lifestyle WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21, 2017 FEATURES Afghan staff of Zan TV have their lunch at the Zan TV (Women’s TV) station in Kabul. Afghan staff of Zan TV (Women’s TV) work in an editing room in Kabul.— AFP photos New magazine and TV channel give Afghan women a cautious voice fghan women are redrawing the media landscape in present the news. But at Zan TV they will have power. Mehria the deeply conservative country with the launch of a Afzal, 25, the head of the political service, expects to be "the Anew magazine and a television channel, risking the voice of Afghan women". "In the provinces, girls are anger of extremists by giving their gender a glamorous voice. exchanged like animals. It is forbidden, but they do not know The teams behind the two privately-run projects have bold their rights," she asserts. ambitions to use their mass media platforms to change atti- tudes and inform Afghans of their rights. But they know full Giving women the (remote) control well the dangers of such trailblazing ventures in a war-torn "This is the first time that we have launched a television nation where many still believe that a woman does not project dealing with the issues of Afghan women, covering all belong outside the home. subjects, allowing women to express themselves whether it is "(The) lack of participation of women in life has made this politics or religion," says Malalai Zikria, the channel's editorial country very violent," said Sandjar Sohail, head of the Hasht advisor. "Every woman or girl who has something to say will press group behind the launch of "Gelara" magazine. "I am be welcome," she promises. Rape, harassment, contraception- sure we'll get some reaction, some complaints. We are expect- all will be discussed, even the very sensitive question of virgin- ing that," he conceded. The glossy monthly run by a team of ity, she says. But the presenters will wear their headscarfs, she women in their 20s proclaims itself proudly as "Afghanistan's says, underscoring the caution with which they are attempt- first fashion magazine". It is also a 100 percent Afghan project. ing to move forward. "We are in an Islamic country, we must Gelara-"the apple of the eyes" in Farsi, a colloquialism for respect the laws. We can be veiled and fight for his rights." something beautiful and precious-contains culture and "We need to be cautious and calculating (in) the steps we celebrities, but aims for pedagogy. take not to hurt or confront the culture or tradition of Beauty, cooking, health, literature: the magazine succumbs Afghanistan," said Hamid Samar, founder and director of Zan to feminine tropes, but also dives into issues such as family TV, who focuses on the urban audience. Digital technology law reform, which has stalled in the Afghan parliament since provides coverage throughout the country for the channel, 2008. "This family law is so unfair for women... once they get which employs 70 people-an all-woman editorial staff, aged married they have no rights. You have to push for women's between 22 and 30, and a camera woman. The technical staff Krishma Naz, 22, presenter of a music show, takes part in a An Afghan presenter records her morning programme at rights," insists the editor-in-chief, 24-year-old Fatana of 16 people is all male, said Samar, explaining that there is a recording at the Zan TV (Women’s TV) station in Kabul. the Zan TV (Women's TV) station in Kabul. Hassanazada, who heads a team of 14 young women. lack of women trained in such areas. But he hopes that will always risky" in Afghanistan to fight conservatism and extrem- Zan TV, or "Women's TV", will also aim to challenge tradi- change, adding that the company policy is still that "all the 'It's always risky' ism, said Sohail, who also runs the country's most popular tional expectations of the female role in Afghanistan, when it staff should be women". He also wants to reach a male audi- Gelara's first cover featured singer Mozhdah Jamalzadah, newspaper, 8-Subh (8-Hours). "This is a life and death conflict," begins broadcasting in the near future. AFP visited its studios ence, but to make a difference as they do so. "Hopefully hus- who posed bareheaded, her bold gaze staring directly into the he explained, adding they have no choice but to fight. "If not, in a vast house in Kabul last month: there is a candy pink one bands and wives will watch us together, but the women will camera. In an interview, the artist discusses criticism she has the conservatives will bring us back, to a primitive life." Gelara, for news; another is blue, the traditional interior for talk actually (have) control of the remote control." — AFP received for wearing costumes judged too tight. Afghan pop which sells for 100 afghanis ($1.30) in the street, is provocative shows; while political broadcasts are conducted from a red star and women's rights activist Aryana Saeed underwent a but only to a point. Though some heads remain unveiled, sofa against a green background-echoing the Afghan flag. similar deluge after a recent concert in Paris. "Yes it's risky. It's women's bare legs and arms are rarely pictured. Women are already on the air in Afghanistan and regularly Headbanging is no good, says X Japan drummer after surgery he frenzied drummer who is the force well. It hurts a lot," he said yesterday. "I had an behind rockers X Japan declared head- artificial cervical disc inserted but it isn't used Tbanging to be "no good" yesterday as he to my body yet, maybe." The performer, whose sported a neck brace at his first press confer- full name is Yoshiki Hayashi, had suffered bone ence since emergency surgery. Yoshiki, who is fractures since childhood but pursued such an known for such intense drumming that he aggressive brand of heavy metal drumming sometimes collapses on stage, shocked fans that he would often writhe in pain on the floor last month when he announced he would by the end of shows. need an urgent operation to implant an artifi- X Japan, combining the power of arena cial cervical disc. metal with the glam androgyny of David Yesterday Yoshiki appeared at a Tokyo press Bowie, won legions of devoted fans ranging This image released by Focus Features shows Colin Farrell, This image released by Focus Features shows, from left, Elle Fanning, Nicole Kidman, conference in sunglasses, black leather outfit- from screaming teenage girls to Japan's former left, and Kirsten Dunst in a scene from ‘The Beguiled.’ Kirsten Dunst, Angourie Rice, Oona Laurence, Emma Howard and Addison Riecke in a and the neck brace. "I've thought about it and I prime minister Junichiro Koizumi to US rockers scene from ‘The Beguiled.’ — AP photos have to say that headbanging is no good," he Kiss. Yoshiki, who is also a classical pianist, said said, drawing laughter from fans. "I may sound he plans to play the piano instead of drums at Review weird saying it at this point." But the career X Japan concerts next month. In January rocker immediately appeared to walk back his Yoshiki played the piano at New York's no-banging pledge. "I may end up headbang- Carnegie Hall with the Tokyo Philharmonic Coppola's 'The Beguiled' disturbing and beautiful ing again, unless there is a law banning it." The Orchestra, but he had already lost feeling in his frail 51-year-old-whose group was one of the left hand. "It feels as if tens of thousands of he Beguiled " is a strange and uncom- McBurney (Colin Farrell), after stitching up his tat- though, is less developed. He's presented as biggest acts in Japanese music history with volts of electricity are running through my fortable film in both of its iterations. tered leg and giving him a sponge bath. McBurney decent and sincere, so his disruptive choices seem fanatical fan followings in the 1980s and hand," he said yesterday. But he kept perform- "TSofia Coppola's take is more nuanced is locked in the music room, but his presence in to come out of nowhere. Ms Farnsworth's ultimate 1990s-cancelled all his immediate activities ing since that show, including at an X Japan than the 1971 original, with deeper insight into the house causes a stir among its residents, dis- response also seems excessive, given the way her before and after the operation at a hospital in concert in March at Wembley Arena in London. the ladies of Ms Farnsworth's Seminary and per- tracting them from their daily routine of Bible character unfolds and her responsibility to her stu- Los Angeles, where he lives. "Many US artists have become legends after haps not enough into the wounded soldier who studies, French lessons and etiquette practice. One dents. Nevertheless, Coppola creates a portrait of A neurosurgeon in Japan had told the rock- they died. But I want to be an artist who disrupts their lives. The writer-director brings her girl fears they could face consequences for harbor- the repressed, isolated lives of women and girls er he had such severe neck damage that it inspires people by keeping on going and stay- characteristic elegance to the film, which, like the ing an enemy. Another wants him to meet her pet during wartime - even if the only overt signs of would have forced a professional rugby player ing alive," he said. — AFP original, is based on the 1966 novel by Thomas turtle.