The Arts and
Humanities
Literature. Nepal's literary tradition dates
only to the nineteenth century with Bhanubhakta Acharya's adaptation of the
Hindu epic, Ramayana, for a Nepali readership. The development of literature in
Nepal has been hindered by heavy government control and censorship, which led
Nepali authors and poets to seek publication outside of Nepal until the 1930s,
when Nepal's first literary journal,
Sharada, created a more open venue for literary expression.
Among Nepal's greatest writers and poets are Lakshmi Prasad Devkota, Lekhnath
Paudyal, Balkrishna Sama, and Guruprasad Mainali.
Graphic Arts. Much of Nepali art is religious.
Newari artisans create cast-bronze statuary of Buddhist and Hindu
deities as well as intricately painted tangkas that describe
Buddhist cosmology. The creation and contemplation of such art constitutes a
religious act.
Performance Arts. Dramatic
productions often focus on religious themes drawn from Hindu epics, although
political satire and other comedic forms are also popular. There is a rich
musical heritage, with a number of distinctive instruments and vocal styles,
and music has become an marker of identity for the younger generation. Older
people prefer folk and religious music; younger people, especially in urban
areas, are attracted to romantic and experimental film music as well as fusions
of Western and Asian genres.
No comments:
Post a Comment