Issue 2 High Culture
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MindMap- LEARN-THINK-INNOVATE I see no marks of Wordsworths’ style of writing or style of thinking in my own work, yet Wordsworth is a constant presence when I write about human beings and their relations to the natural world. SA i FORK, KNIFE AND GLASS- DINER’S CLUB Introduction The Fork, Knife and Glass Club is a dining club, first and foremost. It’s centered around three main elements which are; palate + company = ambience. The club is born out of the lack of alternative nightlife in Durban. It is a member conscious and orientated club that slaves for consumer satisfaction. It is particularly aimed at young professionals and creatives as the founder is an arts fanatic. The club offers young professionals an alternative to what is prescribed by popular culture. We’re showing people how to dine, where to dine and heightening their palate sense. The Fork, Knife and Glass Club is also creating a meeting field for individuals with fresh green ideas and similar traits. It’s the dinner table where a musician meets a fine artist, where a writer meets a product designer. We’re matching independent and small boutique brands with its market at the dinner table. The club is a magnet which pulls together a handful of cultured individuals once a month. We want the club will be an on- going experiment with the different restaurants and alternative venues in and around the city. Being part of the club also offers you invites to other alternative events hosted by the team. By now you should realize that the club obviously lends itself to more than just being a dining club. We are creating an authentic memorable night at every convention. An important and almost determining factor will be the budget aspect. We want to promote affordable yet uncompromised quality on every plate. Hence we negotiate a flat fee with the chosen restaurant/ venue. Usually between R100 and R120 and this usually covers a starter and main dish on the menu. We’ve been particularly mindful of location, budget and service excellence. WHEN 7TH SEPTEMBER 2011 TIME 18:45-19:00 FEE R140 FLAT FEE (INCLUDING WINE PAIRING) CONTACT RUSSELL HLONGWANE 073 678 1901 FORK, KNIFE AND GLASS- DINER’S CLUB Introduction The Fork, Knife and Glass Club is a dining club, first and foremost. It’s centered around three main elements which are; palate + company = ambience. The club is born out of the lack of alternative nightlife in Durban. It is a member conscious and orientated club that slaves for consumer satisfaction. It is particularly aimed at young professionals and creatives as the founder is an arts fanatic. The club offers young professionals an alternative to what is prescribed by popular culture. We’re showing people how to dine, where to dine and heightening their palate sense. The Fork, Knife and Glass Club is also creating a meeting field for individuals with fresh green ideas and similar traits. It’s the dinner table where a musician meets a fine artist, where a writer meets a product designer. We’re matching independent and small boutique brands with its market at the dinner table. The club is a magnet which pulls together a handful of cultured individuals once a month. We want the club will be an on- going experiment with the different restaurants and alternative venues in and around the city. Being part of the club also offers you invites to other alternative events hosted by the team. By now you should realize that the club obviously lends itself to more than just being a dining club. We are creating an authentic memorable night at every convention. An important and almost determining factor will be the budget aspect. We want to promote affordable yet uncompromised quality on every plate. Hence we negotiate a flat fee with the chosen restaurant/ venue. Usually between R100 and R120 and this usually covers a starter and main dish on the menu. We’ve been particularly mindful of location, budget and service excellence. 24 Map’D INSEditors notes ........................................................................................10 A thought on the state of the culture Photo Essay ...........................................................................................12 By Saaiqa Ebrahim Beyond croissants and blue cheese .............................................24 By Sihle Mthembu Dining with Russell Hlongwane ....................................................28 31 By Nomvula Sikakane Best young designers ........................................................................31 A look at the next generation of creators Special Report---Arabia Burning ..................................................52 By Charity Shezi Mapping out ........................................................................................58 Seoul-city guide A woman’s take ...................................................................................66 By Mina Maboja Special Report-Barack Obama: What now? ...............................64 By Khulekani Magubane The game of kings ..............................................................................68 By Francisca Mtshali Culinary couture .................................................................................70 By Nomfundo Mgabadeli Wanna play? .........................................................................................72 By Ndabenhle Mthembu Just Add color ......................................................................................74 By Style Guru This roadside life .................................................................................86 By Lauren Beukes 52 IDE 100 74 Ferrari’s next generation ................................................................106 No riots please-we’re British ...........................................................90 By Mathew Veeran By Shivana Naidoo The year of the gods ........................................................................108 This Township life ...............................................................................94 By Sihle Mlambo By Sthe Ngcobo Reviews ................................................................................................112 Q and A ..................................................................................................98 The best in film and music With Megan Erasmus The last word ......................................................................................114 Urban voices.......................................................................................100 By Pumla Luthuli By Amava Kamana Act like a layman think like a snob .............................................102 By Sabelosami Dlungwane From China with love ......................................................................104 By Nosipho Mngoma [email protected] MindMap Publishing Published by MindMap Publishing Copyright MindMap 2011 TO view MINDMAP ONLINE VISIT http://MINDMAPSA.COM Editor ‘s notes All things considered the term native high culture in a city or “High culture” is about as easy to any other place, a lot of people define as “American liberalism”. could take offense to that and It has social circle related conno- you might encounter a lot of tations that mean different things resistance. to a lot different people. And Interestingly in putting this depending on whom you ask, it issue together I have also discov- might be viewed as good, bad ered that there are people who or otherwise. In a bid to track were pleasantly surprised by the down what seems like a utopia, first issue of our E-zine. Despite at MindMap-SA we have found the various teething problems ourselves in a place where we we have received a lot of posi- have to stretch out own public tive feedback and it is that which comfort. will help us grow. To our readers Recently I posted on Facebook that were there when we wrote that I liked the New Yorker and a our first blog post months ago, Facebook “friend” was quick to and are still here now as we have rebuttal my sentiments. Stating formally registered our online that a black person reading the platform at http://mindmapsa. New Yorker is nothing more than com/ we thank you, and we look a “snob”. It was this exchange forward to interacting with you that had me thinking that High as we have done in the past. To Culture is much like morality. It our new readers and subscribers is a personal thing. It can only be thank you for joining us, we hope defined by the social spaces in you enjoy your stay. And after which the individual finds him- you have taken in this month’s self. What might be regarded as issue, do drop us a mail and tell high culture in Milan, London or us what you think. Forward it to Paris might not be regarded as you friends and tell them to do such in Joburg, Seoul or Rio. the same. From me I say keep In this issue of MindMap-SA mapping out. we look at (to use the cliché) the melting pot that is people that subscribe to high culture in one form or another. This issue is more about understanding what Sihle Mthembu High culture is and less about redefining it. As a friend of mine recently pointed out “when you say you are out to redefine alter- Newsdesk Nonhle went to Twitter IT’S SAD what HAPPENED to NONHLE. SHE was AMONGST THE MOST BE- LOvED OF SOuTH AFRICA’S DARLINGS. But after the criticism leveled at her for the relative failure of her show, its more than fair to nonhle.com image: say she has lost some of that love along the way. Many who were part of #teamnonhle have since resigned citing the ranting and raving of the 29 year old via Twitter. She has