AH Cultural Descriptions

[ArchimedesCircle]

The Oily Doily

A colloquial name for the 1968 oil spill and subsequent cover up that occurred when the BP pipelines in the Protectorate of Mesopotamia burst, flooding the Persian gulf and the Tigris and Euphrates in crude oil. The environmental disaster was followed by reports that confirmed long held rumors that BP had not upgraded their safety equipment in over a decade. The name came from a now famous political cartoon showing John Bull placing a doily atop a huge oil spill, representing the Mesopotamians anger with what they felt was a slap on the wrist for BP. The spill ultimately led to major protests, strikes and boycotts, culminating in the 1973 Mesopotamian referendum and the 1975 nationalization of BP's assets in the region. It is also credited with helping birth the modern Islamic environmentalist movement.

The Scouring of Alexandria

 

[Whitewings]

The Scouring of Alexandria

The title of one of many more-or-less factual (in this case, rather more less than more) biographies of Hypatia, the Last Librarian of Alexandria, and the massive effort she spearheaded to create in what we would call today a backup, only barely able to succeed before the Christian hordes destroyed the original; in the novel, Hypatia herself manages to get away with the last few scrolls, literally leaping onto the last of the library vessels bound for Libya. According to the actual record, Hypatia did indeed flee a murderous mob and did get onto the last of library vessels, but she had a considerable lead and and the vessel pulled away well ahead of the horde.

Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld

 

[ennobee]

Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld was a Collectible Card Game released in 1999 by Hasbro. It was Hasbro's first attempt to break into the CCG market and also the first attempt overall to make CCG's attractive to young girls. In the game, players become elven courtiers who manage a deck of troll miners, dwarven jewelsmiths, gnome alchemists and on occasion mischievous pixie thieves to produce jewelry for the aforementioned princess Amethyst. All in all, the game was easy to learn yet challenging to master - especially when going up against a seasoned player with her own fine-tuned custom deck. The fact that the game was not only limited to two-person duels, but could be played with multiple sides, or even multiple teams of players added to the flair. However Hasbro miscalculated in focusing the game not only on girls but specifically on the girly-girl princesses subgroup at a time when those themselves were already replaced by the likes of the Spice Girls or Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Add to it that Hasbro itself had no means to make the cards itself, but had to contract out the actual printing to the same Belgian company that already made the 'Magic-the Gathering' cards for Wizards of the Coast and one can understand how Hasbro discontinued the game after 15 months, reportedly without ever making a profit.

Today however, the cards printed continue to fetch high prizes at second hand swaps and conventions. mostly by professional collectors who learned to love the cards for their rarity despite of the often atrociously paternalistic typecasting artwork.

next up:
Space 1999

 

[ThatOneGuy]

Space 1999

A convention held by NASA to drum up interest in space amid harsh budget cuts. The convention is infamous for its low budget, reportedly only having about a grand to spend on the entire thing. The 'booths' were Space-themed projects made for NASA by some of the kids of the engineers in NASA. It was held in a Marriot Hotel Ballroom for five hours because that was all they could afford. Nevertheless its scrappy backstory inspired many through a spam e-mail that spread across the web and an estimated 10,000 people came in on the first day. It was free so NASA didn't make any money out of it but it did start the "Space-mania" of the early '00s where the public began to dream big about space once again. In the 2000 election George Bush won and part of his platform was returning to the Moon by the end of the decade. When he got into power he followed through and increased NASA's funding nearly a hundred fold as he began to wind down US involvement overseas. However in 2001 the 9/11 Attacks destroyed the Twin Towers, Pentagon and Capitol Building. The US rallied behind invading Iraq and Afghanistan and many space enthusiasts saw this as the end of the New Moon Race before it ever really began. However while NASA did lose some funding to the military in the end they still kept a lot and were able to launch a new man to the Moon in 2012.

Mangos in Tahiti!

 

[I'tikaf]

Mangos in Tahiti!

A play by renowned French playwright Jaufre de Provence. The play was one of de Provence's first forays into the realm of playwriting, it was inspired by the adolescent de Provence' time spent in French Polynesia and his service in the Oceanic Theater of the Third Revolutionary Wars. It is a Bildungsroman telling the tale of a Polynesian youth named Pu'a and his running afoul of the authorities, which forces him to flee the island for Nieuw Holland. He arrives in Nieuw Holland penniless and without friend or kin. In contrast with other European Plays of this era, he is portrayed favourably and not as a " Dimwitted Native " or as a " Noble Savage ". However, this is not to say that de Provence portrayal of Pu'a was progressive-minded or even completely free from racist stereotypes commonly prescribed to character's of non-European heritage at the time. Pu'a possesses a stocky frame and goes mostly half-naked throughout the first few scenes and only dresses in " proper " clothes after being forced to by a Nieuwlander Immigration Inspector.

The rest of the play's plot shows the struggles of Pu'a in navigating Nieuwlander Society with its foreign prejudices and customs. He tries to settle down in Wilhelminstad (Canberra) but is arrested by a French Polynesian Officer who attempts to extradite him back to French Polynesia. He runs and attempts to fight the French in court, he is aided by a sympathetic Rajput Prince studying law in the prestigious Universiteit Murrawarri. Pu'a wins and overcomes the prejudice of Nieuwlander Society. The play ends on a tragic note with Pu'a's death at the hands of the French Polynesian Officer who shoots him in retribution. It is interesting to note that the play has overtones of de Provence closet homosexuality and his desire for acceptance. In many ways, Pu'a's death at the hands of the Officer is a reflection of Society's brutal enforcement of Societal Norms. The name of the play originates from a slur against Polynesians of unknown origin. It is sometimes confused with the Anglais Play, " The Mangoes of Tahiti " which is a comedic play unrelated to de Provence's work.

The Prophet of the Mexicans

 

[ArchimedesCircle]

The Prophet of the Mexicans

A 1621 book written in Mexico City to celebrate the centennial of the Conquest of Mexico, The Prophet of the Mexicans covers the history of the Cortes dynasty of the Kingdom of Mexico, from the arrival of Cortes in the region to the then current reign of Carlos II. The 'Prophet' of the title is generally accepted to refer to Saint Martin, the son of Hernan Cortes and second King of Mexico. The Mestizo monarch was famed for his measures spreading Christianity to his subjects as peacefully as possible, in opposition to his father's more bloody zealotry. It is Saint Martin's reign that takes up a majority of the book, and the lasting repercussions are still seen in later chapters. The book is also notable for acting as both a history and a national epic, oftentimes considered the first modern epic created in the Americas.

The Tragedy of the Great King Powhatan

 

[Baron Bizarre]

The Tragedy of the Great King Powhatan

The last play written by William Shakespeare (subsequent plays long attributed to him are now accepted as being Restorationist forgeries). It was completed in 1616 at Jamestown in Virginia, where Shakespeare lived in exile after he he fell into official disfavor during the Succession Crisis of 1609 following the death of King James I.


Israel on the Nch'i-Wàna - A Love Story

 

[Ganesha]

Israel on the Nch'i-Wàna - A Love Story

A 1998 romantic novel by Gwendolyne Gabtrotter, a pseudonymous Columbian author. The controversial book told the story of Ephraim and Cecile, two members of the world's most persecuted ethnic groups. There are only approximately 300,000 Jews remaining since the persecutions of the mid-20th century, while Columbian Natives have been oppressed for centuries due to their associations with organized crime since the 'assimilationist' policies were implemented.

Christmas Eve Eve

Cheers,
Ganesha

 

[ArchimedesCircle]

Christmas Eve Eve

A 2006 documentary about the re-emergence of Christian traditions and holidays after decades of suppression under the anti-religious government of the Union of Socialist Republics of Danubia.

The Rapa Nui Exchange

 

[ThatOneGuy]

The Rapa Nui Exchange

A TL about the Rapa Nui Exchange, which is much like the Colombian Exchange (which also happens). When the Rapa Nui are found in the early days of colonization the Spanish, as usually done, attempt to establish a colony on the island. Its then the Rapa Nui are discovered and during that first chance meeting, there is a handshake. The ensuing pandemic spreads across the Western Hemisphere like a fire in a pile of dry leaves. Men and women are cut down where they stood and things only get worse when the virus jumps to South America. The spread is slower, taking years to fully grip the entirety of the Western Hemisphere but burns itself out just as slowly. Thousands die and colonization efforts are severely hampered by people to afraid move to the Western Hemisphere. Its tapped as a direct cause for the more friendly attitude later colonization efforts had to the natives, using them to supplement the lack of willing colonists.

The WOW Signal: Aliens from the Other Side

Tomb Cities: Europe in Crisis

or

Set Fire to the Sun

 

[jkisaprank]

Tomb Cities: Europe in Crisis

A short newsreel documentary produced by the Brazilian Media Conglomerate Oceano about the terrible economic conditions of Europe after the third seven seas war. Utterly destroyed by bombing campaigns all that remained of the once-great cities of Paris, Amsterdam, Lisbon, and Munich were empty husks frequented by raiders, or Tomb Cities. The newsreel raised much concern for the state of europe and raised support for the world relief fund.

VAGRANT: Coming of the World-Flame

 

[Whitewings]

VAGRANT: Coming of the World-Flame

One of the most peculiar anime of the late 80s, this film has been described as "Overfiend with less rape," a rather unfair statement. The setting is a near-future Earth in which the Great Freeze, then the most widespread fear for civilization-ending natural disasters, is clearly approaching, with chill temperatures even in the tropics. The eponymous Vagrant is the man who will bring the World-Flame, a global shift in consciousness that will enable mankind to reverse the Great Freeze, by siring children who will grow up to lead the change. The "Overfiend" comparisons come from the method of siring, via extremely energetic, even violent, intercourse, usually preceded by similar foreplay. Though the women are willing participants, it is very easy for a casual viewer to misunderstand the frequent encounters. The anime overall is generally considered to be fairly good, but not exceptional, meriting significant attention only for the controversy that surrounded it.

Galaxy Express 999

 

[theman822]

Galaxy Express 999

A satirical novel written about union corruption in the Commune of Poland-Lithuania. Covering the adventures of hardworking spaceship mechanic Marius Urbanek and his struggles against the well-meaning but dysfunctional Intergalactic Confederation of Trade Unions, the book subtly criticized the hedonism and waste that was present in the Polish Lithuanian Confederation of Unions (Polska Litewska Konfederacja Związków Zawodowych). Published in 1977, it came to the attention of then-Chairman of the CGT, Jean-Jacques Maurine, who used it to push anti-corruption reforms through out the Internationale. It is currently included in the literature curricula of most Internationale nations (save for Totalist Indochina) and is considered one of the greatest satirical left-wing novels ever written.

Dexter's Laboratory

 

[The Professor]

Dexter's Laboratory

A 90s CITV series hosted by Dexter Fletcher. It featured interesting practical experiments using equipment from the home such as electric lemons and potatoes, soda volcanoes, and nonnewtonian goo. Series is credited with introducing the phrase "potato power!" as an early meme.

Goo'd Intentions

 

[jkisaprank]

Goo'd Intentions

A 2003 Canadian game show wherein the contestants navigated an obstacle course over a large pit of green goo, earning money each round based on the number of tries the course was completed in. This money could be spent to sabotage other opponents by adding another obstacle to their course or giving them a handicap. The show proved popular with an international audience, and soon regional versions of the show were being produced in America, Mexico, Germany, Japan, and the Soviet Union.

People's Champion Online

 

[SavoyTruffle]

An online multiplayer boxing simulator, co-produced and promoted by People's Champion (and multimedia mogul) Manny Pacquiao.

Hackett, Wakeman, and Peart

 

[TheScottishMongol]

Hackett, Wakeman, and Peart

An oil and acrylic painting of the three titular business partners, commissioned by them and painted by 15th Century Dutch artist Arnoldus Hendrick, famous in his time but little-known after his death. This painting is his only surviving work, the rest having been lost to various accidents.

Go West, Young Man!

 

[AvalonianDream]

Go West, Young Man!

A famous propaganda slogan from the Autumn War of 1908 between the United Kingdom of Yugoslavia and Greece and the Sublime Qajar State of Persia, encouraging the young men of Iran to enlist and find glory on the westward battlefields of Anatolia. The slogan is still popular with expansionist and right-wing groups in Persia, who see the signing of the inconclusive Peace of Istanbul after the Persian victory at the Battle of Ankara as a mistake, and now doubles as the name of a well-known far-right political magazine in Persia.

The Dance-Dance Revolution

 

[Whitewings]

The Dance-Dance Revolution

The name given in the popular Western press for the Sa'ud Rebellion of 1942, generally considered to start when King Abdulaziz, feeling the increasingly powerful clergy to be a threat to both his personal power and the ongoing prosperity of his nation, purchased or hired a thousand female dancers, and had them perform in public as part of the 40th anniversary celebrations of the country's unification, with undercover police officers stationed throughout the crowd. When the women, at the prearranged time, shed their robes and headdresses to reveal barely Koran-compliant dancing costumes, outraged clergymen immediately attempted to force them off the streets at the least, or stone them to death at worst, and found themselves promptly arrested. The result was predictable: country-wide unrest, riots large-scale and small. Ultimately, the High Mufti found himself forced to accept a very secondary position, stripped of legal authority and having lost much prestige. The signing of the new Constitution, which established Saudi Arabia as a Moslem state (Muslim, to use the spelling of the time) but not a Wahabbist, was celebrated with, among other things, large public dances, both planned and spontaneous.

Darktown Strutters Ball

 

[AvalonianDream]

Darktown Strutters Ball

An important sports collectible, the Darktown Strutters' Ball is the name given to the ball used in the final game of the 1956 Imperial Stoolball Series. Famously the first match wherein an all-colonial team (the eponymous Darktown Strutters from Atlanta, Georgia) seized the trophy, along with ending the Sussex Fletchers' eight-time streak as champions. Valued at several million Imperial Pound Sterling, the artefact is currently in the possession of the fabulously wealthy socialite Oprah Winfrey, the recently named Duchess of Rhode Island.

Orangism is the New Black