The Arts Of Russia Essay, Research Paper

Russian Art, Music and Literature

The Arts play a large role in the expression of inner thoughts and beauty in life. From dance and music to art the concept of life is shown through the various ways in which we interpret it. The arts play a valued role in creating cultures and developing and documenting civilizations. Russia has been developing the its culture for as long as anybody could think. Nowadays, Russian painters and musicians are quickly becoming well known among each and every one around the world. It should be no surprise that the rich Russian culture is producing so much talent, and everyone around the world seems to enjoy it. Great artists such as Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky (music), Valery Yakovlevich Bryusov (literature), and Marc Chagall (art) have shared Russia’s culture with the rest of the world.

Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky is mostly known for his great musicals. One of his greatest musicals “The Nutcracker” has been turned into an ice show in United States of America. Peggy Flaming, Nicole Bobek, Todd Eldredg, and Brian Orser along with others star in the beautiful and magical ice show. “The Nutcracker” is a story of a young girl (Clara) who receives a Nutcracker doll as a Christmas present from her Godfather (Drosselmeier), and with the help of a little magic, the doll comes to life in her dreams. Everybody, especially children, love to watch how these ice champions bring the Christmas story of “the Nutcracker” to life. The Swan Lake is also a very known production of Tchaikovsky. The well-known theme of the tragic Swan-Princess from Swan Lake seems to embody the intense, heartfelt, romanticized suffering which Tchaikovsky music gives voice to so often. Numerous people around the world listen to Tchaikovsky when they are either in a bad mood and want to relax or just to break away from the world and go to an imaginary world. In music competitions countless of musicians perform Symphony no. 6 in B minor to have a chance at winning the competition.

Valery Yakovlevich Bryusov is a very known poet, novelist, playwright, translator, and essayist who pioneered Russian modernism. He first gained critical recognition when he published (with A.A. Lang) Russkie simvolisty (1894-95; “Russian Symbolists”), an anthology of original poems by Russian Symbolists as well as of translations from the French. This work was an important landmark in the Russian modernist movement, and Bryusov eventually became the recognized leader of Russian Symbolism when he assumed in 1904 the editorship of its leading critical journal, Vesy (”The Scales”). The most important of Bryusov’s own ten volumes of original poetry published between 1895 and 1921 were Tertia vigilia (”Third Vigil”), Urbi et orbi (”To the City and the World”), and Stephanos. As a poet Bryusov displayed great technical skill and erudition in his mystical and eroticized treatments of history and mythology. Poets, all around the world, after reading his poems started to write in a more spiritual way. His highly ornate and cerebral poetry also evinces qualities of coldness, detachment, and artificiality. His prose fiction includes the novels Ognenny angel (The Fiery Angel) and Altar pobedy (”Altar of Victory”). Having broken with the Symbolist movement in 1910, Bryusov taught literature after the Russian Revolution and held teaching and publishing posts until his death. He is best remembered for his efforts as a translator, critic, and essayist to raise the stature of modern poetry in Russia. He influenced people such as Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr. to pursue a modernist movement.

Marc Chagall, one of many Russian born, great painters and designer. He is distinguished for his surrealistic inventiveness. Chagall distinctive use of color and form is derived partly from Russian expressionism and was influenced decisively by French cubism. Crystallizing his style early, as in Candles in the Dark, he later developed subtle variations. His numerous works represent characteristically vivid recollections of Russian-Jewish village scenes, as in I and the Village. His works have been displayed all over the world. A canvas completed in 1964 covers the ceiling of the Opera in Paris, and two large murals hang in the lobby of the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City. His works have influenced many of the artists in his era. Some of his influences have reflected on the works of Edvard Munch “The Scream” and Vincent Van Gogh “Starry Night”. His works are displayed in Museum of Modern Art, New York City and the Art Institute of Chicago. His Biblical themes characterize a series of etchings executed between 1925 and 1939, illustrating the Old Testament, and the 12 stained-glass windows in the Hadassah Hospital of the Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center in Jerusalem. In 1973 Mus?e National Message Biblique Marc Chagall was opened in Nice, France, to house hundreds of his biblical works.

As you could see, Russia’s culture has influenced many other places and is further spreading. Many Russian writers like Anton Chekov had his works on stages of famous places such as Broadway in New York City. A writer by the name of Fedor Dovskoevsky has written loads of books, from which a quantity of books have been translated to 150 Languages.