Culture of Norway
The unique Norwegian farm culture, sustained to this day, has resulted not only from scarce resources and a harsh climate but also from ancient property laws.
[citation needed] Also of importance to the Norwegian literary culture is the Norse literature, and in particular the works of Snorri Sturluson, as well as the more recent folk tales, collected by Peter Asbjørnsen and Jørgen Moe in the 19th century.
[citation needed] Norwegian literature attained international acclaim in the 1990s with Jostein Gaarder's novel Sophie's World (Sofies verden), which was translated into 40 languages.
Other noteworthy writers with an international profile include Erik Fosnes Hansen (Psalm at Journey's End), Karl Ove Knausgård (My Struggle), and Åsne Seierstad whose controversial work, The Bookseller of Kabul, was particularly successful in 2003.
Although dominated primarily by German influences in the late 19th century, pictorialism caught on in Norway as it did elsewhere in the world and was promoted by the Oslo camera club, founded in 1921.
[citation needed] Around World War I, portrait photography in Norway became more of an expressive art as a result of the work of Waldemar Eide, Dimitri Koloboff, Gunnar Theodor Sjøwall, Aage Remfeldt, Hans Johnsrud and Anders Beer Wilse.
Pinchcliffe Grand Prix, an animated feature film directed by Ivo Caprino and released in 1975, is based on characters from Norwegian cartoonist Kjell Aukrust.
[citation needed] Regarding pop music, Norway has in the recent years had many international popular artists such as a-ha, Sigrid, Kygo, Matoma and Aurora.
The jazz scene in Norway is also thriving; Karin Krog,[12] Terje Rypdal,[13] Jan Garbarek, Jon Christensen,[14] Arild Andersen, and piano playing writer Ketil Bjørnstad,[15] followed by Mari Boine, Sidsel Endresen,[16] Bugge Wesseltoft, Nils Petter Molvær,[17] Eivind Aarset[18] and Rebekka Bakken[19] are internationally recognised.
[21] Among the most prominent folk musicians are Hardanger fiddlers Andrea Een, Olav Jørgen Hegge, Vidar Lande and Annbjørg Lien, violinist Susanne Lundeng, and vocalists Agnes Buen Garnås, Kirsten Bråten Berg, and Odd Nordstoga.
Many people wear bunad (traditional costumes) and most participate in or watch the Norwegian Constitution Day parade, consisting mostly of children, through the cities and towns.
Common Christian holidays are also celebrated, the most important being Christmas (called Jul or jol in Norway after the pagan and early Viking winter solstice) and Easter (Påske).
With abundant forests and mountain plateaus, and extensive coastal areas and rivers, Norway has a natural environment which encourages outdoor sports, inclusive of hiking.
In recent years, the Norwegian Archive, Library and Museum Authority has encouraged synergies between the cultural institutions and local municipalities, affecting schools, historical understandings, and community interests.
