Modern art has had plenty to feed off in Yugoslavia. The vibrant art scene produces works which use folk motifs, political symbols and provocative text to pull apart and interpret Yugoslavia's tumultu
May 24, 2006 (Press Release) --
Modern art has had plenty to feed off in Yugoslavia. The vibrant art scene produces works which use folk motifs, political symbols and provocative text to pull apart and interpret Yugoslavia's tumultuous recent history. Surrealist posters bring political messages out of the gallery and onto the streets; some groups hold installations, or 'Phobjects', in bombed out parts of Belgrade. Writers, too, have mined the rich vein of tragedy in their country's history - Ivo Andric won a Nobel Prize for his book Na Drini Cuprija, about the gap between religions.
Yugoslav music and dance is built on a strong folk tradition, similar to that of neighbouring Bulgaria. The gajde, which looks like a large set of bagpipes, is the wailing mainstay of Yugoslav song, and has probably been in the country since the Celts invaded in the 4th century. The Albanian minority in Kosovo tap their feet to a more Turkish tune and play on Arab instruments, while around Guca, gypsy dancers swing their thing to the brassy tones of blehmuzika, Serbia's national brass-band sound. Modern musos such as Momcilo Bajagic and Dorde Balasevic have taken folk themes and added street poetry and jazz.
Yugoslavia's official language is Serbian. This language was developed by philologist and language reformer, Vuk Stefanovich Karadzich, who polished and codified the language of Serbian peasants. Almost the same language as Croatian, Serbian differs in that it is written in Cyrillic rather than Latin script. The Cyrillic alphabet is entirely phonetic, with one symbol for each of the language's 30 sounds - there's no such thing as a silent letter in Serbian. Although most Yugoslavs speak German, and many speak French or English, learning a few Serbian phrases will open doors and create smiles.
Yugoslavia blurs culinary borders, with a cuisine that takes tastes from Turkey, Hungary and Greece. However they spice it, though, the Yugoslavs love their meat: Serbian kebabs, hamburger steaks, vegetables stuffed with meat and mixed grills of pork, liver, sausage and rissoles. Montenegrins, who do a good line in dairy cows, serve their meat with cream and cheese. Even breakfast is meaty - the traditional Balkan burek is a greasy layered pie of cheese and meat. Fruit grows everywhere, and the Yugoslavs like to enjoy their harvest year round by fermenting grapes, apples, or stone fruit into a brandy called rakija. Montenegrin beer is also a tasty tipple.
Source: http://www.yahoo.com
Yugoslav music and dance is built on a strong folk tradition, similar to that of neighbouring Bulgaria. The gajde, which looks like a large set of bagpipes, is the wailing mainstay of Yugoslav song, and has probably been in the country since the Celts invaded in the 4th century. The Albanian minority in Kosovo tap their feet to a more Turkish tune and play on Arab instruments, while around Guca, gypsy dancers swing their thing to the brassy tones of blehmuzika, Serbia's national brass-band sound. Modern musos such as Momcilo Bajagic and Dorde Balasevic have taken folk themes and added street poetry and jazz.
Yugoslavia's official language is Serbian. This language was developed by philologist and language reformer, Vuk Stefanovich Karadzich, who polished and codified the language of Serbian peasants. Almost the same language as Croatian, Serbian differs in that it is written in Cyrillic rather than Latin script. The Cyrillic alphabet is entirely phonetic, with one symbol for each of the language's 30 sounds - there's no such thing as a silent letter in Serbian. Although most Yugoslavs speak German, and many speak French or English, learning a few Serbian phrases will open doors and create smiles.
Yugoslavia blurs culinary borders, with a cuisine that takes tastes from Turkey, Hungary and Greece. However they spice it, though, the Yugoslavs love their meat: Serbian kebabs, hamburger steaks, vegetables stuffed with meat and mixed grills of pork, liver, sausage and rissoles. Montenegrins, who do a good line in dairy cows, serve their meat with cream and cheese. Even breakfast is meaty - the traditional Balkan burek is a greasy layered pie of cheese and meat. Fruit grows everywhere, and the Yugoslavs like to enjoy their harvest year round by fermenting grapes, apples, or stone fruit into a brandy called rakija. Montenegrin beer is also a tasty tipple.
Source: http://www.yahoo.com
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