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A volunteer organisation with a truly unique mission, the Black String Triage Ensemble arrives in the aftermath of violent and tragic events on the streets of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to perform concerts for the community in an act of healing. In doing so, the group, which is composed of Black and Latinx performers, seeks to fight hopelessness and send the message that ‘a different reality is possible’ for residents of the city, which has one of the highest violent crime rates of any urban centre in the United States. The short documentary Black Strings follows the ensemble as they sit ‘on call’, monitoring police, ambulance and fire department radios, awaiting a situation they deem suitable for a performance. In his profile of the ensemble, the US director Marquise Mays captures how spirituality drives their work, as well as how their performances can be met with mixed reactions by the communities they’re attempting to heal and inspire.
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Anthropology
Does Mogi’s future lie with her horses on the Mongolian steppe, or in the city?
16 minutes
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Art
The sprawling mural that depicts an unflinching people’s history of Los Angeles
7 minutes
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Personality
A ‘dumpster archeologist’ reconstructs strangers’ stories via what they’ve discarded
14 minutes
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Art
In his poem ‘London’, William Blake crafted a bleak vision of the city he loved
9 minutes
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Ageing and death
We’re not the only animals that appear to grieve. What are the implications?
6 minutes
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Love and friendship
For two brothers who rely on one another, love is a daily act of devotion
11 minutes
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Art
A prisoner in Guantánamo finds some escape in building intricate model ships
6 minutes
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Meaning and the good life
A Japanese religious community makes an unlikely home in the mountains of Colorado
9 minutes
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Sex and sexuality
From secret crushes to self-acceptance – a joyful chronicle of ‘old lesbian’ stories
29 minutes