by the Editors
This column currently has no Diva! If you are interested in this topic and would like to take "ownership" of this column, please email Pam or Winter.

This is an introduction to what we hope will be a page that grows in popularity with the Divas. Since Divas come from every part of the this world, we thought it would be fun to have information of a cultural nature here every month.  It would be a stepping stone to understanding our fellow Divas better.

To start with, even though this is not really the place for links and because we have yet to find our "Cultural Diva", we'd like to tell you about a few websites that have information and a multitude of articles on the various topics of culture.

Culture encompasses everything from religion, art, language, philosophy, gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, nationalism, social and political views, and more. To steal a line from a television commerical, it's the fabric of our lives...literally. The variances of culture are among the many factors that can lead humans to fight amongst themselves. Colleges and universities offer degrees in various kinds of cultural studies. Some of these links are to sites published by students and faculty members at univerisities. All of the sites are interesting, even though some are written in highbrow collegiate language.  As you look through them, we're sure you'll find something to interest you or something that parallels some facet of your life and culture. If you would like to share with the Divas something about your culture please feel free to email us and let us know. We're happy to showcase cultural essays here.

Enculturation - An online journal devoted to contemporary theorizations of rhetoric, writing, and culture. Each issue highlights artists whose work resonates with the issue's general theme. They encourage the submission of aesthetic works in a wide variety of media forms.

Ethnic and Cultural Studies Resources - Has many links to interesting culture related sites.  Plus your kids will love the weasel! LOL

CogWeb: Cognitive Cultural Studies - CogWeb contains several hundred articles and is continually under construction. It is run by an assistant professor at UCLA. If you enjoy learning, the articles are a fascinating read.  

Cultural Studies From Birmingham - An ejournal on Cultural Studies produced by the Research
Centre for Sociology and Cultural Studies at the University of Birmingham. There are articles, editorials, and book reviews all relating to culture. The most recent edition has articles on domestic violence, Jane Austen, travel brochures, Carnival and reproductive autonomy.

Blackwell Cultural Studies Resources -  A collection of links that reflect the diversity of interests and methods in Cultural Studies. It is designed to reach across knowledges, regions, and topics. The links are divided into sections and the what's been grouped together is fascinating as well.

Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage - The Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage promotes the understanding and continuity of contemporary grassroots cultures in the United States and abroad. It produces the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, exhibitions, documentary films and videos, symposia, and educational materials. The Center conducts research, maintains archives, and provides educational and research opportunities.

Cultural Studies Central - CSC features original interactive commentary and analysis, links to the best cultural studies resources on the planet, and pointers to exciting and superior World Wide Web projects devoted to special cultural studies interests.

PopCultures.com - PopCultures.com is the comprehensive guide and resource area for cultural studies, popular culture analysis, and mass media theory. Has links to other sites related to popular culture analysis, cultural studies and mass media theory.

Border Crossings - This site has links to articles about every area of culture. It has some very interesting articles about gender and sexuality, about how people view themselves and their bodies, about the problems between nations because of borders. It's topics are all well deserving of a looksee.