Culture of Norway
This article needs additional citations for verification. (August 2017) |
Part of a series on the |
Culture of Norway |
---|
People |
Languages |
Folklore |
Cuisine |
Festivals |
Art |
Literature |
Music |
Sport |
The culture of Norway is closely linked to the country's history and geography. The unique Norwegian farm culture, sustained to this day, has resulted not only from scarce resources and a harsh climate but also from ancient property laws. In the 19th century, it brought about a strong romantic nationalistic movement, which is still visible in the Norwegian language and media. In the 19th century, Norwegian culture blossomed as efforts continued to achieve an independent identity in the areas of literature, art and music. This continues today in the performing arts and as a result of government support for exhibitions, cultural projects and artwork.[1]
Cuisine
Norway's food traditions show the influence of sea farming and farming the land, traditions with
Fine arts
Literature
Several Norwegian authors have been awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, namely Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson in 1903, Knut Hamsun in 1920 and Sigrid Undset in 1928 for Kristin Lavransdatter. Though he was not awarded a Nobel Prize for his plays, as the first of these were awarded after he published his last play in 1899, playwright Henrik Ibsen is probably the best known figure in Norwegian literature. Ibsen wrote plays such as Peer Gynt, A Doll's House, Hedda Gabler, and The Lady from the Sea. Other Norwegian writers from the realistic era include Jonas Lie and Alexander Kielland, who are along with Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson and Henrik Ibsen regarded as the "four greats" of Norwegian literature.[citation needed]
Also of importance to the Norwegian literary culture is the Norse literature, and in particular the works of
Norwegian literature attained international acclaim in the 1990s with Jostein Gaarder's novel Sophie's World (Sofies verden), which was translated into 40 languages. Other noteworthy writers with an international profile include Erik Fosnes Hansen (Psalm at Journey's End), Karl Ove Knausgård (My Struggle), and Åsne Seierstad whose controversial work, The Bookseller of Kabul, was particularly successful in 2003.[3]
Architecture
Norway has always had a tradition of building in wood. Indeed, many of today's most interesting new buildings are made of wood, reflecting the strong appeal that this material continues to hold for Norwegian designers and builders.[4]
In the early Middle Ages,
In the 17th century, under the
After Norway's union with Denmark was dissolved in 1814, Oslo became the capital. Architect Christian H. Grosch designed the oldest parts of the University of Oslo, the Oslo Stock Exchange, and many other buildings and churches.[citation needed]
At the beginning of the 20th century, the city of
Art
For an extended period, the Norwegian art scene was dominated by artwork from Germany and Holland as well as by the influence of Copenhagen. It was in the 19th century that a truly Norwegian era began, first with portraits, later with even more impressive landscapes. Johan Christian Dahl (1788–1857), originally from the Dresden school, eventually returned to paint the landscapes of west Norway, defining Norwegian painting for the first time."[6]
Norway's new-found independence from Denmark encouraged painters to develop their Norwegian identity, especially with landscape painting by artists such as Kitty Kielland (1843–1914), an early female painter who studied under Gude: Harriet Backer (1845–1932), another pioneer among female artists, influenced by impressionism. Frits Thaulow (1847–1906), an impressionist, was influenced by the art scene in Paris as was Christian Krohg (1852–1925), a realist painter, known for his paintings of prostitutes.[7]
Of particular note is Edvard Munch (1863–1944), a symbolist/expressionist painter whose The Scream is said to represent the anxiety of modern man.[citation needed]
Other artists of note include Harald Sohlberg (1869–1935), a neo-romantic painter remembered for his paintings of Røros and Odd Nerdrum, (born 1944), a figurative painter who maintains his work is not art but kitsch.[citation needed]
Photography
The oldest Norwegian photograph is from Hans Thøger Winther dating back to 1840. Marcus Selmer is considered to be the first dedicated landscape photographer but Knud Knudsen and the Swede Axel Lindahl are remembered for their extensive travels aimed at capturing landscapes.
From the late 19th century until
Around World War I, portrait photography in Norway became more of an expressive art as a result of the work of Waldemar Eide, Dimitri Koloboff, Gunnar Theodor Sjøwall, Aage Remfeldt, Hans Johnsrud and Anders Beer Wilse.[citation needed]
In 1971, the first photographic work (by Kåre Kivijärvi) was accepted at the prestigious Autumn Exhibition in Oslo, marking the widespread acceptance of photography as an art form.[8]
Film
Not until fairly recently has the Norwegian cinema received international recognition but as early as 1959,
There was, however, a real breakthrough in 1987 with
Since the 1990s, the film industry has thrived with up to 20 feature films each year. Particular successes were
Since the turn of the 21st century, there have been a number of successful Norwegian films.[11] These include:
- Erik Poppe's Hawaii, Oslo (2004), depicting an imaginative multiracial Oslo without stereotypes
- Sara Johnsen's Kissed by Winter (2005), in which a female doctor in a small village finds the body of a young Iranian in the snow
- Erik Skjoldbjærg's An Enemy of the People (2005), about a TV celebrity who tries to produce the world's purest bottled water
- Roar Uthaug's Cold Prey (2006), hailed as one of the best modern Norwegian horror movies
- Oscarin 2006
Music
Along with the classical
Norway's classical performers include Leif Ove Andsnes, a pianists, and Truls Mørk, a cellist.
Regarding pop music, Norway has in the recent years had many international popular artists such as a-ha, Sigrid, Kygo, Matoma and Aurora.
The jazz scene in Norway is also thriving; Jan Garbarek, Mari Boine, Arild Andersen, and Bugge Wesseltoft are internationally recognised while Paal Nilssen-Love, Supersilent, Jaga Jazzist, Sturle Dagsland and Wibutee are becoming world-class artists of the younger generation.[12]
Norway has a strong
National traditions
Celebrations and holidays
Norwegians celebrate their National Day on 17 May, dedicated to the
Leisure
Physical culture is important in Norway. With abundant forests and
Cultural institutions
Norway has a variety of cultural institutions, including the
See also
- Arts Council Norway Honorary Award
- Philharmonic Orchestras in Norway
- Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra
- Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra
- Norwegian knitting
- Rosemaling
- Norwegian Year of Cultural Heritage 2009
- Sport in Norway
- Whaling in Norway
- Jante Law
- List of museums in Norway
References
- ^ Norway's Culture. Encarta. Archived 28 October 2009 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 28 November 2008. Archived 31 October 2009.
- ^ Culture of Norway Retrieved 27 November 2008.
- ^ Contemporary literature from Norway Cultural Profile Archived 11 August 2007 at archive.today. Retrieved 27 November 2008.
- ^ The evolution of Norwegian architecture. Norway, the official site in the United States. Retrieved 25 November 2008.
- ^ "Norwegian Architecture by Leslie Burgher. Retrieved 25 November 2008". Archived from the original on 12 October 2010. Retrieved 5 April 2010.
- ^ Haverkamp, Frode. Hans Fredrik Gude: From National Romanticism to Realism in Landscape (in Norwegian). Translated by Joan Fuglesang.
- ^ Norwegian Artists from ArtCyclopedia. Retrieved 25 November 2008.
- ^ Fotohistorie from Norsk museum for fotografi (Norwegian Museum for Photography Archived 11 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine). Retrieved 25 November 2008.
- ^ A brief history of Norwegian film. Norway, the official site in the United States. Retrieved 25 November 2008.
- ^ "Love is the Law". Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
- ^ New York celebrates Norwegian cinema. Norwegian Film Institute. Retrieved 25 November 2008 Archived 14 July 2009 at the Wayback Machine.
- ^ Culture from Study in Norway Archived 19 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2 December 2008.
- ^ Norwegian Folk Music from Norway, official site in the UK. Retrieved 25 November 2008.
- ^ Contemporary art from Norway the official site. Retrieved 28 November 2008.
- ^ Culturenet.no. Retrieved 2 December 2008.