Month: June 2017

Social anthropology turns practical — lessons from cooking with refugees | Ieva Raubiško

Social anthropology turns practical — lessons from cooking with refugees | Ieva Raubiško

What does it mean for strangers to meet, recognize their differences, and work together? Is it possible all? When the European migration crisis brought a small wave of refugees to Latvia, Ieva Raubiško switched from her academic work as a...

Martins-Hirss-the-battle-for-hearts-and-minds-studying-russias-influence-in-latvia

The battle for hearts and minds: studying Russia’s influence in Latvia | Martins Hirss

Is Russia winning the so-called information war? Russia’s state-owned media produces high-quality propaganda. Russia invests money in pro-Russia organizations and radicals abroad. But is it working? Are people influenced by Russia’s propaganda? Is Latgale the next Crimea? In fact, the...

Olga-Dragileva-what-i-did-not-tell-about-chechnya

What I did not tell about Chechnya | Olga Dragileva

A journalist’s duty is to act as our eyes and ears out in the field, to convey to us the information they collected without distortion. But what if this puts the subjects of the report in danger? How can one...

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How to overcome fear? Tips from the world’s first drone jumper | Ingus Augstkalns

In his talk, Ingus Augstkalns speaks about his journey into BASE jumping, his method of overcoming fear, and his drone jump project that put him into the world’s spotlight as the first human to perform a parachute jump from a...

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Public speaking needs more introverts, and vice versa | Davis Golds

It is often said that public speaking — the ability to communicate ideas clearly for a larger audience — is a skill for extroverts. However, introverts will often have ideas and visions that they need to share with the world...

What you see when you listen...with your eyes | Elza Volonte |

What you see when you listen… with your eyes

Elza Volonte has an uncommon ability: sign language is her native tongue, though she is not deaf. Having been raised by deaf parents, Elza holds a unique perspective of being able to observe two worlds simultaneously: one, where listening is...

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The Curious Case of Drums

Drums — always there in the background, and more often than not — overlooked. Kaspars Kurdeko challenges traditional views of the drums and takes us on a creative musical journey. He demonstrates the true art of percussion — seeing the...

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Hello, please let me capture your personal space

What happens when a young and inexperienced documentarian sets out to portray the personal life of an eccentric individual? When does documenting become prying into one’s private life, and what are the ethical choices a filmmaker faces in such a...

Elizabete Balčus - The Hanging Garden

The Hanging Garden

Anything is permitted in Elizabete Balčus’ cosmic garden: looped flute and voice, clicking electro pop beats, and a synthesizer made out of fruit. “The Hanging Garden” is a song from her album “Conarium” and it represents the diversity of identity...

The wisdom of three generations, held together by a thread — Līga Ruperts

The wisdom of three generations, held together by a thread

What does it mean, as a refugee, to lose everything — even your sense of cultural identity? How does one connect to their heritage after being displaced? Līga Ruperts tells her story at TEDxRiga 2017.