Cultural Studies

For most of us, pageants conjure up smiling beauty-queen hopefuls parading around in bathing suits or glittery gowns. But most of us have never witnessed the Miss Navajo Nation competition - a unique pageant established in 1952 to celebrate women and tradition in Navajo culture.

After the U.S. and India, the world's third largest producer of feature films is Nigeria. Welcome to Nollywood explores this burgeoning film industry, from its unique challenges to its diverse array of films that both mirror and comment upon the social ills of the continent.

A magical portrait of Russia's revolutionary artistic avant-garde - Mayakovsky, Voloshin, Blok, Malevich, Tatlin - through the life of Sonia Dymshitz-Tolstaya, an impassioned artist whose life reflected the social upheavals of her time. She was one of the few Jewish women who became part of this inner circle.

How can one believe that terrorism leads to heaven? Banned by the Indonesian government, this provocative documentary examines the psychology of extremism in a country with the largest Muslim population in the world.

A surprising and inspiring documentary about breaking gender and religious barriers in India. With no equipment or funding, a group of young Buddhist and Muslim girls work tirelessly to be the first female team to compete in the national ice hockey tournament.

Business Process Outsourcing is the fastest growing industry in the world. In India, over 350,000 people are currently working in call centers. Vikeeh Uppal, or "Ethan Reed," is one of them. You may have already spoken with him.

Since 1962 the United States has imposed an economic, commercial and financial embargo on Cuba. Bloqueo examines its effects, the reasons for its implementation, and why it has endured for so many decades.

Set against the staggering and exotic beauty of Mongolia, Kiran Over Mongolia follows the story of a young man as he attempts to learn the culture of his ancestors through the ancient art of eagle mastery.

A Sundance festival favorite, Crossing Arizona offers a far-reaching and up-to-the-moment look at the hotly debated issue of illegal immigration, as captured at America's current flashpoint - the Arizona border.

As China continues its unprecedented economic growth, Last House Standing captures the poignant story of an elderly man caught between his country's past and future.

Re-released for 2020. Ever wonder why Jews and Rastafarians both use the Star of David and make references to Zion? This exuberant documentary explores the surprising connections between reggae culture and Judaism.

Earlier this year, Gustav Klimt's "Adele Bloch-Bauer I" was sold for $135 million, the largest amount ever paid for a painting. This wonderful new documentary invites viewers to explore Vienna at the turn-of-the-century and the rich artistic movement that engendered such a work.

A stark and honest look at the explosion of teen pregnancy in Brazil, this award-winning documentary follows four young girls, ages 13 to 15, through the course of their pregnancies and into the early days of motherhood.

An unflinching look inside the contentious recall of an immigrant rights activist in California, and the fierce conflict it sparked within the Latino community, between recent and assimilated immigrants, over what it means to be an American.

The AIDS pandemic in Africa as seen through the eyes of two young girls, an American and South African teenager, featuring the music of the Dave Matthews Band and U2.

Revealing an aspect of Iranian society rarely exposed to the West, filmmaker Ata Hayati brings his cameras to Behesht Zahra, Tehran's biggest cemetery, to witness Iran's distinctive culture of death.

How does an American Indian tribe preserve its heritage while functioning in modern America? Long Journey Home tells the story of walking in two worlds through the family of Dee Ketchum, tribal chief of the Delaware Indians from 1998 through 2002.

This video chronicles the filmmaker’s quest to uncover the mystery of her Slovak identity and heritage. As a young girl growing up during the Cold War, she was curious about the 'strange' language spoken by her grandmother and the enigma that shrouds her past.

This ten-part series examines the history of the North American Indian, exploring their social, political and economic systems, as well as their art, religion, and educational values

This portrait of Margaret Randall—activist, poet, writer, teacher and photographer—comes at a particularly appropriate time, as patriotism is being equated in some quarters with keeping silent about important issues.