48 is no cosy travel brochure - tourist attractions are given a wide berth and the beaten track is positively avoided as the programme aims to get an insight into the lives of young people in each destination, and find out what's important to them.
Every new location get Amanda's in depth report on education, arts, culture, fads and tradition, youth issues, music, sports, and employment.
From Syria’s heavy metal fans to Belgrade's "turbo folk" stars; from the housing crisis in Old Havana to the palatial homes on Bahamian Harbor Island; 48 explores the extremes of every destination to give a reality check on how people are living today.
Entertainment editor and presenter Amanda Palmer conceived the 48 series, and writes and presents the show, which is a monthly programme for Al Jazeera English's entertainment strand.
| Coming up on the next edition of 48: |
Paris
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| Hip Hop Dancers in Paris |
Amanda and the
48 crew land in the French capital, Paris, the city celebrated throughout the world for its culture, architecture, romance, and gastronomy. But we’ve got no time to sip espressos on the Champs Elysees. We’re discovering underground Paris - literally.
With local guides Karine Barzegar and Laurent Prieur we’ve given passports to the world of the cataphiles – the catacomb enthusiasts. We spend our first night exploring the Roman-built 2,000 year old network with the help of the cataphiles’ secret map, and navigate through the complex network that stretches 300 kilometres below the city. Catacombs have been used as burial chambers and as bunkers by the Germans and French resistance during World War Two.
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| Theo is a Stencil Artist in Paris |
We discover the multicultural and artistic east side of Paris, an area which boasts ethnic diversity (it has two Chinatowns, not just one) and a vibrant artistic community. The cheaper rent acts as a magnet too.
We meet Nemo, one of the pioneer street artists, who has transformed his community’s walls in the famous Belleville area with his iconic image of the red balloon. Nemo’s elegant graffiti – which is illegal - has won the hearts of locals and inspired a new generation of guerilla artists.
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Fashion designer
Stéphanie Coudert
and Amanda Palmer |
In east Paris we also meet fashion designer Stéphanie Coudert, who was mentored by Haute Couture design house Christian Dior, and who draws inspiration from her upbringing in the Middle East.
We find out about how Paris’s chronic youth unemployment is threatening the traditional French bakery. And thanks to guide Karine, we see the other side to Bastille Day.
The Paris edition of 48 will be broadcast from Saturday 12th May at the following times:
Saturday 12th May - 14:30 and 22:30 GMT; Sunday 13th May - 02:30 and 12:30 GMT; Monday 14th May - 07:30 GMT; Tuesday 15th May - 07:00 and 13:30 GMT; Wednesday 16th May - 00:30, 11:30 and 2030 GMT; Thursday 17th May - 05:30 and 19:30 GMT; Friday 18th May - 03:00 and 16:30 GMT; Saturday 19th May - 06:30 GMT
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