Artistic and cultural life in Britain
Artistic and cultural life in Britain is rather rich. It passed several
main stages in its development.
The Saxon King Alfred encouraged the arts and culture. The chief debt
owed to him by English literature is for his translations of and commentaries
on Latin works.
Art, culture and literature flowered during the Elizabethan age,
during the reign of Elizabeth I; it was the period of English domination
of the oceans.
It was at this time that William Shakespeare lived.
The empire, which was very powerful under Queen Victoria, saw another
cultural and artistic heyday as a result of industrialization and
the expansion of international trade.
But German air raids caused much damage in the First World War and
then during the Second World War. The madness of the wars briefly
interrupted the development of culture.
Immigrants who have arrived from all parts of the Commonwealth since
1945 have not only created a mixture of nations, but have also brought
their cultures and habits with them.
Monuments and traces of past greatness are everywhere.
There are buildings
of all styles and periods. A great number of museums and galleries
display precious and interesting finds from all parts of the world and from all
stages in the development of nature, man and art.
London is one of the leading world centres for music, drama, opera and dance.
Festivals held in towns and cities throughout the country attract much interest.
Many British playwrights, composers, sculptors, painters, writers, actors,
singers and dancers are known all over the world.
The British Council promotes knowledge of British culture and literature overseas.
It organizes British participation in international exhibitions and
encourages professional interchange in all cultural fields between
Britain and other countries.
|