Arts & Entertainment

Beirut is a battle-­scarred city that has survived military invasions and civil war. Currently it struggles with a Muslim and Christian divide, the influx of hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees and has Isis looming over their country’s northern border. Still, Beirut is considered the cultural hub of the Middle East. Reverberating with the sounds of musicians, performers and activists as well as hosting one of the best nightlife scenes in the world, Beirut is an enigma. 

Balance features music videos from Brooklyn musician Helado Negro, Belgian duo Véronique Vincent & Aksak Maboul, L.A. artist Vex Ruffin and hip hop legend Fab 5 Freddy, Dutch/Ukrainian producer Antenna, UK musician Never, and Japanese group Networks.

"Visions" features music videos from Spanish garage rockers The Parrots, Cuban jazz singer Daymé Arocena, L.A. singer Nite Jewel, New Zealand-based rapper Raiza Biza, Chilean techno artist Sanfuentes, and Japanese artist Chihei Hatakeyama.

The charming, unusual and at times polarizing Jeffrey Deitch left Los Angeles in 2013 after a tumultuous run as the director of MOCA ending in his resignation. He makes his return with a new gallery opening with the first LA exhibit of renowned Chinese artist and activist, Ai Weiwei. A behind-the-scenes look at the contemporary art world through the eyes of a legendary art dealer and curator.

Macroscopic features music videos from British-Mauritian musician Mo Kolours, Cincinnati violinist Sudan Archives, U.S.-based The Nels Cline Singers, Japanese producer Seiho, Brooklyn duo Javelin, Portland-based musician Schaus, Danish band Lust for Youth and German group Kreidler.

"Kaleidoscope" features music videos from Taiwanese singer 9m88, Israeli bands Balkan Beat Box featuring A-WA, American singer Bells Atlas, Mexican artist Caloncho, and British-Argentine producer El Buho, Japanese-American collaboration Tashi Wada with Yoshi Wada and Friends. 

In a city on the divide between Russia and Europe, the art of protest stands against war and corruption. Kiev has a government that ignores its citizens and responds to demonstrators with violent measures. Now, artists and activists are spearheading the fight to claim Ukrainian cultural identity. 

"Synesthetics" features music videos from Japanese indie band Mitsume, German group Lali Puna, French artist Magic Island, Cuban rapper el tipo este, Congolese group Konono No. 1, Argentine singer Juana Molina, and US artist Visible Cloaks.

From the iconic typeface of “The Godfather” book cover to Herman Miller’s Noguchi table, the influence of Japanese American artists and designers in postwar American art and design is unparalleled. While this second generation of Japanese American artists have been celebrated in various publications and exhibitions with their iconic work, less-discussed is how the World War II incarceration — a period of intense discrimination and hardship — has also had a powerful effect on the lives of artists such as Ruth Asawa, George Nakashima, Isamu Noguchi, S. Neil Fujita and Gyo Obata.

"Perspective" features music videos from Chilean artist Alex Anwandter, L.A. band Bouquet, U.S. producer Mndsgn, Japanese artists Asa-Chang and Junray, and German artist Jeff Ozdemir’s Halloumi Express.

"Parade" features music videos from Togolese group Vaudou Game, Egyptian producer Rozzma, Argentinian singer Corina Lawrence, British-Tanzanian artist 3rdCultureKid, and Indonesian band Jirapah, U.S. artist Sudan Archives. 

Amid the chaos and confusion from Greece's financial meltdown, artists from all corners of Athens are gathering to protect Athenian culture through the power of their art. In this episode, four artists show how they are fighting to counteract the bleak outlook of their urban landscape: iNO, the city's only incognito graffiti artist; photographer Panagiotis Maidis; electro-pop group Kid Flicks formed by Nickos Dervisis; and film and television producer Theo Simantirakis. 

"Until Later" features music videos from Mali’s Songhoy Blues, New Zealand artist Nadia Reid, Colombia's Meridian Brothers, Lebanese artist Yasmine Hamda, South Africa's DJ Lag, and Austrian group Radian.

"Artbound" looks at the dinnerware of Heath Ceramics and a design that has stood the test of time since the company began in the late 1940’s. Through the writings of Edith Heath, the founder and designer of Heath Ceramics and voiced by renowned chef Nancy Silverton, this episode explores the groundbreaking work of a woman who created a classic of American design.

"Burn, Burn, Burn" features music videos from Congolese band Mbongwana Star, L.A. producer The Egyptian Lover, Peruvian band Kanaku y El Tigre, Canadian indie rock band The Luyas, Danish electronic trio Lust for Youth, and US/Venezuelan musician Devendra Banhart.

"Misfits" features music videos from Indian indie rocker Alluri, Brazilian band Boogarins, Japanese group The fin, Canadian rock band Destroyer, Swedish singer Fatima, Tunisian producer Ammar 808, and Egyptian artist Nadah El- Shazly. 

In Port-au-Prince; a radio host, a photographer, a Rabòday singer and a creole rapper showcase the emerging and subversive sounds and images of Haiti in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake.

Rhythmic Rituals features music videos from L.A. violinist and vocalist Sudan Archives, Puerto Rico-based artist ÌFÉ, Mexico City sextet La ReDaDa, Swedish band Junip, visionary Brazilian musician Arto Lindsay and U.S.-based soul man Doug Hream Blunt.

Día de los Muertos has been adapted for centuries from its pre-colonial roots to the popular depictions in mass media today. Inspired by rich Oaxacan traditions, it was brought to East Los Angeles in the 1970’s as a way to enrich and reclaim Chicano identity through a small celebration at Self Help Graphics and Art. Since then, the celebration has grown in proportions with renditions enacted in communities all around the world.

Dreams features music videos from U.S. pop artist Japanese Breakfast, French group Bleu Toucan, L.A. producer Frankie Reyes, U.S. musician Kevin Morby, N.Y. psychedelic cumbia band C.A.M.P.O.S., Russian artist Philipp​ Gorbachev, and Spanish shoegaze band Linda Guilala.

"Catharsis" features music videos from U.S. rapper of Nigerian heritage Tobe Nwigwe, French-Chilean singer Ana Tijoux, U.S. group Khruangbin, South African guitarist Sibusile Xaba, Icelandic singer Kristín Anna, Japanese duo Young Juvenile Youth, and Puerto Rican artist Bairoa.

After two decades of violence and corruption under the reign of the largest cocaine drug cartel operation in history, Medellín, Colombia awakens to the sights, sounds and colors of an urban renaissance crafted by a group of creative entrepreneurs, artists and visionary city planners defying street wars.

Open Scope features music videos from Norwegian/Brazilian singer Charlotte Dos Santos, Australian outsider artist Kirin J Callinan, Peruvian pop singer ANIA, L.A.-based musician Ariel Pink, Russian artist Anton Kubikov, and Japanese producer Sugai Ken.

Gospel music would not be what it is today if not for the impact left by Los Angeles in the late '60s and early '70s, a time defined by political movements across the country. Artists like James Cleveland and Aretha Franklin captured live recordings of the church experience of South Central and the voices and sentiment of the people coming together to give birth to a new gospel sound and the election of L.A.’ s first black mayor, Tom Bradley.