Conference on Modernity and Contemporary Greek Culture June 27, 2007
Posted by grhomeboy in Arts EventsGreece, Media Radio & TV, Shows & Conferences.trackback
People from the arts gathered to discuss innovation in Greek culture
Contemporary Greek culture is constantly growing. This is what the increasing numbers of events in all fields of the arts indicate. But does this growth run parallel to innovation? How does modernity match contemporary artistic production in Greece?
These were some of the questions raised in the discussion of “Modernity and Contemporary Greek Culture”, the theme of the 5th Panhellenic Conference of Cultural Publication Agencies recently organized by Highlights, the bimonthly cultural review, in Nafplion. Representatives of Greek cultural magazines from different parts of Greece, together with artists, academics and people in the arts participated in a three-day cultural get-together which made an attempt to define innovation in respect to Greek culture.
Modernity in the sense of innovation and originality is a common concern among artists who work in countries outside the major cultural centers. In Greece, for example, when discussing the art produced, one often makes comparisons with the more international trends. Keeping pace with what is happening abroad is indeed important, but so is building a distinctive identity that is not an imitation. There is also Greece’s rich history and ancient civilization to consider, which are often seen as incompatible with the quest for the new.
The arguments presented varied greatly and differed in their depth and intellectual content. For this reason, those attending the conference gained an understanding not only of the specific theme of modernity but also of a way of thinking shared by people in the arts in this country. It is unfortunate that constant complaining is part of this thinking.
Besides its theoretical aspect, the conference has also served a very practical purpose. For it has provided people in the field of culture with an opportunity to present their projects, at this year’s conference for example, representatives from several website magazines participated, and has generated artistic collaborations. Its main purpose is to document contemporary artistic production in the country, a task which also lies behind other cultural projects organized by Highlights.
The creation of an “Electronic Network of Cultural Magazines,” a website that will be launched in the next few weeks, is one of Highlight’s most recent projects. The outcome of two years’ work, the site is a guide to the country’s cultural magazines, there are a total of 550 reviews, many of them inactive, and to its cultural scene. In many ways, the site www.idomos.net serves the same purpose as the annual conference: it fosters an exchange of ideas and draws attention to the cultural life that extends beyond Athens and reaches the most remote parts of Greece.
grhomeboy
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