Culture of Lebanon
It was home to the Phoenicians and was subsequently conquered and occupied by the Assyrians, the Greeks, the Romans, the Persians, the Arabs, the Crusaders, the Ottomans and the French.
Daoud Corm (1852-1930), Habib Serour (1860-1938) and Khalil Saleeby (1870-1928) are considered the first successful professional studio artists in Lebanon, with careers extending to Europe.
They were known for portraiture of Lebanese high society and men of religion, as well as Christian sacred art in the case of Corm and Serour.
Many art galleries also add to the local art scene, exhibiting the works of artists such as Ayman Baalbaki,[8] Akram Zaatari,[9] Marwan Sahmarani,[10] Nadim Asfar,[11] Lamia Joreige,[12] Jean Marc Nahas,[13][14] Ricardo Mbarkho,[15] Mansour El-Habre,[16] Anita Toutikian and many others.
[21] A Jean Dubuffet's huge sculpture can also be seen when visiting the atrium of Bank Audi Plaza, located in a beautiful contemporary building designed by Kevin Dash.
Initially, Ashkal Alwan promoted and introduced the work of artists who have been engaged in critical art practices within the context of post-war Lebanon.
Umam Documentation & Research runs an exhibition space (The Hangar) located at Haret Hreik, in Beirut's Southern suburb with extensive events.
The photographs can be viewed in a research center and various events and publications have been produced in Lebanon and worldwide to promote the foundation.
He developed a silk industry, upgraded olive-oil production, and brought with him numerous Italian engineers who began the construction of mansions and civil building throughout the country.
[25] Several contemporary Lebanese writers have also achieved international success; including Elias Khoury, Amin Maalouf, Hanan al-Shaykh, and Georges Schehadé.
Several contemporary Lebanese writers [26] have also achieved international success; including Elias Khoury, Amin Maalouf, Hanan al-Shaykh, and Georges Schehadé.
[34] Radio stations feature a variety of genres and languages, including traditional, classical Arabic and Armenian[35][36] Prominent traditional musicians include Fairuz, an icon during the civil war, Sabah Melhem Barakat, Wadih El Safi, Majida El Roumi, and Najwa Karam who built an international audience for the genre.
[33] Marcel Khalife, a musician who blends classical Arab music with modern sounds, boasts immense[37] popularity for his politically charged lyrics.
[33][34] Distinguished pop artists include Nancy Ajram, Haifa Wehbe, Fadl Shaker, Elissa, and Mika.
[33] According to the World Intellectual Property Organization, Lebanon's music industry is growing and could attain leading status in the region.
[38] Lebanese performers are celebrated throughout the Arab World,[39] and with the notable exception of Egypt enjoy increasing regional popularity.
[38] Rising demand for Arabic music outside Western Asia has provided Lebanese artists with a small but significant global audience.
[41] Despite its small population and geographic size, Lebanon plays an influential role in the production of information in the Arab world and is "at the core of a regional media network with global implications".
[42] After independence, Beirut emerged as the epicenter of publishing in the Arab world, characterized by free and liberal media and literary scenes.
[50] Some scholars like Abdulatif Shararah divided theatre in Lebanon into three phases: translations of European plays, Arab nationalism, and realism.
Greek Orthodox, Catholics (Maronite and Melkite), and Protestant Christians follow the Gregorian Calendar and thus celebrate Christmas on 25 December.
M'Juhdara, a thick stew of onions, rice, and lentils, is sometimes eaten around Lent by people in the Lebanese diaspora.
