What piqued our interest, what did we like and what didn't last week?

The contributors to the magazine make their own account of current affairs and everyday life through the individual filter of each one.

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plus The delightful and inspiring full-length interview of Orestis Andreadakis, artistic director of the 64th Thessaloniki International Film Festival that started on November 2 (2-12/11), with Thanasis Lalas and Olafaq.

“– How is a rich man different from a poor man? (Th.L.)

In ideas. I think the only rich person there is is the one rich in ideas. A man without ideas is a poor man!" (O.A.)

minus The omissions and errors of documentation in texts accompanying exhibits pointed out by connoisseurs of the opera and the artistic journey of Maria Callas, in the new Maria Callas Museum that was inaugurated just a week ago.

Regarding these issues, of insufficient research and documentation, Kostas Bitzanis, managing director of Technopolis of the Municipality of Athens, the museum's management body for the next 5 years, specifically stated to the newspaper "Kathimerini": "The museum was handed over and as it happens in something that has so many aspects it is open to improvement. We have seen it happen in other museums in the past. After its pilot operation some prompts were pointed out which have already been incorporated except for one which will be restored within the next few days. Some observations of a museological nature have also been highlighted and evaluated. We believe that the effort that has been made to implement the museum over the last ten years is justified by the result as it has been seen by those who have visited it and will continue to visit it. The museum is here to stay and to be one of the most important additions to the cultural life of Athens."

Valentini Margaritopoulou

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plus At a friendly dinner in the suburbs of Paris I met the very happy Joel. His wife had just given birth to their last child, the same day his daughter was giving birth to his first grandchild. Beautiful coincidence. I imagined that his daughter was from his first marriage. No, he answers me. I have 16 children with the same woman!! I thought he was joking. After he showed me the photos of all the children - the process took several minutes - I asked him in surprise:
"So every night you eat 18 people at the table"? "Oh no, no there were never more than 12 children at home, due to the age difference the older ones had already left the family home! "Oh ok then" I replied, "There weren't that many of you... I imagine what will happen to the grandchildren!" I wondered who cooks such quantities every day; my question was answered, as if waiting for the question, – apparently he is used to it – by Joel himself. "I have catering" he told me, "this is my job". Everything is explained…

minus Three books that three friends enthusiastically suggested I read, to also discover authors I didn't know. Three disappointments in a row. Also, I should add the fact that due to the beginning I finish every book I start, the week was literary disappointing.

Giannis Achyropoulos

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plus The joy and impatience of my thirteen-year-old son packing his suitcase for a four-day school trip.

minus The Spanish Museum of Archeology opened its doors to nudists from the Catalan Naturist Club last Saturday, organizing a special tour during which visitors were naked. Members attended a special 90-minute guided tour of the exhibition “The bronzes of Riace. The look of Luigi Spina', featuring photographs by Luigi Spina depicting two large 5th century BC Greek bronze statues of naked warriors, discovered in 1972 near Riace, Italy. "We wanted people who came to see the exhibition (which features naked bodies) to feel exactly the same as the work they were looking at," the tour guide told the press. More and more often lately I realize how correct the analysis of the reviewer's article is Times Jason Farago "Why Civilization Has Stalled" which we republished two issues ago.

“Trapped in a modernist game board where there are no other moves to make, a growing number of young artists are essentially focusing on political activism. (…) Unfortunately, this evangelical turn to the arts in the 21st century is confused with the long-term acceptance of women, people of color, and other sexual minorities in the culture industry – confused, mostly, by PR departments. A gay rom-com is billed as "the first". A Little Black Mermaid is a 'discovery'; our museums, studios and publishing houses cannot bring anything new to market except the very people they once systematically excluded"

Evi Botsaropoulou

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minus Matthew Perry's death may not directly affect my life, but it connects bad and good moments that I have experienced thanks to the character he played in the series Friends. A character we loved, we laughed a lot but also cried with him. As it is my favorite series of all time and as a TV series you get the feeling that the actors themselves will stay like this forever. This may not be the case, but they certainly keep the characters and the actors themselves alive in our minds. That is why the news of his death can only spread sadness. And millions of people will remember a small fragment of their life through the beloved series Friends.

plus At the same time, however, the establishment of the Matthew Perry Foundation for people facing addiction problems was also announced. As he himself had an addiction to drugs and alcohol and managed to get out of such a difficult battle, this foundation will help other people to be able to deal with their addiction and live healthy again.

Fani Durdura

*Cover photo: flickr