Estonia Is Worried About Russian Influence, So It’s Turning – Naturally – To The Arts For Resistance

Yes, it’s about soft power in the European Union’s farthest border to the east – a stone’s throw from Russia. “From a defense perspective, building a happy, prosperous community in our border area is crucial. … But from a human perspective, it’s the decent thing to do anyway.” – The New York Times

Research: Why We Like Horror Films? They’re Good For Us

“Horror movies tend to imaginatively transport consumers into fictional universes that brim with dangers,” the researchers write. “Through such imaginative absorption, people get to experience strong, predominantly negative emotions within a safe context. This experience serves as a way of preparing for real-world threat situations.” – Pacific Standard

Arms Manufacturer Shamed Out Of Sponsoring Museum Shows Changes Its Name To Leonardo

Jeez, talk about artwashing. A string of PR disasters, including demonstrations against Britain’s National Gallery of Art for accepting sponsorships, led the Italian defense company Finmeccanica to rename itself after the Renaissance genius (who did, after all, design weapons and war machines). But the tactic hasn’t entirely worked: just last summer, the Design Museum in London came under fire (ahem) for hosting a reception for the company, despite the new name. — Artnet

Fighting Hindu Nationalism With Urdu Poetry

As prime minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party continues to encourage an exclusionary Hindu version of Indian nationalism, more liberal-minded Indians (by no means only Muslims) are reading, writing, reciting, and listening — in venues from tea shops to stadiums — to poetry in Urdu, the (to oversimplify) Islamized version of Hindi that has a revered, centuries-old tradition of verse across the subcontinent. — The Guardian