The Western Isles Popular Culture (TWI Only)

[Lesva]

This thread is dedicated to presenting and celebrating the popular culture from the variety of countries we have around TWI. Even if we are in the 2020's IC, your country may still present something retro and present it as something that was made in this day and age. The thread should contain news from your country related to mass culture, arts, fashion and entertainment (film, music, video games, sports, internet culture, celebrity gossip, etc.).

Example video for inspiration (cheesy): Waiting For A Star To Fall: A Tribute to 80's Entertainment

There is no specific format for individual posts. It can be a news post, it can be a tweet or general social media post.

[Lesva]

Ministry of Information and Ideology to regulate film, television shows, music and art

Ministry of Information and Ideology of the Throngist Republic of Lesva tasked to regulate film, television shows, music and art

For national security and ideological mobilization purposes, the Throngist Movement Party of Lesva has tasked the Ministry of Information and Ideology of the Throngist Republic of Lesva with regulating film, television shows, music and art in the Throngist Republic of Lesva. The regulations include everything produced in Lesva and everything coming into Lesva from abroad. Whatever could not be regulated would not be allowed into Lesva. Today, Minister of Information and Ideology of the Throngist Republic of Lesva Iner Scleda was invited into the Supreme National Carto to speak before Members of the Party to commit to the task given to the Ministry of Information and Ideology of the Throngist Republic of Lesva. Prior to the current moment, since the Saela Spring during the Transitional Period, there already has been ideological regulation being practiced in Lesva of film, television shows, music and art, but now, it has been officially authorized by the Throngist Movement Party of Lesva and to be carried out by the Ministry of Information and Ideology of the Throngist Republic of Lesva.

Minister of Information and Ideology of the Throngist Republic of Lesva Iner Scleda stated at the podium in the Supreme National Carto:

“The Ministry of Information and Ideology of the Throngist Republic of Lesva will commit to the task given to us by the Throngist Movement Party of Lesva for national security, against the plagues of rotten ideas, whether from the inside or the outside. Lesvans from now on and for future generations will be brought up in the ideals of Throngism against alternative “realities.” Throngism will be our life, our lifestyle and we will build Throngism in the real plane, in our environment, as the ideas of Throngism grow and prosper in our minds, hearts and souls through our art, our film, our television and our music. The Ministry of Information and Ideology of the Throngist Republic of Lesva will make sure of that.”

[Lesva]

Lesvan-Ahnslen musical act Violet Lightning tops charts in Ainslie with the song "Heartbeat"

Song and music video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGGXBbst5Lo

Lesvan diaspora and dissident community in Ainslie is not just preoccupied with ringing the bells of freedom for their historic homeland from the liberty in Ainslie. Lesvan-Ahnslens are also making their way into the pop culture of Ainslie. This week, Lesvan-Ahnslen musical act Violet Lightning have topped the musical charts in Ainslie with their song "Heartbeat" debuting at number 1 and being projected to stay at the top for a prolonged period. An accompanying music video was released a day later. "Heartbeat" is a 70's disco-inspired electronic track, which is not unusual for Violet Lightning, as the band does usually dabble in the retro sound, mostly from the 1970's to the 1980's. "Heartbeat" is no exception. The accompanying music video also had 1970's elements in it, although the story is set primarily in the early 1980's, which was a period, where the 1970's cultural influence was still big and it was just slowly transitioning out, before the new trends of the 1980's eventually hit. Violet Lightning say the song is a promotional single for an upcoming debut album, the title of which has yet to be revealed. Although Violet Lightning had already made a name for themselves with several songs under their belt and their signature retro sound already being known, they had only released EPs so far, but no album. The upcoming album will be the first and will be a debut. With the first successful chart-topper, the band has potential to finally break out into the mainstream.

[Lesva]

Lesvan-Ahnslen band The Crow in collaboration with Charbagnian singer XeX reach Top 20 in Ainslie with the song "Best Day of My Life"

Lesvan-Ahnslen band The Crow (top, from left to right and vice versa) and Charbagnian singer XeX (bottom, center).

Song and music video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mj0e1DvUFk8

Lesvan-Ahnslens continue moving forward and leaving the mark of the Lesvan diaspora on Ainslie's culture and in the world. After the recent success and rise to fame by a Lesvan-Ahnslen musical project Violet Lightning, who had the big break with the chart-topping single "Heartbeat", which charted in other countries and ended up being performed by VIolet Lightning in an international music festival in Uprea, Lesvan-Ahnslens keep moving forward and continue to impress in the musical world. This time, with a slightly more modest, but no less impressive or note-worthy success, the world of rock is being shuck by Lesvan-Ahnslen artists. Lesvan-Ahnslen rock band The Crow released the song "Best Day of My Life" this week, which has reached Top 20 in Ainslie. The rock song, emulating the style of past eras of rock music with a slight electronic update to it, contains lyrics in English and German languages. Specifically there is one German verse in the song, which is mostly and English-language one and that verse has been performed by the Charbagnian singer XeX, who has been invited by members of The Crow to collaborate with them on the song. Reportedly, XeX did not just perform a verse given to him by The Crow, but the singer, instead, wrote and performed the verse himself, integrating the lyrical content into the overall story that the lyrics are trying to tell. Moving further away from the dark themes of angst that The Crow had explored in their earlier work, the happily-named yet loud and vocally growly "Best Day of My Life" explores the themes of overcoming troubles, trying to improve and sincerely believing in a better tomorrow, while remembering the need to take action to achieve it. The are also lyrics containing attacks against a consumerist lifestyle, including in XeX's. Analysts of the lyrics have been searching to also find political messages in the song, with possible attacks against the Throngist dictatorship in Lesva, where The Crow and their ancestors came from. Some claim to have detected such messages, but the band members have not given any confirmation, opting to suggest that anyone can interpret the lyrics in their own way and there are no definite answers. The song received positive reviews from critics. The Crow declared the song to be a single, which would not officially be part of any upcoming EP or album. However, at the same time the band members suggested that the next EP and album will likely follow this kind of sound. "Best Day of My Life" is set to be included in the band's set during their tours and concerts as their latest single. The Crow said they would be interested to do more songs with XeX in the future and the artist himself also replied with an identical attituded, saying he would love to feature on more songs by The Crow if the band will reach out to him. XeX also expressed his liking for genre-blending, which this single is an example of according to him. An accompanying music video was released 2 days later.

[San Jimenez]

The Avenues photographed in 1960. From right to left, Armando Chavez, Dylan Wallace (top left), Lewis Morgan, Christopher Jones (top right), and Nicolas Bonner.

---

|Humble Beginnings|
The group had its origin in the small and rural suburb of Gran Teran known as Florelades. During the late 1950s, the community was mostly comprised of Jimenos but was home to a distinct minority of Townsider immigrants. In 1958, four teenagers from Jose Z. Saavedra High School and sons of Townsider immigrants formed "The Townies." Lewis Morgan emerged as the lead singer, Dylan Wallace as the baritone, Christopher Jones as bass, and Nicolas Bonner as the tenor. That group, with the later addition of Armando Chavez, would ascend among the best of mid-era shoo-bop due to their street vocal harmony and their simple sweet lyrics.

Downtown Florelades circa 1956.

|The Avenues|
The Townies stumbled for the first initial years of their career. The group mostly recorded with amateur labels and found little to no success in Florelades and neighboring Gran Teran. Among their difficulties, getting radio time and struggling to write songs were the greatest. At that point, most radiowaves in Florelades had been dominated by Jimeno music and no stations gave an indication of changing that blunt reality. Things would change in 1959 with the late addition of Armando Chavez as a second tenor. Chavez's talent as a songwriter would soon become evident and change the course of The Townies.

After reviewing potential song lyrics that had been given to the group by a cousin of Lewis Morgan, Chavez recognized stark similarities between those lyrics and that of a song sung by a popular Jimeno group of the time called El Viento del Norte. The Jimeno song was titled Solitario. El Viento del Norte's rendition of the song was slow and focused on painful memories of lost love. Chavez rewrote the lyrics into English and readjusted the lyrics in an effort to place a focus on the reclamation of lost love rather than simply mourning it. After rewriting, he gave the lyrics a much faster tempo. The song "Try Me Again" emerged as a result.

The group would record the song in June 1960. The song was the first success of the group and had climbed among the top 20 of the Beat Today Charts by the end of the year. To the surprise of the Townies, the song was especially a hit among the youth of Florelades. The upbeat sound and familiar lyrics enabled young Jimenos to welcome the genre. With the addition of Chavez, the Townies were able to reach a previously unreachable audience. Young Jimenos. In October 1960, the group renamed itself The Avenues to better adopt this new identity of being a crossroads for Jimenos and Jimenean Townsiders.

The Avenues performing in Gran Teran at Trinity Theatre circa 1961.

|Solstice Records and The Avenues' Rise to Fame|
At the start of 1961, the group continued its success with new songs and a greater reach of performances. After incredible performances in Gran Teran, the surrounding area, and hit after hit on the Beat Today Top 50 Charts, a record label on the south coast of the country sought to sign The Avenues and extend their music to the entire country. The fast-paced music that The Avenues could deliver was exactly what Solstice Records was looking for. Solstice Records, based in San Deangelo, had been at the forefront of early shoo-bop music and was aspiring to carry its momentum into the 1960s. The opportunity to audition for Solstice Records illustrated the incredible potential of The Avenues in the music genre and was a vital turning point in The Avenues' career.

The Avenues, gambling more money than they had, made the trip across the country to audition for a chance at nationwide success. Despite the distance and bassman Christopher Jones falling ill shortly beforehand, The Avenues proved their talent. The group would sign with Solstice Records soon after. Then record executive and founder Christopher Walsh described the group as "fine young men" with voices as "smooth as silk." Solstice Records would take previously unrefined talent and manufacture a group whose neatness in musical style and appearance would come to captivate the nation's youth.

Crowds of Jimenean youth fill a record store in Contigo circa 1962.

|"A Date With An Angel"|
In late 1961, The Avenues would record songs for the release of their first album with Solstice Records. The music recorded would include a variety of songs, most notably "A Date With An Angel" and "Sólo Tu." Sólo Tu would be one of the first Spanish shoo-bops to be produced and would feature Armando Chavez as lead singer as he was the only group member that could speak the language fluently. Despite the song's comparatively low success, it created a formula for other Spanish-speaking groups to replicate in an effort to break into the shoo-bop genre.

The album proved their biggest hit and would skyrocket to the #1 spot of Beat Today's Top 10 Albums before the year came to a close. The song "A Date With An Angel" would remain on the top of Beat Today's Top 10 Songs despite the album later waning overall.

With nationwide success, a prestigious label, and what felt like unlimited exposure, the group emerged as one of the frontrunners of 60s shoo-bop.

|Premature End|
With the additional release of two singles, "Oh, Ava Dear" and "Teenage Paradise", The Avenues enjoyed a wave of fame throughout 1962. Songs that had been released by amateur labels before The Avenues signed with Solstice had begun picking up airtime prompting Solstice to purchase sole rights to the released music by the aforementioned amateur labels. For most of the year, The Avenues maintained public interest through heavy touring and exposure to music-performance television programs.

1963 seemed like it would have the same potential as the previous year for The Avenues. With no indication of taking their feet off the brakes, The Avenues would continue their rigorous touring and also began to work on recording a possible second album to be released by the end of the year.

On February 14, 1963, however, the country was left in shock after news circulated over radio and television about the road accident that had occurred earlier that night. The tour bus of the Avenues had been involved in a deadly accident after harsh weather had produced over most of the island. Two of the five members of the Avenues, Dylan Wallace and Christopher Jones would be pronounced dead at the site of the accident. Lewis Morgan, lead singer of the group, would die hours later at Saint John's Regional Hospital.

Armando Chavez and Nicolas Bonner would sustain minor injuries as a result of the accident. In the months following, The Avenues, with Chavez and Banner, would have a revolving door of new members until the group officially disbanded in 1964.

The Avenues were inducted into the Shoo-Bop Hall of Fame in 1989.

|Legacy|
Although The Avenues' potential was cut shorter than anyone could expect, the group remains one of the most consequential of the shoo-bop genre. Their brand of shoo-bop was much faster than that of their predecessors in the 1950s and had set a tone for how new music would be arranged. The Avenues had further captivated the youth of the country towards the genre and opened the floodgates for new artists to emerge.

Armando Chavez would go on to form a Spanish shoo-bop group called La Ventura which further cemented his influence among the Jimenean Spanish-speaking population. Nicolas Banner would move from group to group before eventually finding success with another group called The Bourbons.

The Avenues' impact on shoo-bop, Jimenean pop culture, and the national music industry as a whole cannot be denied. In 1989, The Avenues were inducted into the Shoo-Bop Hall of Fame and later inducted into the Neo-Record Hall of Fame in 1991. Sixty years later, we remember the legacy of The Avenues and their sweet San Jimenez sound.

[Lesva]

Violet Lightning releases two new songs, one of which is interpretated to have political undertones

Violet Lightning, a Lesvan-Ahnslen musical act based in Arborai, has released two new songs and their accompanying music videos. The songs are "No One Replacing You" and "We Can Rise", which have both been released as promotional singles from an upcoming second studio album. Both singles have become topics of discussion among music fans and pop culture enthusiasts, especially among the Lesvan diaspora. However, "We Can Rise" has attracted more attention in comparison to "No One Replacing You" because of its' alleged subject matter and themes. While "No One Replacing You" seems to be an upbeat love tune, with a music video that mimics 80's movies aesthetic, or specifically early 80's and possibly even 70's, as vintage is part of Violet Lightning's brand, "We Can Rise" is interpreted as having deeper meanings, specifically in the lyrics.

The talk is that the lyrics of "We Can Rise" could be seen as political with undertones of social activism. In fact, the lyrics and the name of the song suggest that people are called upon to "rise." When thinking about this, interpreters of the lyrics believe this is not so much addressed to the Lesvan diaspora, including the Lesvan community in Arborai or Ainslie overall, but more to Lesvans still inside Throngist Lesva under the fascist dictatorship there. Even though chances are very low if not non-existent that the song could somehow be heard by Lesvans in Lesva itself, there are still instances of smuggling outside material into the country, which managed to slip past the Throngist Party's sight and their requirement to pre-approve everything, thus Lesvans abroad have already expressed hope that their compatriots, that are still inside the fascist dictatorship's jurisdiction, will be able to hear the song and maybe make some sort of conclusions.

However, Lesvan diaspora are also applying the lyrics to themselves, including those dissident expats that live in free countries today. They interpret the lyrics as a call to the Lesvan diaspora as well. The call is to not only help and participate in the activist cause of freeing their compatriots from the Throngist regime and bring about a free Lesva, but to create civil societies and activist movements that would work on solving the issues of the countries that the diaspora lives in, as well as help in international issues.

[Lesva]

Amid ongoing crackdown, Throngist regime arrests members of the Saela-based garage band Chain for their self-released new "anti-Throngist" single "Everyone's The Same"

Frontman, lead singer of Chain (Identity hidden).

Protests continue in Throngist Lesva over the Throngist dictatorship's ongoing arrests of students, teachers and faculty across the country's universities over alleged anti-ideological activities and supposed collaboration with terrorist and militant organizations. The protests are being carried out not just by students themselves, but also by citizens in general, with slogans against student arrests, in support of political prisoners and against repressions. Even though the regime is intensifying its' crackdown with police, militia and keeping the military on stand-by, with hopes that it would forcefully brrak and end the protests before they could grow, the effect is the opposite. Instead of backing down or fearing to join, people are fighting back more intensely and the geography of protests is growing, as more people are joining, more cities are joining and more parts of the country are becoming more affected by the regime's repressions.

In the midst of all these events, the regime has hit yet another new low. Police and regime-loyal Carmineshirts militia in Saela, the capital, have arrested members of an independent garage band Chain. The band is comprised of young people in their late teens and early 20's. They were arrested after the police and the militia raided a regular garage, where the band were holding one of their rehearsals. The arrest happened after the band self-released their new single "Everyone's The Same", which also became their first political song with lyrics critical of the system and society. The song's release and lyrics coincided with the current events and supposedly the lyrics and the release were not even a coincidence, because in one verse the band supposedly references fellow students that were arrested.

In other news

---

• Great Altera becomes the first country to condemn the current crackdown by the Throngist regime against protesters in Lesva.

[Lesva]

Foreign-based Lesvan dissident band Rigel releases music video for their song "Returning", which symbolizes a comeback of Lesvan expats home

A scene from the music video depicting returning refugees, expats and soldiers of the fictional Gaeltic country of Volnovia, who are acting as stand-ins for Lesvans.

Music video and song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zISVceb3LE

Lesvan dissident electronic musical act Rigel, which is obviously based outside of Throngist Lesva's borders, has released a music video to accompany its' one of its' recent singles - "Returning." The song's lyrics are about the return of all Lesvan expats home to Lesva after the collapse of the totalitarian fascist Throngist regime. The music video follows the same theme, but instead of blatantly filming a story about Lesvans, the directors decided to create a story that would act as a metaphor for real life events. The music video depicts a fictional Gaeltic country of Volnovia that is supposedly geographically located somewhere close to Balnik and to Lesva. Volnovia is depicted as a Slavic country, predominantly Christian Orthodox, which is ruled by a dictatorship and is also in a middle of a war. Although Volnovia is as different from Lesva as it can be, the plight of the characters is meant to symbolize the plight of Lesvan expats that will eventually return home either to fight against the regime or come back after the historic inevitabilities cause the regime's collapse in one way or another. Many of the actors playing the fictional Volnovians in the video are said to be decedents of people who themselves have fled dictatorship or war from across the Isles and relocated to democratic countries of Isles. The music video was filmed in several cities from several countries with Lesvan communities that had been behind the project creatively.

[Lesva]

Violet Lightning: "We know we will perform in a Free Lesva again"

Prototype cover of an upcoming album of Violet Lightning. Title of the album has not yet been revealed.

Violet Lightning, the musical act from Arborai, Ainslie, that was formed by Lesvan expats, has given a new interview on the occasion of the release of their new song - "Wet Pavement", as well as on the occasion of promoting a new upcoming album that does not yet have a title, but which has a prototype album cover that Violet Lightning has shared with the public. During many interviews, members of the musical act have primarily stuck with the topic of music, their singles and the upcoming album, but more and more Violet Lightning has recently been touching on political topics.

The politics going around the minds of the musicians the most have been the topics of questions relating to the largest Lesvan community in Ainslie and Lesvan communities in other countries, as well as news coming out of Throngist Lesva, where the regime controls what information comes in and out of the country especially at times of crises, and international issues concerning all people from all countries. Violet Lightning shared that the band hopes there are underground pirate flows that somehow allow their music to reach fellow Lesvans inside Throngist Lesva, seeing to how the regime tries to prevent outside content, which has not been screened for anti-Throngist messages, to reach citizens in Throngist Lesva. More and more, Violet Lightning has been trying to write new songs that could be upbeat like most of the act's nu disco and retro-pop creations, but which also contain messages in the lyrics that promote hope, a fight against tyranny, pursuit of liberty and even calls for resistance and uprising. Violet Lightning are aware that with more songs containing such messages, their new creations would reach Lesvans in Throngist Lesva even harder, whereas previously the regime might have permitted Violet Lightning's songs, that do not contain political messages, to be played in Throngist Lesva, despite them being create by anti-regime Lesvan expats.

Violet Lightning has also been more optimistic lately that even though the regime appears to stay firm despite its' recent economic troubles, the band would still eventually and hopefully in the near future perform in a Free Lesva, with Violet Lightning aiming to be the first in line to join a line-up that would play in a first musical festival in a liberated Lesva, whether it would be in the capital Saela or in some other Lesvan city or several. In fact, Violet Lightning even dreams of its' own show in a liberated Lesva, where the musical act could play the entire set from start to finish.

Violet Lightning's new single "Wet Pavement": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgYSUYamucI

[Lesva]

December 5

Lesvan diaspora perceives Throngist Lesva's participation in the Islesvision Song Contest as a PR stunt and propaganda strategy for the regime

Logo of this year's Islesvision Song Contest.

Lesvan diaspora is sceptical of the legitimacy of Throngist Lesva's participation in the Islesvision Song Contest after the Throngist regime decided to partake in the international musical competition. After the recent end of radical Jarren Prica's hardliner reign in Throngist Lesva, the current head of the regime Cebra Tolar has started a moderate era with attempts of changing policy and moving Throngist Lesva in a different direction than the one where Prica and other predecessors moved the country in. This is indicated by unprecedented mass releases of political prisoners, amnesties, rehabilitation of the repressed, as well as a reversal of Prica's radical sponsorship of multiple Throngist rebellions abroad for the cause of spreading Throngism. The Throngist regime under Tolar instead seems to be focused on efforts to move away from the radical and militaristic image of predecessors towards a softer, more human and more moderate reputation and that is where the Islesvision Song Contest may be coming into play.

Although the Lesvan diaspora is happy for whichever artist or artists will get to represent Lesva at an international song and musical competition and they will be even more happy in proud of that artist's victory, the Lesvan diaspora is sceptical of Throngist Lesva's participation and its' legitimacy, believing that it could play into the regime's hands as a PR stunt and a win for the regime's propaganda strategy. In case of Lesvan victory, which would cause internal patriotic joy among the anti-Throngist Lesvan diaspora, the concern would be that the Throngist regime could claim it as its' own victory. Some Lesvan organizations abroad are consiferingnwriting to the organizers of the contest with a request to ban Throngist Lesva from participating, however, there is doubt that the non-poltical competition would agree to ban a coubtry from participating for political reasons and also, there is not much support for the initiative among the Lesvan diaspora, because it would deprive a fellow Lesvan or multiple Lesvan artists from participating. Ultimately, ylthe ban would hurt the artists and not the regime.

[Lesva]

December 19

Lesvan diaspora still divided on whether to support or not support Gavi Sarar in the Islevision Song Contest

Logo of this year's Islesvision Song Contest.

Lesvan diaspora remains divided on the question what stance to take on Throngist Lesva's participation in the Islesvision Song Contest and specifically on the representative of Throngist Lesva in the contest - Gavi Sarar. The debate continues on whether this would be the regime participating and promoting itself in an international cultural event or the country of Lesva, which the diaspora still loves, and the artist representing Lesva, or rather representing the regime. Gavi Sarar and his back-up on stage are dawning dark clothing typical of the totalitarian Throngist regime, and are also wearing the pins of the national flag of Throngist Lesva and also the flag of the Throngist Movement Party. These external attributes make it look like Sarar associates with the system and aesthetically is there to definitely represent the regime. At the same time, it is not clear how much free will Sarar has and whether he is dawning these attributes because he is being genuine and has simply been brainwashed by the Throngist system or whether those pins are mandatory. From an artistic perspective, most of the diaspora seems to perceive Sarar as talented and him being Lesvan still instinctually provokes the wish to support him and the homeland he represents. At the same time, it all goes back to the fact that Sarar is not a representative of "normal Lesva", but of Throngist Lesva and despite artistic endeavors, willingly or not willingly, knowingly or not knowingly, Sarar acts as a representative of the regime, despite being part of its' cultural and not political wing. These contradictions keep the diaspora from having a clear stance on Sarar.

[Lesva]

National Live-Action and Animated Film Festival to begin in Saela, starting January 12th

On Friday, 12 January, National Capital of the Throngist Republic of Lesva, the Glorious City of Saela, will host the National Live-Action and Animated Film Festival

Glorious City of Saela, the National Capital of the Throngist Republic of Lesva, never ceases to be the location of grand events. Stepping away from politics and towards culture, starting Friday, January 12th and lasting until Sunday, January 14th, the Glorious City of Saela, the National Capital of the Throngist Republic of Lesva, will host the First Official National Live-Action and Animated Film Festival. This Cultural Event will gather last year's and the current year's, which is into its' first month, pictures of live-action and animated variety, which were all produced at and by the Lesvan Throngist Republic exclusively, and showcase them in a marathon-fashion, celebrating the arts of film and awarding them in the end, while also interacting with the creative teams and film enthusiasts gathered at the Festival. Over the course of the existence of the Throngist Republic of Lesva in the modern age, there have been hundreds of pictures produced of live-action and animated variety by the finest creators and artists that Our Country has brought out and instead of their creations being reduced to the category of entertainment for the people and nothing more, their creations will be celebrated as art and appreciated to the fullest at this Festival, with the Throngist filmmaker associations from across the Country gathering and relishing their common success at this Festival and also receiving the highest appreciation from the Throngist Movement Party of Lesva.

[Lesva]

Foreign-based Lesvan dissident musicians continue informational war against dictatorship through music

Lesvan dissident musicians based in other countries outside of Lesva have reactivated their struggle against dictatorship in Lesva through art. Lesvan musicians abroad were very active during the Throngist period with anti-dictatorship music that could be interpreted as being against all forms of tyranny, but it could not be denied that at the time it was specifically directed at the Throngist regime. However, during the Lesvan Revolution and in the immediate period after it, the activity of Lesvan dissident musicians quieted down, being interpreted as musicians themselves picking sides and wishing to see what the Revolution results in. Since it is now clear that the Revolution replaced the collectivist Throngist dictatorship with the personalist Scadi dictatorship disguising itself as a direct democracy, Lesvan dissident musicians abroad, old ones and new ones, are once again creating new musical works, this time largely aimed at giving a soundtrack to a struggle against the new Scadi dictatorship in Lesva.

The Crow, Violet Lightning and Rigel, which are all musicians, musical acts or musical bands from the Lesvan diaspora abroad outside of Lesva, have recently released new music with lyrics clearly aimed against the new regime of Marshal Iuna Scadi in Lesva. Atma Iaca released a song "Animals", with the lyrics criticizing the dictatorship in Lesva, but also starting out with a bleak condemnation of humanity as a whole for tyranny, war and strife. Nevertheless, the song closes out with optimism for humanity as a species with a capacity for good, reflecting on liberty struggles against tyranny, diplomacy, cooperation, a pursuit to help one and other and to aspire for positive social change. Lesvan dissident nu-metal band Survival Instinct likewise released a new song "Primal Scream", which like Atma Iaca's song starts off with somewhat dark themes as well, making it seem like endless tyranny in Lesva will never end, as it results in one tyranny falling and being replaced by a new, thus destroying hope that the struggle can ever result in domination of liberty and true justice. Nevertheless, the song resuscitates hope for a better future with angrier lyrics about being "fed up" and being ready to carry on the fight for the cause of eventually receiving that long awaited liberty.

In Lesva itself, protest music and dissent among musicians likewise exists, but this type of resistance and criticism of the dictatorship through music is much more dangerous because of problems with freedom of speech and the regime going after those, who disagree. Nevertheless, a musical underground against the system still exists. Chain, a band that faced arrest under the former Throngist regime in Lesva for songs with lyrics criticizing that system at the time, continues to be active in the underground scene, trying to release music with criticism at the system, although it is more subtle, so it is not as easy for the regime to accuse Chain of dissenting. Despite the risk, other musicians and bands against the system likewise continue to appear in the local underground, as artists refuse to submit to fear of repression.

[Lesva]

Sila Vacarin synth-pop track "Back in Saela" becomes a hit among the Lesvan diaspora

Cover of Sila Vacarin's upcoming album "Back in Saela" named after the single.

The song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXSw8DGjf5E

In more news related to music and pop-culture, Sila Vacarin, an up and coming Lesvan dissident expat musician, has released a new song "Back in Saela", which falls into the synth-pop genre. The song's lyrics are about an expat, who misses Saela and wants to go back, where he "left an old version of himself", so with Saela being in the lyrics, the song is clearly not just about any expat, but specifically a Lesvan one, since that the Lesvan people's capital. The reason why the titular character of the song is unable to go back is not stated specifically in the song itself, but given the real life political situation, there is not much needed to know why Lesva is currently a country, which Lesvans miss, but cannot go back to. That reason being dictatorship, whether the previous Throngist one that has survived by taking control of Lesva's island of Cane Islo, or the current Scadi dictatorship, not to mention the de jure and de facto openly fascist regime controlling a militant-occupied portion of the region of Acean in the south-west. The song has become a hit among the international Lesvan diaspora, but it is unknown whether Lesvans in Lesva itself will be able to hear it. The former Throngist Lesva had tough ideological censorship and isolation from outside information coming into the country, so Lesvans had to gain access to it through underground channels. The censorship in Lesva under the Scadi regime is more vague, so it is unclear whether the song will be blocked from accessing listeners in Lesva. At the same time, even if the Scadi regime permits the song, a lot of it could be cut up or censored, reducing it to an unrecognizable version of itself. Or the Scadi regime could decide to ban the song all-together because of it being made by an anti-regime dissident expat outside of Lesva. But music critics believe that whatever happens, the Throngist past has given Lesvans experience how to combat censorship and use underground channels to access prohibited information outside of the regime's sight.

[Lesva]

Surprisingly Throngist era movies are still popular in Cane Islo and even Scadi's Lesva, despite being banned in the latter

An interesting statistic has been coming out from researchers able to access information in Scadi's Lesva and the island of Cane Islo. Apparently, both parts of Lesva with rival parallel governments controlling each and competing for the control of all of Lesvan territory, still have many people watching movies from Throngist Lesva era, with those movies even becoming classics to many Lesvans. There have even been reports of Throngist Lesva cinema reaching the Lesvan diaspora communities in other countries, despite them not having lived in Throngist Lesva. Supposedly, even anti-Throngist Lesvans based abroad find what to like amount from Throngist Lesva's cinema.

It is not surprising that people on Cane Islo are still watching Throngist era movies, because of the Throngists having recently briefly ruled that island, as well as because of the Throngist Movement Party of Lesva (TMPL) still being politically active as an opposition party on Cane Islo and because of the remaining pro-Throngist sentiment on the island. However, it is much more surprising with Scadi's mainland Lesva. While watching Throngist era movies is tolerated on Cane Islo, it is banned in Scadi's Lesva, with people finding "underground ways" how to secretly watch those movies. Some experts and psychologists even, suggest that Scadi's war on Throngist era cinema in Lesva and people watching those movies secretly, could mean a remaining nostalgia for the previous Throngist regime and a regret of having supported its' overthrow by Scadi's Underground Brotherhood and its' own subsequent takeover of power in the Lesvan Revolution. However, analysts also suggest that watching Throngist era movies by people in Scadi's Lesva might not mean nostalgia for that period or regime, because anti-Throngist Lesvans abroad, who have fled Lesva, likewise watch those movies according to statistics. Analysts suggest there is different value being found in Throngist's Lesva cinema, disregarding the ideological propaganda it obviously contains.

Films from the era of Throngist Lesva are exclusively anti-nihilistic, idealistic and often surreal and colorful tales of human triumph over anything and the power of working together to overcome any challenge. Psychologists say these films resonate with people better than any foreign dramas, thrillers, horror films or even low-brow comedies, which show the "realistic" side of life, which not everyone is interested in seeing or even relate to. "Overblown" Throngist era movies are said to have the power to resonate with anybody looking for being uplifted. At the same time, analysts of ideology, including among Lesvan dissident community, have warned that there cannot be a complete surrender to the entertainment factor of these films, as they are "soaked" in Throngist propaganda and could subconsciously make any viewer, including a non-Lesvan, start seeing the appeal in the ideology and its' promoted lifestyle, preferring to live in, rather than in their actual reality, which they might often forget to value because of liberty, security and comfort, which can spoil people and make them wish for something even better, becoming depressed if it is not achieved.

The top 20 most often watched and re-watched movies out of many from the cinema of Throngist Lesva are:

• Shadows of the Forgotten
  
• The Lost Horizon
  
• Beyond the Veil
  
• Echoes of Eternity
  
• The Midnight Serenade
  
• Whispers in the Darkness
  
• The Enigma Chronicles
  
• A Dance with the Stars
  
• The Forgotten City
  
• Tales of the Unknown
  
• Journey to the Forgotten Kingdom
  
• The Last Voyage of the Starlight
  
• Secrets of the Hidden Realm
  
• The Midnight Masquerade
  
• Echoes of the Ancients
  
• Destiny's Eclipse
  
• The Wandering Swordsman
  
• Realm of the Eternal Flames
  
• Shadows of the Enchanted Forest
  
• The Crystal Guardians

[Lesva]

Lesvan dissident musicians abroad resume promoting resistance against the Scadi regime through music in similar traditions as during the Throngist period

In a tradition continuing from the Throngist period, Lesvan dissident musicians from the diaspora communities in different countries, resume resistance against the dictatorship of Marshal Iuna Scadi by writing songs calling for resistance. Musicians have led the cultural pro-democracy, anti-dictatorship resistance in and out of Lesva during the Throngist rule and this has carried on into the current Scadi period in Lesva. Some of the notorious bands, who sang against the Throngists back in the day, are now doing the same against Scadi, keeping alive the dream of a liberated Lesva.

Lesvan electronic band Sleeper Waves, based outside Lesva, have released a new single Enough soil to build again, with metaphorical lyrics about the ability to build new land on the ashes of the old, with band members commenting that this refers to building democratic Lesva after defeating the current dictatorship there, as the Lesvan people, as a nation, have enough spirit, inspiration and "enough soil."

Foreign-based Lesvan nu-metal band Chaos Theory have released a single Did somebody say a revolution?, with the name of the song and its' lyrics not even requiring additional explanation what that song is calling for.

The famous Arborai-based Lesvan-Ahnslen band Violet Lightning, who are preparing to release a new album Spring Brings Psychos, have released a non-album single, with political undertones, titled There's nothing taking me down, which has political undertones, with lyrics about not giving up, falling into apathy or being "too down" to resist anymore. From the safety of being a band based in Ainslie, Violet Lightning is primarily known for non-political music, but members have been outspoken about the situation in Lesva and had previously released some protest songs aimed against the former Throngist regime in Lesva. Now, the tradition continues with Scadi's Lesva.

Foreign-based Lesvan singer, song-writer and pianist Tira Dosin has released Chains (Looking for a savior). The name and lyrics of the song, which the musician already had the opportunity to perform live and even first unveiled during one of live concerts, talks about metaphorical "chains" that keep Lesvan people in captivity of a dictatorship and about a "savior" that the character in the song is looking for, whether it would be some specific person or some metaphysical force that will be able to give Lesvans the strength to liberate themselves from dictatorship.

In the recent interviews of these artists, they have been receiving questions about the possibility of relocating to and playing on Cane Islo, as a liberated territory of Lesva, which the Scadi dictatorship does not control, and where democracy along with the legal constitution are in effect. Some of these musicians claimed not being ready to leave their current homes, while others said that it is early to move to Cane Islo, because the situation still seems uncertain about how long the island will remain free and when Scadi will make another attempt at retaking it. Tira Dosin even subtly voiced an opinion, which has been voiced by dissidents before, about whether the government on Cane Islo will truly follow a democratic path and whether Lesva right now is not simply divided between three competing dictatorships of different ideology, who want to take the entire country for themselves from the other.

Cultural critics and some dissidents have stated that, while the hearts of Lesvan anti-regime musicians abroad may be in the right place and they are right for being patriotic, thinking about their country and using their influence to call for resistance and keeping the spirit of resistance alive, they are also criticized for hoping that their music reaches Lesvans in Lesva from behind the censorship and blockade, and make Lesvans rise up and risk their lives in taking up a fight against the regime, while these musicians themselves remain safely abroad, waiting for their compatriots to overthrow the dictatorship.

In other news

---

• Scadi's Lesva declares non-recognition of domestic partnership institution, just like with marriage.

[Lesva]

Viewy releases first teaser trailer for The Eclipse of Hope, a series with Lesvan actors and parallels to Lesvan history

Viewy's Corporate Logo.



Logo of the upcoming The Eclipse of Hope TV series.

Alteran streaming service Viewy has released a teaser trailer for an upcoming dystopian alternate history series, with the involvement of many Lesvan actors in the cast. The upcoming series is titled "The Eclipse of Hope" and depicts an alternate history universe centred on a fictional country in Gael called the Republic of Casla.

The synopsis of the series is that the Republic of Casla has been a previously democratic country, which has been undergoing years of democratic backsliding and a subtle move towards authoritarianism. Casla holds a presidential election, where the country's semi-authoritarian president is running for re-election for a third term, which was previously prohibited until the ruling majority party of the authoritarian president changed the constitution to allow a third term. The result is falsified with the help of electoral fraud and the authoritarian president is re-elected, leading to nationwide protests in Casla led by the country's opposition parties. This all culminates with the country's military, which in a secret pact with a new fascist-leaning underground opposition political party calling itself the Leviathan Party of Casla, carries out a coup against the authoritarian government with a declared goal of "preserving democracy." A temporary military dictatorship is established and rules the country until new elections are held. Through manipulation, the Leviathan Party of Casla comes to power through snap elections and begins consolidating power in Casla, establishing the Free State of Casla as a one-party totalitarian state ruled by the Leviathan Party of Casla. Former officials of the ousted government establish a Caslan government-in-exile with international recognition based in an unspecified democratic country in Gael. Meanwhile, militia groups by anti-regime Caslan expats begin to form, including ones associated with the government-in-exile, with the goal of invading the Free State of Casla and overthrowing the regime by force. The United Commonwealths of Great Altera assists these groups through financing, arming and training. Eventually, as the regime in the Free State of Casla becomes a growing international threat, Great Altera and the anti-regime militia groups launch a joint invasion of the Free State of Casla. They manage to outnumber the Free State of Casla, which did not receive much outside support, and successfully occupy the southern half of the country, which becomes the Republic of Casla or South Casla, where legitimate government and constitution are restored and the government-in-exile returns to govern. The advance is stopped through a cease-fire between the parties on both sides. The northern half of the country remains the Free State of Casla or North Casla under the one-party dictatorship of the Leviathan Party of Casla. Season 1 or Series 1 will focus on North Casla planning an invasion against South Casla with South Caslan and Alteran soldiers jointly preparing for a possible second war, as Great Altera is invited to establish a military presence in South Casla.

The teaser trailer briefly goes through this entire synopsis, but does not reveal major plot points, as much of the plot described in the synopsis is more of a pre-history or an introduction to the main plot of the upcoming television series. Many famous Lesvan and international actors will play the roles of Caslans, while Alteran actors will naturally star as Alteran soldiers and politicians.

The series has clear parallels with modern Lesvan history with the exception of the joint invasion by Alterans and the militias, as well as the division of the country into a democratic South and totalitarian North. However, a lose parallel can also be established here, given that the Scadi dictatorship in Lesva does not control parts of Lesvan territory, including the island of Cane Islo, which is controlled by a parallel government of the Republic of Lesva and happens to lie to the south of the Scadi regime-controlled mainland Lesva.

"The Eclipse of Hope" is set to premiere on September 7th on Viewy.

[Lesva]

Viewy's upcoming series The Eclipse of Hope already causes controversy months before the premiere

Viewy's Corporate Logo.



Logo of the upcoming The Eclipse of Hope TV series.

The upcoming series set to premiere on Viewy's this fall - The Eclipse of Hope, is already causing controversy before even airing its' firs episode. Some Lesvan communities within the diaspora across multiple countries, are protesting the fact that the show's synopsis and storyline is a clear parallel to Lesvan history and criticizes Lesvan actors for partaking in the project. The grievance of those protesting the series is that it is supposedly "propagandizing foreign military intervention in Lesva" and "propagandizing the dismemberment of Lesva into separate halves with foreign military bases built on them." The opponents or critics speaking out against this series state clearly that they are not defending the dictatorship of Marshal Iuna Scadi and want it removed from Lesva in the same way how the Throngists were removed before it or at least how Throngist one-party rule was removed, since the Throngists now function as an opposition party only on Cane Islo. However, the opponents of the show state that Lesvans must take down the Scadi regime themselves. Critics or protesters say that, while some might argue that the series is just entertainment, its' fictional premise clearly being based on recent Lesvan history, even if the producers have not yet admitted it, and the show clearly being prepared to provide political commentary, makes it more than entertainment and could serve as "propaganda" or creating fun out of the challenges that Lesvans are overcoming at this moment in their history.

In other news

---

• Professor Lecam Ceru: "The so-called "direct democracy" that Marshal Iuna Scadi claims to have built is actually ochlocracy, which is what mob rule actually is. Mob rule is not direct democracy. And even then, Scadi and his regime officials still have too much power over the rest of the citizens in Lesva, in order for it to be called direct democracy."

[Lesva]

First episode of new series The Eclipse of Hope to premiere on Viewy this Friday, September 20th, after release push back

Viewy's Corporate Logo.



Logo of the upcoming The Eclipse of Hope TV series.

This Friday, September 20th, the streaming service Viewy will premiere the highly anticipated, but also controversial tv series The Eclipse of Hope. The original release was announced to be September 7th when the show's teaser trailer was released, however, the premiere was pushed back to September 20th. Although Viewy sometimes releases entire seasons in a single day, the 10-episode first season of the new series will premiere weekly, with episodes releasing every Friday from September 20th according to the licensing agreement that the streaming service has with the production company.

The series contains a large Lesvan cast, made up of expats from the diaspora based outside of Scadi's Lesva. Many Lesvans are happy for their compatriots receiving such an opportunity, however, leading up to the release, the series has been a subject of controversy. Many in the Lesvan diaspora protested the show's premise focusing on a fictional country of the Republic of Casla, which is clearly based on Lesva and its' recent history. Many Lesvans feel that the story is not just exploitative and down-plays the challenges the Lesvan nation has faced for entertainment purposes, but they also feel that it might be propaganda for policy that could be attempted against the country of Lesva in the future. In the show, the Republic of Casla gets' divided into two halves, one under a dictatorship and one under a democracy, after Alteran and international forces intervene militarily in the Caslan Civil War. The democratic half becomes a country protected by foreign democratic powers, including the United Commonwealths, which station soldiers there after taking the territory under military control and propping up the democratic government. The two halves become divided by a demilitarized zone, serving as a border between the two, after a cease-fire and then an armistice agreement. Alteran soldiers will actually play a number of main roles in the series, although they will be played by Alteran actors and not actual soldiers. Seeing to how Lesva today is basically divided between the Scadi-controlled mainland, hybrid regime-controlled Cane Islo and National Socialist-controlled Western Acean, conspiracy theories have begun developing that the show could secretly be encouraging a division of Lesva with the help of foreign intervention that could then result not only in the fragmentation of the country into separate occupation zone, but also stationing of foreign military forces to keep "the situation under control." Lesvan expat detractors oppose Lesva being under dictatorship like it is, but they do not wish the kind of fate for their country, like the one suffered by the fictional Republic of Casla in the series.

Lesvan producers of The Eclipse of Hope, while not speaking on behalf of their Alteran colleagues, have rejected the claims and said that the series was meant to serve an entertainment purpose first and foremost and not be taken as a historic document. Simultaneously, the producers have admitted that parallels with Lesvan history means that the story comes from "a real place" and is based on real experiences, while simultaneously being a fictionalized metaphor for a relevant problem today. The writing staff also includes Lesvans having gone through certain experiences since the Saela Spring and after the Lesvan Revolution.

Viewy is not available in Scadi's Lesva, so obviously nobody will see the series there, unless the locals manage to somehow pirate the series, which the show's creative team, the production company and Viewy, but also acknowledge as the only way that Lesvans in Scadi's Lesva could see the show and the creators really want it to reach the Lesvan population. Nobody from the regime, including Marshal Iuna Scadi himself or his associates, have spoken about the series, most likely choosing to ignore its' existence, although there are theories they could try to watch it secretly through their own exclusive access to outside content. The storyline of the fictional Republic of Casla and it being split after an international invasion as intervention in its' civil war, may actually be analysed by Scadi's military officials and studied as some type of a hint at the strategy of the United Commonwealths or other countries, aimed against Scadi's Lesva, according to conspiracy theorists.

"The Eclipse of Hope" premieres Friday, September 20th, on Viewy.

[Lesva]

The Eclipse of Hope renewed for Season 2 on Viewy

Viewy's Corporate Logo.



Logo of the The Eclipse of Hope TV series.

Tomorrow, Friday, November 22nd, the streaming service Viewy will release the season finale of the tv series The Eclipse of Hope. It will be the 10th and final episode of Season 1 or Series 1 of the tv show. Right before tomorrow's finale, Viewy has confirmed that The Eclipse of Hope has been renewed for Season 2 or Series 2. The tv series has seen critical acclaim and has taken the top spot in viewership for the streaming service.

The Eclipse of Hope is a fictional story, however, it is seen as an allegory for the situation in Lesva because of many close parallels. It tells a story of Alteran soldiers stationed in the democratic country of South Casla, which is facing an increasing invasion threat from its' northern neighbor, the totalitarian, one-party state of North Casla. The story centers on the Alteran soldiers, their lives in South Casla and how they navigate the military tension within the divided Casla, as they are likely to see combat any day of their presence in South Casla. Apart from the North-South division and the presence of Alteran troops, which are fictional elements, the story of the fictional state of Casla has been seen as an allegory for Lesva, specifically Throngist Lesva and even Scadi's Lesva of today. However, newer reviews have said that the element of the fictional state of Casla being divided into dictatorial North and democratic South, is not very fictional, as it could likewise be a loose parallel to the current de facto division of Lesva between the Scadi-controlled mainland, the National Socialist-controlled Western Acean, as well as Cane Islo controlled by a military junta. The fictional South Casla is seen as an allegory for Cane Islo, despite Cane Islo currently being controlled by a military junta of the Restoration Council for Democratic Sovereignty, which came to power in the coup of September 26th. That makes Cane Islo different from the fictional South Casla, which is administered by a democratically elected government in the series.

Some critics, with more negative reviews, have described The Eclipse of Hope as political propaganda, with some even going as far as saying that the story of the series is "a disguised geopolitical plan of the Alteran government", seeing to how it has Alteran forces stationed in one half of the fictional divided country, which is an allegory for Lesva. According to this opinion or rather conspiracy, the Alteran government may want to likewise have its' forces stationed on Cane Islo in real life. This sentiment has even partially been heard in Scadi's Lesva itself, where the series is obviously unavailable for viewing and where the Viewy streaming service is not available overall. The series is also known for having a large portion of its' cast consisting of Lesvans from the diaspora outside of Lesva, who predominantly play the fictional Caslans in the series. This only contributes to the allegory and the parallels, which the series' producers and showrunners are neither confirming nor denying to exist.

[Lesva]

Republic of Lesva on Cane Islo to surprisingly participate in the Islevision Song Contest despite all of its' internal and external challenges

Flag used on Cane Islo.



Map of Cane Islo.



Logo of the Islevision Song Contest 2024.

The Republic of Lesva on Cane Islo ruled by the military junta of the Restoration Council for Democratic Sovereignty has declared that it will participate in this year's Islevision Song Contest hosted by Baumes. This came as a surprise, due to the internal and external challenges that the Republic of Lesva on Cane Islo is facing as a country under Martial Law, ruled by a military dictatorship, facing armed resistance from the previous regime it ousted and from the Throngists, as well as endless pressure from the dictatorship of Marshal Iuna Scadi in control of the Lesvan mainland, who it invade at any moment. And yet, while dealing with all of these challenges, the junta is hosting international leaders and has hosted even more in a short time than the increasingly isolated Scadi regime in the mainland has. In fact, all Marshal Iuna Scadi does is frequent the Balniki capital Rustov and is the most frequent guest of Dovesti Andre Chernobog. Moreover, not only is Cane Islo's military junta is inviting foreign leaders one after another, currently hosting Alteran Prime Minister Johansen Fenix, but the Republic of Lesva on Cane Islo is also trying to make life continue on other frontiers, while simulteneusly confronting all the current internal and external challenges.

The Directorate General for Culture, a collective body created and managed by the military junta, has suggested that the Republic of Lesva on Cane Islo participate in the Islevision Song Contest. This is something that junta leader Sergeant Nesi Parin agreed to and announced the participation soon after. The Restoration Council for Democratic Sovereignty and specifically its' leader Sergeant Nesi Parin signed off on the Republic of Lesva on Cane Islo participating in the competition. Following the green light from the junta, it was now left up to the Directorate General for Culture to organize an audition process for whom the Republic of Lesva on Cane Islo would send to the competition.

The Directorate General for Culture said that this participation in the contest would accomplish a number of goals for Cane Islo. Not only would it start giving attention to culture once again, but it would also make the Republic of Lesva on Cane Islo reengage with the Isles again through culture and not just politics. However, it is very likely that Sergeant Nesi Parin and his junta realize that this also gives the chance for the Republic of Lesva on Cane Islo to legitimize itself as the only real Lesva in the eyes of the Isles. While the former Throngist Lesva did participate in the Islevision once and did not win, Cane Islo's junta knows that Scadi's Lesvan State would not participate in the competition hosted by its' enemy Baumes. Meanwhile, Baumes has a military base on Cane Islo and is currently the only country to have one on the island, much to Scadi's regime's dismay, who in return is increasing support for the Romancian insurgents, including allegedly by aiding the recent terrorist attack in Romancia, which killed 14. Baumes is technically a military ally of Cane Islo, a partnership established under the previous hybrid regime on Cane Islo, but inherited even after the takeover by the current junta of the Restoration Council for Democratic Sovereignty in the coup of September 26th.

Participation in the Islevision Song Contest can help Cane Islo more firmly establish itself as the "true Lesva" in the eyes of the international community, in contrast to Scadi's Lesva, which only participated in two international sporting competitions so far - this year's International Basketball League and the WBO International Cup, but skipped the recent Colaza Cup, possibly motivated by tensions with Baumes. Interestingly enough, Scadi's Lesva participated and was allowed to participate in the WBO International Cup in the Kingdom of Kaskalma, despite Scadi's regime considering Kaskalma a State Sponsor of Terrorism. It is explained by the necessity for the regime needing another kind of PR for itself in international athletic events, thus it sometimes oversteps its' own rules and principles.

Scadi's Lesva will most likely ignore the competition, so will most likely not here much protest from Saela over Cane Islo's participation on behalf of Lesva.

[Lesva]

Entertainment news: "Solar Storm", the latest instalment of the "Lightyears" franchise, prepares for an international premiere next month after becoming a domestic hit in native D&S

For a change, let us now turn to lighter news from the world of entertainment.

"Tempête solaire", also known as "Solar Storm", which is the latest instalment in the "Années-lumière" franchise or the "Lightyears" franchise, has experienced a record-breaking debut domestically in its' native D&S. The movie continues generating waves of interest and excitement not just in its' home country where the movie already debuted, but abroad even before premiering in foreign markets, which is planned to take place next month, in July. If the international fans and casual audiences in foreign markets show up in massive numbers, which would bring an Isles-wide box-office triumph, then movie-lovers have a guaranteed summer blockbuster on their hands.

In its' native D&S, the triumph of home-grown animation artistry is taking the audiences by storm as an anticipated installment of a popular franchise. The movie's soaring ƒ1 billion domestic weekend triumph has set a spark of celebration from fans and critics alike. Yet as "Solar Storm" prepares for its foreign language translated releases in July, there is also a worry that movie fans, fans of this particular franchise, film critics and entertainment analysts have for the franchise's future. The fear is directly related to the "soul of cinema" and the art of film. Can "Lightyears", as the expression goes, "fly too close to the sun" with its' success?

Media experts and entertainment industry analysts say that towering entertainment empires may be on the horizon. Whispers are growing louder about what could happen when a story, that began in the hands of visionary artists as their work of art, catches the eye of potential monopolistic entertainment giants? How "safe" is "Lightyears" from being targetted by some IP-hunting corporation with a cartoon character mascot and an ambition to monopolize its' control over all entertainment by buying every IP under the sun?

The works of Studio Yonder and Kapolder Animation started out as niche darlings of the Doraltic animation scene. So far, they have managed to remain independent, whether defiantly or not. However, can the studio or partner production companies secure their authenticity and avoid temptation by large multinational conglomerates? International buyers could be circling. Not just one, but a number of potential major media conglomerates with cartoon mascots may already be seeking to inquire about licensing and distribution rights across different regions of the Isles. Or maybe even buying "Lightyears" as an IP all-together. The prospect generates concern for many in the community of pro-authenticity creators and their fans, who want to protect their favorite IPs from corporate "claws." They are concerned not about profits, but about the purpose.

We would now like to turn to our interview with film critic and entertainment analyst Fesi Agomar, who gave his insights into the whole climate of the entertainment world, particularly what we are discussing in this story.

---

Reporter: "So give us a window into this whole corporate politics pertaining to entertainment, which should be art first and foremost, correct?"

Fesi Agomar, film critic and entertainment analyst: "Absolutely right. Imagine this - a beloved, risk-taking franchise gets absorbed into the belly of a corporate leviathan. What once had an author’s voice becomes a synthetic echo chamber of recycled beats and color-graded sameness.

Once upon a time, starships and superhumans represented myth, memory, and rebellion. When, or if, these entertainment conglomerates, which usually have cute anthropomorphic animal cartoon character mascots as their brand, which is how you recognize which ones to watch out for, get their hands on these franchises, they become product and not art. They are transformed into high-yield intellectual properties, forcefully cross-stitched into cinematic universes so tightly you can practically hear the focus groups whispering behind each line of dialogue. Stories once told in tragedy and triumph now feel like pre-programmed simulations. You have plot arcs that scan like they were written by marketing software and character deaths that come with resurrection clauses baked into sequel contracts.

Commitees and the algorithm start making these movies and shows. Directors are cast, they don't actually make the movie, but the algorithm does. The directors just put their names on the product for marketing purposes. And then they just start pumping out new installments on a factory assembly line under a conmittee's watch. The goal becomes trying to squeeze every penny before the market is eventually oversaturated and fatigue sets in. It even hurts my heart to use economic terms like "market", when we speak about film."

Reporter: "Some, possibly you included, fear that "Lightyears" could meet the same fate as this hypothetical scenario you described, if these big corporations and studios start hunting for the franchise in their IP quest."

Fesi Agomar, film critic and entertainment analyst: "Yes and frankly, I am happy that people have this fear. And you are right, I share it. What we feel shows the passion and the care for this story and for these characters. It shows a wish to save authenticity and I would even say dignity.

Imagine a popular character from "Lightyears" rebranded as a breakfast cereal mascot. Imagine "Solar Storm: The Ride" or something like that, at some sanitized theme park for the whole family, where war crimes are turned into splash zones. Imagine plushie versions of dead aliens sold to toddlers.

If "Lightyears" would get swallowed up by the corporate entertainment machine, you can just imagine characters hollowed out to fit into crossover pipelines with their faces slapped onto lunchboxes and smartwatches. I can already picture special-edition costumes designed not for narrative reason, but for better shelf presence at collectibles stores. And I can already hear dialogue written to be paused, clipped, and shared, with entire scenes built not around emotional pay-off, but for meme potential.

Suddenly, every character needs a prequel series, a diaper commercial, and a fast-food meal tie-in. You lose friction, you lose danger, you lose the point. Everything becomes safe, cynical, and internationally consumable.”

Reporter: "Do you think the creators of the "Lightyears" franchise or the studios and the production companies behind the franchise can withstand the temptations? What if some aspiring major media giant pitches a good deal to them? For me, all of this consumerist shallowness you desribed does not sound appealing, but for others they might be swept away by all of these waves of money that could come their way if they were to sell the IP to one of these aspiring media begemoths."

Fesi Agomar, film critic and entertainment analyst: "You are right and they are only human, so I cannot blame them for potentially being tempted. But my personal hope is that they are creators first and foremost. That they are artists and not business people. I hope and believe that they love their creation and love their fans enough to save their franchise from becoming a shallow corporate product with its' authenticity long gone.

You see, "Lightyears" was never meant to be “content.” It was meant to be cinema. And while international distribution could elevate it to new heights from a business and maybe exposure perspective, the wrong hands could also reduce it to a franchise-shaped echo of itself.

There’s a difference between cultural export and cultural annexation. One sparks imagination. The other buries it beneath a quarterly report."

Reporter: "Thank you for your time."

Fesi Agomar, film critic and entertainment analyst: "Absolutely. It was my pleasure. Thank you for inviting me to talk to you. This was fun."

In other news

---

• Ioudaia deploys long-range anti-air defense systems to the Republic of Lesva on Cane Islo. The anti-air defense systems are there to join the Alteran short-range air defense systems already deployed on Cane Islo.
  
  
• After a search with international assistance, Corkair confirms that no additional survivors have been found from the Dia Mara tragedy.

[Lesva]

The Eclipse of Hope Season 2 teaser trailer drops online: New episodes set to premiere on the streaming service Viewy in early November

Viewy's Corporate Logo.



Logo of the The Eclipse of Hope TV series.

Streaming service Viewy has released the teaser trailer for the second season of the tv series The Eclipse of Hope. Even though we have separate channels covering pop culture, our main network does take note of this tv show in particular, including on our main network. The reason for it is the fact that The Eclipse of Hope is a series that has a lot of Lesvan actors from the international diaspora and because the series is an alleged allegory for our own country's history.

To recap the premise from our own newtork's past report about the The Eclipse of Hope tv series:

The synopsis of the series is that the Republic of Casla has been a previously democratic country, which has been undergoing years of democratic backsliding and a subtle move towards authoritarianism. Casla holds a presidential election, where the country's semi-authoritarian president is running for re-election for a third term, which was previously prohibited until the ruling majority party of the authoritarian president changed the constitution to allow a third term. The result is falsified with the help of electoral fraud and the authoritarian president is re-elected, leading to nationwide protests in Casla led by the country's opposition parties. This all culminates with the country's military, which in a secret pact with a new fascist-leaning underground opposition political party calling itself the Leviathan Party of Casla, carries out a coup against the authoritarian government with a declared goal of "preserving democracy." A temporary military dictatorship is established and rules the country until new elections are held. Through manipulation, the Leviathan Party of Casla comes to power through snap elections and begins consolidating power in Casla, establishing the Free State of Casla as a one-party totalitarian state ruled by the Leviathan Party of Casla. Former officials of the ousted government establish a Caslan government-in-exile with international recognition based in an unspecified democratic country in Gael. Meanwhile, militia groups by anti-regime Caslan expats begin to form, including ones associated with the government-in-exile, with the goal of invading the Free State of Casla and overthrowing the regime by force. The United Commonwealths of Great Altera assists these groups through financing, arming and training. Eventually, as the regime in the Free State of Casla becomes a growing international threat, Great Altera and the anti-regime militia groups launch a joint invasion of the Free State of Casla. They manage to outnumber the Free State of Casla, which did not receive much outside support, and successfully occupy the southern half of the country, which becomes the Republic of Casla or South Casla, where legitimate government and constitution are restored and the government-in-exile returns to govern. The advance is stopped through a cease-fire between the parties on both sides. The northern half of the country remains the Free State of Casla or North Casla under the one-party dictatorship of the Leviathan Party of Casla. Season 1 or Series 1 will focus on North Casla planning an invasion against South Casla with South Caslan and Alteran soldiers jointly preparing for a possible second war, as Great Altera is invited to establish a military presence in South Casla.

After having followed the characters throughout the difficulties of Season 1, audiences will soon receive an opportunity to see where they will all end up during the events of Season 2. Although the teaser trailer does not reveal all the nuances of the storyline, including the so-called "plot twists" as to be expected, the teaser trailer did serve its' purpose, which all teaser trailers have been design to fulfil. The teaser has created anticipation. And, contrary to the streaming trend of the past several years, it does not take years for a new season to come since the last one.

While the specific date has not been confirmed, we already know that Season 2 is set to premiere in early October. Stay tuned for upcoming promos that would reveal the specific date of release, as well as more revelations about the plot, the behind-the-scenes with the cast and crew, and more content.

[Lesva]

Opening Ceremony for the 1st Paita Sudi International Film Festival begins in the Lesvan Republic's current capital city

National Flag of the Republic of Lesva on Cane Islo.



Logo of the 1st Paita Sudi International Film Festival.

Today, the current capital city of the Republic of Lesva on Cane Islo Paita Sudi has welcomed cultural delegations including filmmakers, jury members and film enthusiasts from multiple countries in the Opening Ceremony of the 1st Paita Sudi International Film Festival. The Republican Cultural Foundation represented by Festival Director Teca Alcin, Festival Chair and Republican Cultural Foundation President Ilsa Relac, as well as Master of Ceremonies Ari Ican have welcomed all participants as the official organizational and host body of the 1st Paita Sudi International Film Festival.

As mentioned in multiple reports leading up to the event, Paita Sudi has finally been graced by the honor of becoming a location of a truly positive event that celebrates the creative and romantic side of life. Festival organizers and hosts have said that it is important to host such an event in late October, a season when there is not that much sunlight as before. Thus, it is especially important to bring at least "metaphorical rays of light" to the city, the country and hopefully the wider audience that is going to be engaged with the film festival even remotely through broadcast or following news from it. Likewise, the festival organizers and hosts believe it is important to cast focus on an event of this type, with its' "unity through culture" narrative, especially against the backlight of the recent protests in the Republic itself, the wider geopolitical divisions and everyone's eyes being on the horrible military escalation in the Trastamara Marches. While the Republican Cultural Foundation does not want to sound too ambitious or promote the event against the backdrop of tragic events, the organizers and hosts have expressed hope that the festival, taking place at such a time, will be a drop in the ocean towards the effort of reminding the world it has a soul and helping to prevent collapse into cynicism and hopeless through the reminder that "beautiful things can still be created."

The Republican Cultural Foundation also prides itself on the fact that the 1st Paita Sudi International Film Festival is a civilian effort with minimal state involvement. Specifically, the organizers and hosts noted that there is no separate "Ministry of Culture" that could have partaken in organizing the event.

While the Republic itself opted to only serve as host and not participant, the 1st Paita Sudi International Film Festival will showcase works from 11 countries, including Nhoor, Great Altera, Amestrris, Corkair, The Great Elysian Islands, Hanselans, Yunogaku, Rahv, Wangano, Ioudaia and Biaten.

[Lesva]

The Eclipse of Hope aims for a Season 3 renewal amid positive ratings and reviews

Viewy's Corporate Logo.



Logo of the The Eclipse of Hope TV series.

Season 2 of The Eclipse of Hope premiered earlier this month, on November 6th. Like Season 1, the new arc in the show has been met with positive reviews and has been a hit in the ratings among Viewy's subscribers. The cast of Season 1 has returned and new characters have been introduced. The show is notable for having a lot of ethnically Lesvan actors from the diaspora as part of the cast, however, it also controversial among the Lesvan international community for being a "popcorn play" on the complicated Lesvan history, as Lesvans see clear parallels with Lesvan history, even though the show uses fictional countries and settings, except for Great Altera. The hypothetical scenario explored in Season 1 and continued on in Season 2 is seen by conspiracy theorists as an "intended plan" for what the foreign powers and other actors would like to do to the Lesvan nation state. In the case of The Eclipse of Hope no publicity has been bad publicity. Because of the continued success, the creators, cast and crew have already expressed hopes they would get a Season 3 renewal, because they have ideas and story outlines not just for one more, but multiple future seasons.