Cultural radicalism
Encyclopedia
Cultural Radicalism was a movement in Danish
culture. It was particular strong in the Interwar Period
, but its philosophy has its origin in the 1870s and a great deal of modern social commentary still refer to it.
At the time of the height of the cultural radical movement it was referred to as modern. The words cultural radical and cultural radicalism was first used in an essay by Elias Bredsdorff in the broad-sheet newspaper Politiken
in 1956. Bredsdorff described cultural radicals as people that are socially responsible with an international outlook.
Cultural radicalism has usually been described as the heritage of Georg Brandes
's Modern Breakthrough
, the foundations and early editorials of the newspaper Politiken
, the foundation of the political party Radikale Venstre, to the magazine Kritisk Revy by Poul Henningsen (PH)
. By opponents of Cultural radicalism though, it often simply refers to the liberal intellectual elite.
The values most commonly associated with cultural radicalism are among others: Criticism of religion
, opposition to social norms, criticism of the Victorian sexual moral
, anti-militarism and an openness to new cultural input than the classic western (for instance by interest in jazz
, modern architecture, art, literature and theater).
cultural radicalism has been seen as opposition to the Swedish Church, and opposition to the Neo-Victorian
sexual moral. In Norway
the movement has been associated to magazine Mot Dag in 1930s and its authors such as Sigurd Hoel
and Arnulf Øverland
. In the US Cultural radicalism is sometimes used as the opposite of Cultural conservatism
, especially in the context of Culture wars.
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
culture. It was particular strong in the Interwar Period
Interwar period
Interwar period can refer to any period between two wars. The Interbellum is understood to be the period between the end of the Great War or First World War and the beginning of the Second World War in Europe....
, but its philosophy has its origin in the 1870s and a great deal of modern social commentary still refer to it.
At the time of the height of the cultural radical movement it was referred to as modern. The words cultural radical and cultural radicalism was first used in an essay by Elias Bredsdorff in the broad-sheet newspaper Politiken
Politiken
Politiken is a Danish daily broadsheet newspaper, published by JP/Politikens Hus.The newspaper comes third among Danish newspapers in terms of both number of readers and circulated copies ....
in 1956. Bredsdorff described cultural radicals as people that are socially responsible with an international outlook.
Cultural radicalism has usually been described as the heritage of Georg Brandes
Georg Brandes
Georg Morris Cohen Brandes was a Danish critic and scholar who had great influence on Scandinavian and European literature from the 1870s through the turn of the 20th century. He is seen as the theorist behind the "Modern Breakthrough" of Scandinavian culture...
's Modern Breakthrough
Modern Breakthrough
The Modern Breakthrough is the normal name of the strong movement of naturalism and debating literature of Scandinavia near the end of the 19th century which replaced romanticism....
, the foundations and early editorials of the newspaper Politiken
Politiken
Politiken is a Danish daily broadsheet newspaper, published by JP/Politikens Hus.The newspaper comes third among Danish newspapers in terms of both number of readers and circulated copies ....
, the foundation of the political party Radikale Venstre, to the magazine Kritisk Revy by Poul Henningsen (PH)
Poul Henningsen
Poul Henningsen , Danish author, architect and critic, was one of the leading figures of the cultural life of Denmark between the World Wars. In Denmark, he is often referred to as PH.-Early life and education:...
. By opponents of Cultural radicalism though, it often simply refers to the liberal intellectual elite.
The values most commonly associated with cultural radicalism are among others: Criticism of religion
Criticism of religion
Criticism of religion is criticism of the concepts, validity, and/or practices of religion, including associated political and social implications....
, opposition to social norms, criticism of the Victorian sexual moral
Victorian morality
Victorian morality is a distillation of the moral views of people living at the time of Queen Victoria's reign and of the moral climate of the United Kingdom throughout the 19th century in general, which contrasted greatly with the morality of the previous Georgian period...
, anti-militarism and an openness to new cultural input than the classic western (for instance by interest in jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
, modern architecture, art, literature and theater).
Internationally
Cultural radicalism is also used outside of Denmark. In Scandinavia it often refers to the Danish movement, but elsewhere the concept may just share etymology. In SwedenSweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
cultural radicalism has been seen as opposition to the Swedish Church, and opposition to the Neo-Victorian
Neo-Victorian
Neo-Victorian is an aesthetic movement which amalgamates Victorian and Edwardian aesthetic sensibilities with modern principles and technologies...
sexual moral. In Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
the movement has been associated to magazine Mot Dag in 1930s and its authors such as Sigurd Hoel
Sigurd Hoel
Sigurd Hoel was a Norwegian author and publishing consultant, born in Nord-Odal. He debuted with the collection of short stories Veien vi gaar in 1922...
and Arnulf Øverland
Arnulf Øverland
Ole Peter Arnulf Øverland was a Norwegian author born in Kristiansund and raised in Bergen. His works include Berget det blå and Hustavler .-Life:...
. In the US Cultural radicalism is sometimes used as the opposite of Cultural conservatism
Cultural conservatism
Cultural conservatism is described as the preservation of the heritage of one nation, or of a shared culture that is not defined by national boundaries. Other variants of cultural conservatism are concerned with culture attached to a given language such as Arabic.The shared culture may be as...
, especially in the context of Culture wars.
Cultural Radicals
- Kjeld AbellKjeld AbellKjeld Abell was a Danish playwright and theatrical designer. Born in Ribe, Denmark, Abell's first designs were seen in ballets directed by George Balanchine at Copenhagen's Royal Danish Theatre and London's Alhambra Theatre....
- Edvard BrandesEdvard BrandesCarl Edvard Cohen Brandes was a Danish politician, critic and author, and the younger brother of Georg Brandes and Ernst Brandes. He was a Ph.D. in eastern philology....
- Georg BrandesGeorg BrandesGeorg Morris Cohen Brandes was a Danish critic and scholar who had great influence on Scandinavian and European literature from the 1870s through the turn of the 20th century. He is seen as the theorist behind the "Modern Breakthrough" of Scandinavian culture...
- Bernhard ChristensenBernhard ChristensenBernhard Christensen was a Danish composer and organist.He studied music at University of Copenhagen from 1926. In 1929 he graduated and was organist until 1945 at Christiansborg Slotskirke. Then he was hired as organist by Vangede Church from 1945-1976...
- Mogens FogMogens FogMogens Ludolf Fog was a Danish physician, politician and resistance fighter. In the 1930s, he headed the Socialistiske Læger who opposed Fascism....
- Poul Henningsen (PH)Poul HenningsenPoul Henningsen , Danish author, architect and critic, was one of the leading figures of the cultural life of Denmark between the World Wars. In Denmark, he is often referred to as PH.-Early life and education:...
- Edvard HeibergEdvard HeibergEdvard Heiberg was a Norwegian director and engineer.Heiberg was the youngest son of barrister Axel Heiberg and his wife Ragnhild Krohg . He had two brothers, Axel Heiberg Jr. and Bernt Heiberg...
- Viggo HørupViggo HørupViggo Lauritz Bentheim Hørup , was a Danish politician, journalist and agitator.He was the father to Ellen Hørup .One of the most influential politicians of the Danish non-Socialist left wing....
- Hans KirkHans KirkHans Kirk was a celebrated Danish author, who penned the best-selling novel of all-time in his native Denmark, The Fishermen . Kirk was a long-time Communist Party member in Denmark and remained active until his death...
- Ove RodeOve RodeOve Rode was a Danish politician, newspaper editor and Minister of Interior Affairs for Det Radikale Venstre....
- Hans ScherfigHans ScherfigHans Scherfig was a renowned Danish author and artist.His most famous works of literature include Stolen Spring, Frydenholm, Idealists, and The Scorpion, the last of which was published in over 20 countries...
- Klaus RifbjergKlaus RifbjergKlaus Rifbjerg is a Danish writer. He has written more than 170 novels, books and essays.- Biography :Rifbjerg was born in Copenhagen and grew up on the island of Amager, a part of the city, the child of two teachers...
- Tøger SeidenfadenTøger SeidenfadenTøger Seidenfaden was a Danish journalist and political scientist, and, from 1993 until his death, editor-in-chief of the broadsheet newspaper Politiken. His father, Erik Seidenfaden, was also a journalist....