, the Afghan book I just finished--though it was okay--or "Raid: The Redemption," the Indonesian movie I just saw--though it was pretty good for a movie about people climbing to the top floor of a building. (Sort of like how "Iron Man" is pretty good for a movie largely about a guy getting dressed.) But surely I'll find some things I love that I will gleefully recommend later.]
Meanwhile, please let me know of anything you love that I should put on my list.
The Goal
I like traveling but I don't like those traveling goals. Instead I've decided I want to experience at least one piece of interesting media from each country.
The Media
My first idea was to read a book from each country. Then I realized, do I mean a fiction book or a nonfiction book? Does it have to be from the place (even if a translation) or just about the place? Do they have to be set in modern times, or are ancient times okay? And what about movies? Popular, documentary and/or IMAX? And perhaps the Wikipedia article as an introduction or fall-back. I've decided that any of those things will be acceptable. Ideally I will have more than one per country (then it's okay if some of the things are slight) and they will mostly be interesting and not just the one thing I could find about the country. Fortunately, I live in a town which once had the second largest academic library in the country, so that may even be possible.
The Countries
The guy who traveled to every country found that the list of all the countries in the world changed between the time he started and the time he ended. I think as new countries appeared, he added them to his list.
I've decided to use this list of documented countries. Limiting myself to countries recognized by the UN is not really fair to the people of the world, but it's still a long and varied list so I should be a bit less ignorant about the world at the end. I also like that the list I found sorts the countries by continent. I always thought of North America as having three countries--so I've already learned something.
But I've also decided to add some undocumented countries to my list. Specifically, I've already read loads of books and seen loads of movies and TV shows from the United Kingdom, but they are mostly from England. And I don't know much about the other countries besides travelogues from some of my friends. So I want to add Scotland and Wales to my list (Ireland is already on it). I reserve the right to add more undocumented countries or cultural regions as well. Perhaps Aztecs, Mayans, and Incas for example.
The Timing
I'm not actually ready to start seriously yet (though I did just happen to finish a fiction book set in Afghanistan and watch a movie from Indonesia and so I have created my spreadsheet so I can stick those in). Right now I'm reading some US history books because I think that might help me with my job (and also be a little fun). The most wacko one is A People's History of the United States. Basically, the author describes the history from the viewpoint of the losers. Fascinating, if depressing.
The Recommendations
As I said, I'm pretty good with England. I'd recommend Georgette Heyer (say, The Grand Sophy, The Corinthian, and Frederica) and Nick Hornby (say, About a Boy and High Fidelity, but you guys probably know all about those, too.
And I'm pretty good with Japan--I read a fascinating book on the history of Japan, plus I like the original "Shall We Dance?" movie.
But I'll be giving you more recommendations later. [I can't highly recommend Born Under a Million Shadows, the Afghan book I just finished--though it was okay--or "Raid: The Redemption," the Indonesian movie I just saw--though it was pretty good for a movie about people climbing to the top floor of a building. (Sort of like how "Iron Man" is pretty good for a movie largely about a guy getting dressed.) But surely I'll find some things I love that I will gleefully recommend later.]
Meanwhile, please let me know of anything you love that I should put on my list.
no subject
on 2014-04-24 04:33 am (UTC)no subject
on 2014-04-24 04:50 am (UTC)I'm remembering an ex-coworker with the goal of visiting all the Presidential libraries.
no subject
on 2014-04-24 04:39 am (UTC)no subject
on 2014-04-24 04:51 am (UTC)Thanks for the recommendations.