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Principality of Corvinia
The Canon of
Corvinian Culture


This list is an attempt to identify the central canon of Corvinian culture, the items which necessarily form part of the Corvinian national identity.
The list is the condensed result of the First Grand Survey of Corvinian Culture, and is an abridged version of the complete results of the survey. The survey is still in progress, and some extra elements may be added to the canon along the way, but the list below is a good guide.
As with any canonical list, what is shown here is the central and essential core of Corvinian culture. Even though something may not be mentioned on the list, it may still enjoy popularity in Corvinia. The sole exception is a certain so-called "sport", which is prohibited by law.


Active cultural pursuits

The responses to the survey, on the subject of active cultural pursuits, were varied, but drawing, writing and photography stood out as significant pursuits for more than half the respondents.

Also popular were: webcrafting, observing nature, attending concerts and music festivals, board games, computer games, collecting flashy t-shirts, dining out and travel.

One respondent claimed to have no active cultural pursuits (!)

Passive cultural pursuits

Among the passive cultural pursuits, reading (with various specific genre interests) stood out as universally popular.

Going to the movies or the theater is apparently a national pastime: cinema was chosen by nearly all respondents, closely followed by music (both classical and modern) and modern theater.

Also popular were: ballet, museums, and premodern art, as well as opera and classical theater.

Apparently equally composed of bookworms and couch potatos, the respondents listed study and television as of equal importance.

Corvinian cultural heritage : The Canon

No significance attaches to the order in which the various
elements of the Canon are listed. All are equally canonical.


The works of Edgar Allan Poe,
particularly the poem"The Raven"


Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849), American poet and novelist. With a brilliant gift for evocative prose and poetry, Poe's works remain among the most elegant and moody in the English language. His varied efforts produced such somber poems as "The Raven" and "Annabel Lee", and laid the basis for the modern detective and horror genres, in works such as "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" and "The Tell-Tale Heart".
The anniversary of Poe's death, October 7, is celebrated as a national day of remembrance in Corvinia.


The works of William Shakespeare,
particularly the play "The Tempest"


William Shakespeare (1592-1666), English poet and playwright. A unique genius of unparalleled accomplishment, the 36 plays by the "Bard of Avon", and numerous sonnets, are among the most enduringly popular theatrical pieces in history.

The works of Rudyard Kipling, particularly the poem "Recessional"

Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936), British author and poet, born in India. A controversial author, much reviled for his supposed imperialist leanings, Kipling nevertheless wrote a number of deeply moving tales inspired by his childhood in India. Among the most well-known are "The Jungle Book" and "Kim", but his massive oeuvre also includes the poem "Recessional", seen as a warning of the decline of the British Empire.

The works of John Ronald Reuel Tolkien

J.R.R. Tolkien (1892-1973), eminent British philologist, author and poet. Most famous for his seminal work of fantastic literature, "The Lord of the Rings", Tolkien left behind a staggering amount of textual material describing the quintessential fantasy world, Middle Earth, much of which has later been collated, edited and published by his son Christopher.

The music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, particularly the operas

Austrian musical prodigy Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) was an accomplished musician and composer from early childhood, and though he died at an early age, he managed in his brief life to produce a cornucopia of memorable works, including some of the most popular operas of all time, "Don Giovanni", and "The Magic Flute".

The operas of Wilhelm Richard Wagner, particularly "Tristan und Isolde"

The German composer Richard Wagner (1813-1883) may rightfully be termed the father of the modern theory of operatic composition, wherein the entire production is composed as a complete work ('Gesamtkunstwerk'). His monumentalist operas include the massive "Ring Cycle" of four operas, as well as the romantic operas "Tristan und Isolde" and "Parsifal".

The films of Ridley Scott, especially "Blade Runner" and "The Duellists"

As a director, Ridley Scott has directed numerous works of cinematic art, all showing a clear preoccupation with the skillful use of light to enhance the dramatic setting. Apart from the two named above, Scott has also directed the original "Alien" film, which is a tour de force of the cinematic use of shadows to enhance terror.

The works of Claus Deleuran, particularly "Illustreret Danmarkshistorie for Folket" and "Thorfinn"

Claus Deleuran (1946-1996) was probably one of the most influential comics artists in Denmark in the last several decades. His extensive production includes hippie-era fantasies such as "Thorfinn" and "Rejsen til Saturn" (The Journey to Saturn), as well as the amazingly complex and erudite historical-philological masterpiece "Illustreret Danmarkshistorie for Folket". Sadly, Deleuran died before he could complete this brilliant work.

The "Arne Anka" comics, by Charlie Christensen (under the pen name of Alexander Barks)

Arne Anka, a Swedish comics character, has absolutely no redeeming social characteristics. He is rude, crude, self-centered, and a drunkard. Nevertheless, there is an undefinable something about Charlie Christensen's obnoxious little duck that has endeared him to millions of Nordic comics readers.

Sean Connery

Probably most famous for his depiction of Ian Fleming's debonair secret agent James Bond, Sean Connery (b. 1930) is a versatile and charismatic actor, possessing a strong and witty personality. Among his finest works are the films "The Man Who Would Be King", "Dr. No" and "The Name of the Rose".

Carl Barks (and, of course, his works)

Born in 1901, Carl Barks has received only belated fame for his achievements in the field of comics. As an anonymous writer and artist for the Disney corporation, Barks refined the Disney universe, creating numerous characters that won the enduring love of a wide audience, among them Scrooge McDuck, the Beagle Boys, and Gyro Gearloose.

Beer, particularly Pilsner Urquell

Beer, to the Corvinian population in general, is the sovereign beverage - not surprisingly, else why would we base our currency upon it?

The Danish collection of songs titled "Højskolesangbogen"

The Danish "Højskolesangbog" is a collection of songs, old and new, that is a veritable treasury of Danish language and song. The lyrics of Ingemann and Grundtvig, the melodies of Weyse and Gade. Who can live without them?

Games of strategy, particularly the computer game "Civilization II" and the board game "Machiavelli"

The true test of one's intellect lies in matching it with another. It is probably why Corvinians are so generally fond of games of skill, particularly games of strategy.

Chocolate

Chocolate is an addictive substance. Corvinians are addicted.

Liquorice

Liquorice is almost as addictive as chocolate.

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This document is maintained
by Peter Ravn Rasmussen

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Last updated: August 8, 1998