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Evolutionary Rap
Good Bye To Nearly All That
The Protection of Folklore

Posted: 28 Jun 2011 08:09 AM PDT

After taking the rap for the decline of morality for so many decades, Charles Darwin now has a rap of his own. Scholar Baba Brinkman, described as "[a] tall blond Canadian of Dutch ancestry," has put Mr. Darwin and a lot of other cool evolution stuff into 90 minutes' worth of rappa-tainment at Manhattan's Soho Playhouse. Olivia Judson reviewed the show for the New York Times last year and loved it, as does David Rooney, who points out that Mr. Brinkman's show is also a guide to the evolution of hip-hop.

Can't make it to Manhattan? Swag is available via the website, and at retailers online.

Good Bye To Nearly All That

Posted: 28 Jun 2011 07:52 AM PDT

Alessandra Stanley provides a look back at yet another series in Dick Wolf's venerable franchise, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, which aired its last first-run episode this week.

The Protection of Folklore

Posted: 28 Jun 2011 07:49 AM PDT

Ayoyemi Lawal Arowolo, Babcock University School of Law and Security Studies, has published Copyright Law and the Recognition of 'Folkloric Creations' and 'Folk Medicine' in Africa, at 5 Journal of Black and African Arts and Civilization 33 (2011). Here is the abstract.

Creations in traditional African societies are often categorized as folklore which is protectable under copyright law as expressions of folklore. They are indeed precious jewels which bear eloquent testimony to the wonderful civilisation and culture flourishing in traditional communities in Africa. The rich cultural heritage of Africa is a sign of the creative activities of the past. The present has not given enough recognition to the role and protection of works based on folklore thus compounding the misappropriation of folkloric works and folk medicine. The controversy on the protection of folklore is an issue African countries face and need to resolve. The invaluable role of folklore in African societies and the deficiencies in protecting creative works within traditional parameters to encourage intellectual creations is examined in this paper.

Download the article from SSRN at the link.