A paradoxe of writing : it disappears when we can understand it, and only appears once we face an unknown one
Writing, when it works, disappears into reading. — paraphrasing Roland Barthes thesis in The Degree zero of writing, 1953. When faced with a stele covered in hieroglyphs, an ancient Chinese manuscript, or a Linear A tablet, something happens. Writing lies before us, familiar in its materiality : lines, strokes, columns, engravings, yet utterly foreign. We read Read more
Music streaming: innovation, cultural monitoring, and human-driven solutions
Digital Communities and the Birth of Streaming At the end of the 1990s and the dawn of the 2000s, music became one of the first fields to experiment with digital culture. Whether on forums, sharing sites, or peer-to-peer (P2P) platforms, self-organized and self-regulated communities emerged: uploaders, curators, collectors, and enthusiasts. Even today, these communities persist, Read more
How Brands Use TikTok and Instagram to Build Cultural Identity
I was scrolling through TikTok one night — just mindlessly switching from one short video to another — when a Gucci post suddenly stopped me. It wasn’t a typical luxury-brand ad: no polished studio light, no model’s perfect smile, just a quick, messy, almost spontaneous clip. But somehow, it felt intentional. That raw, unfiltered energy Read more
Discover “Sous la pluie” — When Art Meets Rain in Nantes
“Sous la pluie. Peindre, vivre et rêver” — When Art Meets Rain in Nantes I really like rain. When I was a child, I always enjoyed sitting in the classroom watching the raindrops fall on the leaves outside the window, often getting distracted during lessons. I loved sharing an umbrella with classmates to walk to Read more
La Haine: what happens when an emblematic movie of the French social divide becomes a musical?
Everyone knows La Haine, Mathieu Kassovitz’s emblematic movie released in 1995, which has become a work of art at the heart of French cultural heritage and the cult reference of French urban culture. The film follows a day in the life of three young men from the suburbs the day after riots, inspired by a real Read more
Univerciné German Festival – Celebrating German Cinema in Nantes
As autumn fully embraces Nantes, you might be searching for a cultural event that matches the cozy atmosphere of the season. Look no further! During the first week of November, the Univerciné German Film Festival invites you to the Katorza cinema to explore the rich and often overlooked German-speaking film scene. Throughout the week, enjoy Read more
The Nantes-Angers Opera in the face of budget cuts: what future for the performing arts?
An unprecedented fiscal shock The 2025 school year was marked by the announcement of the 2025 budget, which shook more than one! A rather austere budget in the face of an ever-growing deficit, it seems that culture has not escaped it. Once it has been put on a diet, it would be interesting to observe Read more
French rap and techno music – Cultural interactions leading to a new sub-genre ?
40 years ago, French rap was an emerging and very underground genre. Today, it has been dominating the French music scene since the last decade. Indeed, in 2024, the rapper Werenoi – who passed away last May – was the biggest seller of the year, with 276,900 albums sold. Appeared in the 1980s by mimicking Read more
Comu 2025: The Virginian sails into the Graslin Theater
On October 24 and 25, the Graslin Theatre will host, for the very first time, the legendary “Comu”, Audencia’s annual student musical. This is a huge milestone for the school, as students leave the familiar Theatre of Orvault behind to bring their play 1911 ou La tragédie du Ruban bleu (1911 or The Tragedy of Read more
Can raves be sustainable ? Green innovation and contradictions in the electronic music scene
Picture Credit: Horst Arts & Music Festival Electronic music has become one of the most influential cultural movements of our time. From massive festivals like Tomorrowland to small underground free parties, it brings together people from every background to share sound, energy, and freedom. But behind the lights, the bass, and the celebration, one question Read more