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   Afghanistan has a rich cultural heritage covering
more than 5,000 years. Because of almost complete isolation from the
outside world, however, little in art, literature, or architecture was produced between the 16th
and early 20th centuries. Because most Afghans live outside the
cities, their mode of living can be described as that of
a peasant tribal society. Kinship is the basis of social life and determines the patriarchal character
of the community. Religion plays a very important role.Archaeological research carried out since 1922 has
uncovered many fine works of art of the pre-Islamic and Islamic periods. A
revival of the traditional arts and an interest in new forms of expression
have given a new dynamism to artistic creation. Of the new painters, some
draw direct inspiration from the Herat school of the 15th-century Timurid
period; others are influenced by Western styles. Through government
initiative, some of the old monuments of architectural value are being
restored and redecorated. The School of Fine Arts was established in Kabul
in the 1930s. In architecture, the traditional Timurid techniques are
preserved, particularly in the design of the exterior walls of mosques or
tombs. Handicrafts include the world-renowned Afghan carpets and copper
utensils.
 Theatre as known in the West has flourished only since
about 1960. Adaptations of European classics were introduced at first, but
the present trend favours the didactic treatment of themes from everyday
Afghan life. In addition to city theatres such as those in Kabul, Herat,
or Qandahar, there are traveling companies that take plays to provincial
centres or country fairs.In music and dance, a revival of
traditional folksinging has gone hand in hand with the imitation of modern
 Western and Indian music. Afghan music is different from Western music in
many ways, particularly in its scales, note intervals, pitch, and rhythm,
but it is closer to Western than to Asian music. Afghans celebrate their
religious or national feast days, and particularly weddings, by public
dancing. The performance of the attan dance in the open air has long been
a feature of Afghan life. It is the national dance of the Pashtuns and now
of the nation. |
