Happy Atheist Forum

I love learning new things. Especially about other countries and cultures. So I had what I think is a great idea of us sharing a taste of the culture from our own country. I just thought that there's so much great literature, music, movies and art that most people haven't even heard of. And I sure don't want to miss out on that! Now, I understand the consept of 'lost in translation' (so I left out poetry), but it doesn't necessarily mean that you can't enjoy it, right? And for those of you who's either American or British (which is most of you) it would be cool if you knew some lesser known authors etc. since people all over the world have a good understanding already of American and British culture. (So no Beatles  :D

I love travelling (and haven't done a tenth of what I would like to) because it shows me how peculiar I am and how my culture is not the same as others. I love The Netherlands. The Dutch have such a wonderful attitude to living. So tell us about Norway.

Well, I love the culture of my region, the pacific northwest, so here's some stuff unique to my area.  :blush:

H.P. Lovecraft is one of my favorite American authors.  He is somewhat similar to Poe, with more of a scifi-esque edge to his writing.  While he has a pretty big cult following, most people don't know who he is.  His writing has inspired some mainstream elements of pop culture, though.  The Reanimator movies are based off his writing, and the frequently referenced Necronomicon of horror lore was his creation as well.

You can read some of his work here. (http://www.hplovecraft.com/writings/texts/)  Cool Air is one of my favorites.

Being a jazz musician I will, of course, say that jazz is one of the most profoundly influential offsprings of American culture, specifically black American culture, that this country has given to the world. It's the one I most relate to and the one of which I am the most proud.

It's ironic that it is now Europe and Japan that place the greatest value on jazz while America all but shuns it. It's also the main reason that I intend to move back to Europe as soon as I can!

Oh, and both sides of my family are from Norway. I have many relatives there. Norway has a thriving jazz scene.

My father's family comes from Stavanger and my mother's family from Bergen, where you live. My last name is Norem and my mother's maiden name is Lonning.

I've been to Norway and it's very beautiful, particularly the fjords.

Norway (Officialy 'Kingdom of Norway)

Learned something there already did ya?
Anyways, here goes.

Literature
Like everywhere else in the world, there has been some great literature coming from Norway. Most notable is Knut Hamsun with his book "Hunger" and Sigrid Undset with her trilogy about Kristin Lavransdatter "The Wreath", "The Wife" and "The Cross". (Both of them won the Nobel Prize in Literature) Another book which has been a huge international success is "Sophie's World" by Jostein Gaarder.
Links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunger_(novel (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunger_(novel))
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kristin_Lavransdatter (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kristin_Lavransdatter)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sophie's_World (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sophie's_World)

Playwrights
Norway has had some great playwrights. Most famous is Henrik Ibsen who wrote "Peer Gynt", "A Doll's House", "Ghosts", "The Wild Duck" and "Hedda Gabler" among others. Ibsen alongside Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, Jonas Lie and Alexander Kielland makes "The Great Four (The Four Greats)" .

Art
I'm sure you've all seen "The Scream":
(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg249.imageshack.us%2Fimg249%2F6356%2F470pxthescream.jpg&hash=17d6481ca5e8c5b6d9519fb00b1e231ecc322f4d)
But do you actually know who painted it? It is by Norwegian painter Edvard Munch.
Other paintings by Munch:
(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg139.imageshack.us%2Fimg139%2F9995%2Fsfgb.jpg&hash=8ff15f93cb42fd37f4bda5dde85468c855fd8f88)
(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg121.imageshack.us%2Fimg121%2F4069%2Fdfgegb.jpg&hash=e683db8e200c18c01995383975fbfe3039742c63)

Music
Depending on your taste of course. We've got everything (even an own genre which you've never heard of  ). Though Norway is known for its heavy metal. Most famous composer however is Edvard Grieg (he's even from my city). You've all heard something from Grieg. Even if you don't realise it. Here's a couple of samples:
[youtube:16221bq2]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAbwMGZtIsY[/youtube:16221bq2]
[youtube:16221bq2]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrIYT-MrVaI[/youtube:16221bq2]

Movies
Lastly, movies. Norway has made some pretty decent horror movie like "Villmark", "Cold Prey", "Dead Snow" and "Rovdyr". Other than that the biggest Norwegian movie would have to be "Max Manus" (English title: Man of War) which is based on the real events of the life of resistance fighter Max Manus during World War II.

So, that was just a small taste of the Norwegian culture. Hope you enjoyed it. And thanks for sharing as well!

Quote from: "i_am_i"Oh, and both sides of my family are from Norway. I have many relatives there. Norway has a thriving jazz scene.

My father's family comes from Stavanger and my mother's family from Bergen, where you live. My last name is Norem and my mother's maiden name is Lonning.

I've been to Norway and it's very beautiful, particularly the fjords.

I didn't know that! Do you speak any Norwegian at all?

Quote from: "Cecilie"

Quote from: "i_am_i"Oh, and both sides of my family are from Norway. I have many relatives there. Norway has a thriving jazz scene.

My father's family comes from Stavanger and my mother's family from Bergen, where you live. My last name is Norem and my mother's maiden name is Lonning.

I've been to Norway and it's very beautiful, particularly the fjords.

I didn't know that! Do you speak any Norwegian at all?

Sadly, no. My parents wanted their children to be real all-American. There was a lot of that going on back then.

My grandparents, see, they never really learned to speak English. My family is from a very Norwegian part of Iowa, where everyone was a farmer and everyone spoke Norwegian. My parents wanted their children to be immersed in American culture, so there was no Norwegian culture around when I grew up, just a few knick-knacks from the old country.

Hmmmm, I've lived in so many different cultures in the US, hard to pinpoint one.  I'm kind of a mismash of everywhere I've lived.  I'll see what I can come up with

Quote from: "i_am_i"

Quote from: "Cecilie"

Quote from: "i_am_i"Oh, and both sides of my family are from Norway. I have many relatives there. Norway has a thriving jazz scene.

My father's family comes from Stavanger and my mother's family from Bergen, where you live. My last name is Norem and my mother's maiden name is Lonning.

I've been to Norway and it's very beautiful, particularly the fjords.

I didn't know that! Do you speak any Norwegian at all?

Sadly, no. My parents wanted their children to be real all-American. There was a lot of that going on back then.

My grandparents, see, they never really learned to speak English. My family is from a very Norwegian part of Iowa, where everyone was a farmer and everyone spoke Norwegian. My parents wanted their children to be immersed in American culture, so there was no Norwegian culture around when I grew up, just a few knick-knacks from the old country.

Oh. Something to do before you die then: Experience May 17th (in Norway).

Quote from: "Cecilie"Oh. Something to do before you die then: Experience May 17th (in Norway).

Well, I'll tell you something that I did do. When I was living in England I was invited to a Norem family reunion, held on the island of Sjornoy in the fjords. All the little girls were wearing tradition Norwegian costumes. Everybody there looked like me! It was quite an experience. I saw the brightly-painted tiny little church where my father's parents were married, was shown the graves of some of my ancestors and spent an evening with distant cousins on the old Norem farm. It was quite something and I remember it fondly to this day.

I very much intend to go back someday, absolutely.

Remember this? (For you who were alive at the 80's)  

[youtube:2nxcm104]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EXxMlIExpo[/youtube:2nxcm104]

Well to give you a little insight to where I live now.... this is our former sheriff.  
[youtube:1lkwcaa3]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCG9sIFRqx8[/youtube:1lkwcaa3]

I think Buster (new sheriff) is still keeping with the pink for most inmates..... I think, have to ask my deputy friend.

[youtube:2h8qkoba]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwxOhe5Yjqg[/youtube:2h8qkoba]

I think he does a pretty good job of describing what "proud texans" think of texas.  But he forgot to mention that she knows she ain't an ape.

Yes, lets not forget the blue bonnet fever every spring!!!
We have people from all over TX and all over the world come to this area in the spring to see the blue bonnets.  It's truly amazing for this many people to inundate a little sleepy town just to see a blue flower.

[youtube:1x0lkhsp]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeeWzFUTwU8[/youtube:1x0lkhsp]
[youtube:1x0lkhsp]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WULpYyv7FjA[/youtube:1x0lkhsp]
[youtube:1x0lkhsp]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATyGuDTLBjA[/youtube:1x0lkhsp]

Btw, meet some of my friends:
[youtube:1x0lkhsp]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyVCh4MiemA[/youtube:1x0lkhsp]

In terms of local food stuffs (as in local to the NJ-PA-DE area):

Pork roll (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pork_roll).  Which I personally love.  It's like a thinner, tangier version of Candian bacon.  Great on breakfast sandwiches, or fried until the edges get crispy.  Nom.  I might make some of this now!
Cheesesteak (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheesesteak).  I never knew growing up that this is a regional thing, but it seems they don't really do them outside of the greater Philadelphia area.  Usually entails fried minute steaks, onions, and cheese, although there are many variations.  The roll is key to the creation-it's got to be a good, hard roll.  Newer variations include the chicken cheesesteak and the pizza steak.
Tastyake (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tastykake).  These are originally native to Philadelphia and the East Coast, but have slowly been creeping West.  Basically, they manufacture prepackaged baked goods that are good in that disgusting junk food kind of way.
Salt water taffy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_water_taffy).  Was originally marketed out of Atlantic City (my town!), but is now sold almost anywhere there's  a beach or boardwalk.  Contrary to its name, it does not contain salt water.  A soft and chewy taffy that comes in a multitude of flavors.

Quote from: "KDbeads"Well to give you a little insight to where I live now.... this is our former sheriff.  
[youtube:15xooy3g]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCG9sIFRqx8[/youtube:15xooy3g]

I think Buster (new sheriff) is still keeping with the pink for most inmates..... I think, have to ask my deputy friend.

That's just a brilliant idea  

My country is not famous for its culinary delights, but there are a few exceptions to that rule:

Poffertjes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poffertjes) are very tiny pancakes that are served with some butter and powdered sugar.
Kroketten and Bitterballen (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bitterballen) is a deep fried meat delicacy.
Gouda cheese (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gouda_cheese) is one of the best cheeses in the world. Tip: if you are in Holland then try to get hold of the matured "boerenkaas". It is nearly impossible to get it abroad. Accompanied with a good glass of red wine or a sweeter dessert wine, it will blow your socks off.
Matjes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matjes) is a soused herring dish, that makes the Germans go back to Holland year after year.
Rijsttafel (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rijsttafel) is an elaborate meal adapted by the Dutch from the Indonesian feast called nasi padang. It consists of many (forty is not an unusual number) side dishes served in small portions, accompanied by rice prepared in several different ways.

Audrey Horne. In my opinion one of Norway's most underrated bands. From Bergen and plays heavy and melodic hard rock. Here are two songs one from their album "Le Fol", the second one from "Audrey Horne".

[youtube:22kmjcif]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGqQCl8GWec[/youtube:22kmjcif]
[youtube:22kmjcif]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fj3LHNRdSk[/youtube:22kmjcif]

I'll attempt to add a bit to the pot here.  I'm currently in San Antonio (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Antonio) - I'm sure everyone knows its famous stories and this old building:

(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.principalspage.com%2Ftheblog%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F%2F2008%2F06%2Falamo.jpg&hash=7a8484c8dc154ee3ab20d16ae06c532d3a885750)

But I'll be moving back down to the coastal plains soon - where I grew up.  Since stuff around there is less well known, I'll show some stuff about it.  My hometown of Cuero, Texas (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuero,_Texas) besides being famous for "chupacabra (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chupacabra)" sightings has more to it than that:

[youtube:2tastq6y]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nO9Yx6Bg1wk[/youtube:2tastq6y]

It has a large festival every year focusing on, no joke, turkeys - it's called Turkeyfest.  It originally started as the "Turkey Trot Festival" and has been happening every October for nearly 100 years:

[youtube:2tastq6y]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGecrkQZuRQ[/youtube:2tastq6y]

Just 26 miles north of Cuero, Texas is a little town called Shiner, Texas - home of the Spoetzl Brewery (http://www.shiner.com/) which makes the widely known Shiner Bock beer:

[youtube:2tastq6y]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pSTfdE9tR4[/youtube:2tastq6y]

Shiner has a festival every year as well called Bocktoberfest which has become pretty big, this is from a few years ago the 2006 Bocktoberfest:

[youtube:2tastq6y]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4J8YlA0yGNg[/youtube:2tastq6y]

If you turn to the south of Cuero about 30 miles you come to Goliad, Texas famous for its Spanish missions (http://www.presidiolabahia.org/):

[youtube:2tastq6y]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tvkstp6N-is[/youtube:2tastq6y]

I'll leave ya with this for now even though there's plenty more...

This is as Norwegian as it gets. "Hallingdans" is a Norwegian folk dance where you dance around in a circle and kick a hat off a stick.

[youtube:1xdyciw8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Wq6If8MsFQ[/youtube:1xdyciw8]

Also, some pictures of the "bunad" which is a traditional Norwegian costume. Most women have one, but not that many men have. They are hand made and really expensive.


(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg689.imageshack.us%2Fimg689%2F5871%2Fbunad.jpg&hash=4e10e3db43c90707b2e983551ae82889dd3ea217)

My bunad looks like this (that is not me   ):

(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg411.imageshack.us%2Fimg411%2F6934%2Fimage007lg.jpg&hash=a834e25d2cac8a4281bda8db8a7bed5e48380057)

http://www.visitnorway.com/360/geiranger/ (http://www.visitnorway.com/360/geiranger/)

There's a nice video you can watch here:
http://www.visitnorway.com/ (http://www.visitnorway.com/)

Quote from: "Cecilie"http://www.visitnorway.com/360/geiranger/

That is truly beautiful, magnificent.

Texas culture:

[youtube:17fgg5eo]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmvo2HKrNl8[/youtube:17fgg5eo]

http://www.cartermuseum.org/ (http://www.cartermuseum.org/)

(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdallassocials.files.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F09%2Fbig-tex.jpg&hash=4c98b360c5e41845b525d0a4fac32ef5b04b2af4)

http://sxsw.com/ (http://sxsw.com/)

... amongst other things.

We are also a great big producer of heavy alternative rock. Bands like Tristania, Dimmu Borgir, Sirenia and Satyricon originate in Norway.

Quote from: "Cecilie"Audrey Horne. In my opinion one of Norway's most underrated bands.

I'm gonna watch them live in Oslo soon  

Quote from: "Asmodean"

Quote from: "Cecilie"Audrey Horne. In my opinion one of Norway's most underrated bands.

I'm gonna watch them live in Oslo soon  

Lucky you.

Some images from the area where my family lives.

[youtube:1rbreit2]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNLExP2QEMY[/youtube:1rbreit2]

[youtube:1rbreit2]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPMOxxrknWI[/youtube:1rbreit2]

Quote from: "Squid"I'm sure everyone knows its famous stories and this old building:

(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.principalspage.com%2Ftheblog%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F%2F2008%2F06%2Falamo.jpg&hash=7a8484c8dc154ee3ab20d16ae06c532d3a885750)

WHERE'S THE BASEMENT?!
(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thetripwire.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2010%2F01%2FPee-weeHerman.jpg&hash=01bd56f199389fed06f6f7ef2ce4d2468fbdcdb8)

I've already told you about my country! AND written you poetry!

Lol, Just putting in my contribution.

Quote from: "skwurll"I've already told you about my country! AND written you poetry!

Lol, Just putting in my contribution.

Phht.

As a person living in Australia, but not a typical specimen.
Sport, Sport, Sport.
Times are tough the politicians say, we have to make cutbacks, but don't worry we won't touch the sport budget.
There was an some Olympic games some decades back, where we never won a gold, a moment of national crisis.

Science
Howard Florey, together with Ernst Chain and their team made penicillin work.
Barry Marshall and Robin Warren were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their discovery that peptic ulcer disease (PUD) was primarily caused by Helicobacter pylori.
Elizabeth Kenny's polio treatment.

I'm sure we could have done better if wasn't so much sport, sport sport around here.

Film
Geoffrey Rush, Kate Blanshet, Hugo Weaving, Joss Whedon, Nicole Kidman and so many more.  
If New Zealand doesn't want Russel Crowe I'll count him as one of us, he lives nearby some of the time.  
I watched "The Insider" recently, brilliant.

Music
There was some good stuff made here that never caught on elsewhere.
ACDC is not our best band.

Our Minister for Cultcha
"Sir Lesley Colin Patterson is a fictional  character portrayed by the Australian  comedian  Barry Humphries. Obese, lecherous and offensive, this farting, belching, nose-picking figure of Rabelaisian excess is an antipodean Falstaff".

I'll do Literature some other time.

I decided to be quite stereotypical in this post and I realized when doing it, these are actually a few of the things I love about Scotland.

I could not find that many decent videos of a Ceilidh band. I stumbled upon the one below and realized I may have  danced to this band before at a wedding in St Andrews. I say may as I was most likely smacked off my tits at the time (if you pardon the expression).

[youtube:lj2kklb9]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RI-siD26dks[/youtube:lj2kklb9]

Also, a few places I really enjoying being: Glasgow Uni (http://www.byres-road.co.uk/photos/100_0040_edited2.jpg), Edinburgh Castle (http://kollinz.ironcube.info/kollin/amazingplaces/places/Edinburgh%20Castle,%20Edinburgh,%20Scotland.jpg), Glen Coe (http://castledeep.com/db3/00227/castledeep.com/_uimages/Day2-GlenCoevalley.jpg) and Loch Lomond (http://www.robertburns.org.uk/Assets/Images/DSCF0054.JPG).

Fun Fact - "Loch" is not pronounced "lock", put the back of your tongue to the roof off your mouth as if your about to gather spit. That is how your pronounce the "och"

Quote from: "The Magic Pudding"ACDC is not our best band.

But they're pretty goddamned good.

Quote from: "Dretlin"I could not find that many decent videos of a Ceilidh band.

I'll check them out! Currently, these are my favorite Scottish musicians  

Paolo Nutini

[youtube:3gus2y8z]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYKz24dMsV8[/youtube:3gus2y8z]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYKz24dMsV8

Frightened Rabbit

[youtube:3gus2y8z]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzjERZU3wbY[/youtube:3gus2y8z]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzjERZU3wbY

Quote from: "Thumpalumpacus"

Quote from: "The Magic Pudding"ACDC is not our best band.

But they're pretty goddamned good.

Agreed.

ALISTAIR REYNOLDS :

This man is the greatest living exponent of Space Opera.

He is to science fiction what Jimi Hendrix is to the electric guitar - seriously.

He is an astrophysicist, so he knows his shit.

He takes an idea, pushes it to it's absolute limit, and then some. THEN he starts writing.

Anything with his name on the cover should be read, but his best is Revelation Space.

If you prefer novellas instead, try Diamond Dogs, Turquoise Days - especially if you're a mathematician.

If you read one of his books and are unimpressed, there is something wrong.

He's not actually English, he's Welsh, but that's irrelevant.

KONTROLL :

This isn't English either, it's Hungarian, but a brilliant, dark,funny film about a group of ticket inspectors and their daily experiences.

Quote from: "zerofivetwoseven"ALISTAIR REYNOLDS :

Yes Yes Yes I love Alistair Reynolds novels and I'm ready to have my brain digitised.

Quote from: "zerofivetwoseven"This man is the greatest living exponent of Space Opera.  

Probably, I haven't read all novels in the genre.

Another Alistair Reynolds fan! I have all his books. He is my favourite author after Terry Pratchett.

I have also read Peter Hamilton as well. He too is a science fiction writer specialising in space opera, but Alistair Reynolds is head and shoulders above him. His attention to detail is phenomenal and his imagination is limitless. There are only two authors whos entire back catalogue I would happily re-read and he is one of them. The other is Sven Hassel. He was a Dane who fought for Germany in a penal regiment. There is some doubt as to this, but even so, his first two novels, Wheels Of Terror and Legion Of The Damned - which were banned at the time - should be read by everyone. Harrowing, raw and brutal, they are to World War Two what All Quiet On The Western Front was to World War One. His subsequent novels are arguably works of fiction as he merely cashed in on the notoriety of these two. Nevertheless, he pulls no punches in describing the despair and depravity of the human condition when staring apocalypse in the face. Not for the faint hearted.

Reynolds makes some suggestions, acknowledges influences at the end of one novel, I found them useful.
I don't have the details.

Quote from: "zerofivetwoseven"I have also read Peter Hamilton as well. He too is a science fiction writer specialising in space opera, but Alistair Reynolds is head and shoulders above him. His attention to detail is phenomenal and his imagination is limitless. There are only two authors whos entire back catalogue I would happily re-read and he is one of them. The other is Sven Hassel. He was a Dane who fought for Germany in a penal regiment. There is some doubt as to this, but even so, his first two novels, Wheels Of Terror and Legion Of The Damned - which were banned at the time - should be read by everyone. Harrowing, raw and brutal, they are to World War Two what All Quiet On The Western Front was to World War One. His subsequent novels are arguably works of fiction as he merely cashed in on the notoriety of these two. Nevertheless, he pulls no punches in describing the despair and depravity of the human condition when staring apocalypse in the face. Not for the faint hearted.

Well I didn't know that, I'll have to dig those out of the local library and read them.

Quote from: "Tank"

Quote from: "zerofivetwoseven"I have also read Peter Hamilton as well. He too is a science fiction writer specialising in space opera, but Alistair Reynolds is head and shoulders above him. His attention to detail is phenomenal and his imagination is limitless. There are only two authors whos entire back catalogue I would happily re-read and he is one of them. The other is Sven Hassel. He was a Dane who fought for Germany in a penal regiment. There is some doubt as to this, but even so, his first two novels, Wheels Of Terror and Legion Of The Damned - which were banned at the time - should be read by everyone. Harrowing, raw and brutal, they are to World War Two what All Quiet On The Western Front was to World War One. His subsequent novels are arguably works of fiction as he merely cashed in on the notoriety of these two. Nevertheless, he pulls no punches in describing the despair and depravity of the human condition when staring apocalypse in the face. Not for the faint hearted.

Well I didn't know that, I'll have to dig those out of the local library and read them.

If you are interested in history and specifically World War Two, I can also recommend Hitler by Ian Kershaw, a monumental work in two volumes - although I have the single abridged version - still quite a hefty tome at 969 pages. Also Stalingrad by Anthony Beevor.