Literature, Art, and Music: Israel’s Contributions to World Culture

I. Literature:

Israeli authors have contributed to both fiction and nonfiction types of literature. Of course, biblical scholarship and archeological finds are important subjects in the realm of nonfiction. Science and technology are subjects that have been explored extensively through the constant emphasis on new discoveries funded through government and university sources. Israeli fiction draws on the immigrant experience, Holocaust, and a unique blending of modern sensibility with ancient roots. Although a modern nation for only 18 years at the time, an Israeli, S. Y. Agnon was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. Other well-known Israeli authors are David Grossman, Meir Shalev, Batya Gur, Naomi Shemer, Amos Oz, Aharon Appelfeld, and A. Yehoshua.

  1. Write a bibliography of Israeli fiction. Include at least 3 books by each of the authors listed above.
  2. Israeli literature includes works by Israeli Arabs. Anton Shammas is a well known Arab-Israeli author. Write a short biography of his life.
  3. Israeli authors explore universal themes in their writing such as alienation, individualization, democracy, and righteousness as seen in the context of a society which is subject to many challenges in everyday life. How do some of the authors listed above address these themes?
  4. A joint Arab-Israeli production of Romeo and Juliet received international acclaim. Explain why the theme of Shakespeare’s play is extremely relevant to modern Israeli life.

II. Art

The Bezalel School of Arts and Crafts was founded in 1906. Artists of that school produced art that showed the daily life in the Middle East. These artists emphasized bright light, glowing colors, landscapes, and primitive techniques. Modern Israel has produced some world renowned artists such as Yaacov Agam, Reuven Rubin, and Dani Karavan.

  1. Yosef Zaritzky led the Israeli art movement that painted identifiable local landscapes and cool tones. Marcel Janco led a movement that explorede abstartionism. Compare and contrast these two schools.
  2. Agam is best known for his abstract pieces that come alive through movement. Name three locations where Agam’s sculptural work can be seen outside of Israel.
  3. How many paintings by the artists listed above are in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art? The New York Modern Art Museum? Museum of Modern Art in Washington, D.C.?
  4. Produce a sketch in the style of one of the artists listed above.

III. Music

Early Israeli pioneers brought songs from their native lands, which were translated into Hebrew. Modern Israeli music incorporate elements of the musical styles of the various immigrants as well as Arab and Yemenite traditions and modern pop and rock. The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra is well known world-wide as are such artists as Yitzhak Perlman, Zubin Mehta, Pinhas Zuckerman.

  1. Listen to a recording of Israeli folk music. Name the cultural influences you hear in the music.
  2. What instrument does Yitzhak Perlman play? Write a short biography of him.
  3. Paul Ben-Haim, an Israeli composer, used expanded tonalities to give his music an Eastern feel. What scale did he use? What scale is used in most Western music?
  4. Israeli Dance has also influenced world culture. Research the Inbal Dance Troupe. What themes did they explore in their dance performances?