Thomas E. Wartenberg, a retired philosophy professor from Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts, will be one of the speakers at events during the Iranian House of Cinema Book Week.
According to a report by Mehr, he has scheduled a virtual lecture titled 'Cinema as a Form of Thought' for Tuesday, July 21. His latest book, titled 'Thinking Cinema: Illustrating Philosophy Through Film,' was published in 2025 by Oxford University Press.
Setareh Notadj and Majid Parvanehpour will also participate in this event; they previously worked on translating and publishing Wartenberg's book 'Thought on Screen: Cinema as Philosophy' through Niloufar Publications. Wartenberg is known among those interested in philosophical studies of cinema. Among his works previously released in the Iranian market are 'Philosophy of Cinema: An Introductory Text and Readings,' 'Thinking Through Stories: Children, Philosophy, and Picture Books,' and 'Big Ideas for Little Children: Teaching Philosophy Through Children's Literature.'
Thomas Wartenberg works at the intersection of philosophy and popular culture. Although his newest work focuses on the philosophy of cinema, he has written on a wide range of philosophical topics. Furthermore, his experience teaching philosophy to elementary school students has attracted worldwide attention. He is a former Fulbright Research Fellow, a National Science Foundation Fellow, and an honorary visiting professor at the University of Oakland.
Wartenberg is the author of two books on cinema: 'Improbable Couples: Romance in Cinema as Social Critique' (1999), which analyzes popular romantic films from the 1930s to the 1990s to explore what romances between improbable couples say about social norms and prejudices, and 'Thought on Screen: Cinema as Philosophy' (2007). This book examines films from popular fiction to experimental avant-garde cinema of the 1960s to argue that cinema is a medium for enacting philosophy.
In the spring of 2003, Wartenberg was a Leverhulme Visiting Professor in the Film Studies Program at Kent University, where he gave a series of lectures on whether films can truly philosophize. He also spoke at various universities across England. In addition to his position at Mount Holyoke, Wartenberg is part of the faculty at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he teaches philosophy, cinema, aesthetics, existentialism, history of modern philosophy, 19th-century philosophy, Kant, and philosophy for children.
Egyptian artist Amr Diab sparked widespread online buzz following the release of the official poster for his new album 'Habaytak' (I Loved You), scheduled for release in Summer 2026.
The social media discussion was not driven by the album itself or the artist's appearance, but rather by the fact that he was pictured wearing three luxurious women's watches. This detail caught the attention of fans, who began searching for information about the brand and price of these watches, leading to the images going viral across various platforms.
These watches are the Mini Royal Oak model, which is considered one of the most sought-after designs in the world of luxury timepieces and is widely worn by celebrities globally. According to common pricing, each of these models costs approximately $282,000 USD, a fact that surprised many fans after the information became widely circulated.
Critics suggest that wearing three watches simultaneously is an important element of the album's promotional visual concept, especially considering the famous singer's reputation for meticulous attention to detail in official photoshoots and album covers.
The superstar recently completed recording songs for his new album, preparing for its imminent release and reaffirming his dominance in the summer music season. While working on the album, Amr Diab collaborated with numerous renowned poets, composers, and arrangers, including Tamer Hussein, Aziz El Shafei, and Ayman Bahgat Ammar, as well as other figures from Egypt and the Arab world. The album features both names involved in his past successes and new participants whom he hopes will bring a fresh perspective to the tracks.
It is worth noting that Diab's last album, 'Ebtadeina', was released last summer and achieved the highest streaming count for an Arabic album across various music platforms.
Aston Martin has presented the Dreadnought, a military-nature SUV concept that exists exclusively in the digital environment of the game Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4. This project was developed in collaboration with Infinity Ward and Activision, bringing the aesthetic and performance of the British automaker to the video game universe, it should be noted that the vehicle is not available for purchase.
Created without the restrictions of the physical world, the Dreadnought allows for the exploration of shapes, materials, and technologies that would be unfeasible in a production car. The manufacturer's intention was to incorporate the DNA of Aston Martin into a machine with supercar performance, suitable for the combat scenarios of the new franchise title.
Within the universe of Modern Warfare 4, the SUV features all-wheel drive, described by developers as the most aggressive in the game. Its exterior is equipped with ballistic protection plates, a specific compartment for weaponry, and fuel tanks. The sound experience is complemented by the simulation of a V12 engine roar, generated by the game's physics engine, aiming to strengthen the connection with the brand's sports vehicles. The model will be accessible in tactical locations within the DMZ and Warzone modes at launch.
Despite its military theme, the concept maintains characteristic elements of Aston Martin. The body features Chiltern Green paint and has an external finish in carbon fiber with a 'fishbone' pattern. The interior combines Oxford Tan leather upholstery, carbon fiber details, and a gear selector with metallic gold finish. The name Dreadnought refers both to the English expression meaning 'fear nothing' and to HMS Dreadnought, a pioneering British battleship in the early 20th century.
For Aston Martin, this initiative is part of a diversification strategy, seeking to attract a younger audience and potential luxury clients through electronic games. This is not the first time the brand has been involved in this type of project, having previously created the DP-100 Vision Gran Turismo for the game Gran Turismo 6. A full-scale replica of the Dreadnought will be exhibited at Fanatics Fest in New York. The twenty-third title in the series, Modern Warfare 4, will be released on October 23, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, with the standard edition costing US$ 69.99 in the United States.
The Inhotim Institute, the largest open-air museum in Latin America, located in Brumadinho, Minas Gerais, will offer an additional day of visitation during July, taking advantage of the school recess and holidays.
Throughout the month, Inhotim will be open from Tuesday to Sunday. On weekdays, operating hours will be from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM. On weekends, the hours are extended, running from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM.
Tickets can be purchased through the Sympla platform, with the full price costing R$ 65, and there is a half-price option for R$ 32.50 for qualified individuals and Nubank card users. Additionally, access to the Inhotim Institute is free on Wednesdays.
In addition to permanent exhibitions and tours of the outdoor area, July will feature various exclusive activities. On the 11th, visitors were able to participate in the Learning Showcase of the Inhotim Music School, and other attractions are planned for the coming weeks.
On July 18, starting at 10 AM, a new edition of LAB Art & Natureza, linked to the Youth Forum, will take place. This event focuses on the 13 to 17 age group, promoting discussions on how to preserve the territory and debating specific actions for Brumadinho, with an expected duration of six hours.
On the same day, July 18, at 10:30 AM, there will be the LAB Garden Open Class, which will teach techniques for cultivating aquatic plants. This activity will last 90 minutes and will be led by specialist Marco Otávio.
Towards the end of the month, on the 25th, starting at 10 AM, the 4th edition of Experiência Brumadinho will be held. This event aims to bring together residents and visitors in an exhibition celebrating the culture, gastronomy, and traditions of the municipality throughout the entire day.
