0:00:02.780,0:00:04.980 What does it mean to be Danish? 0:00:05.160,0:00:08.140 How is it expressed in art? 0:00:54.280,0:00:57.120 We Danes perceive ourselves as a part of a 0:00:57.120,0:01:02.700 community, based on history, cultural heritage, traditions and habits. 0:01:02.700,0:01:08.300 It is therefore the fundament of our democracy, and this community is passed on, from 0:01:08.310,0:01:11.040 generation to generation. 0:01:11.040,0:01:13.560 Up through history, we have expressed our 0:01:13.560,0:01:15.600 national feeling through art. 0:01:15.600,0:01:18.060 During the period of Romanticism 0:01:18.060,0:01:22.640 we painted idyllic pictures, to forget all the bad things that had happened 0:01:22.640,0:01:26.080 to us during wars, and economic crises. 0:01:26.080,0:01:29.840 Meaning: the bombing of Copenhagen 1807, 0:01:29.840,0:01:39.200 the state bankruptcy 1813, losing Norway 1814, war with Germany 1848-50, 0:01:39.200,0:01:46.040 foundation of our constitution 1849, defeat a Dybbøl 1864. 0:01:46.780,0:01:52.220 Later it was replaced by the modern and popular breakthrough, through which we expressed 0:01:52.220,0:01:56.540 a far more critical and realistic view of the present. 0:01:56.540,0:02:03.360 Later came the term modernism, from the 1960s, with an even more critical approach to Denmark, and 0:02:03.360,0:02:08.840 the picture of Denmark, we want to show to ourselves and the world. 0:02:10.760,0:02:18.000 Our national identity is based on a lot of things, and here, art plays an important role. 0:02:18.000,0:02:23.700 Through periods in art history, we have created a national identity, and though the artists 0:02:23.700,0:02:29.310 are not obliged to reflect the tendencies of time, artists naturally 0:02:29.310,0:02:37.420 relate to cultural, political and existential issues, including the idea of a special Danish identity. 0:02:38.640,0:02:43.760 Reflection: Do you think it is important to have a national identity? 0:02:44.860,0:02:49.180 What does the term "identity" mean to you? 0:02:49.180,0:02:54.959 When you meet people from other countries, old as well as young, do you find it is important for 0:02:54.960,0:03:02.030 you to know anything about their national identity? Why? Why not? 0:03:02.680,0:03:06.440 Let's have a look at the period of Romanticism. 0:03:06.800,0:03:09.200 Times were bad in Denmark. 0:03:09.200,0:03:15.080 We needed to look back on glorious times in our history, to forget all the misery that surrounded us. 0:03:15.080,0:03:21.100 It was a period when nature played a major part in our national self-awareness. 0:03:21.680,0:03:27.280 Our national anthem praises the beech tree as a symbol of our nation's existence. 0:03:27.280,0:03:33.360 The painting "Beech forest in May" by P. C. Skovgaard is a typical example of that. 0:03:33.660,0:03:37.400 Reflection: In what way can we see that? 0:03:38.120,0:03:46.120 Pay attention to the forest, the light, the sky, the colors in the painting and the people in the painting. 0:03:47.040,0:03:53.120 But the times they are a-changin: on November 3rd 1871 0:03:53.120,0:03:59.180 Georg Brandes, professor at the University of Copenhagen, make an important speech. 0:03:59.180,0:04:04.580 He wanted us to see the world as it really was, and stop romanticize everything. 0:04:04.580,0:04:11.980 It was important to him, that we learn to be critical, to gain insight and influence in our lives. 0:04:11.980,0:04:19.600 The period of the modern and popular breakthrough had come, and the reality was harsh and merciless. 0:04:19.820,0:04:27.940 The painting by Erik Henningsen: "The highest right is the greatest injustice - the childhood murder" of 1886, 0:04:27.940,0:04:31.280 expresses that in the best way. 0:04:32.020,0:04:36.680 Reflection: A newborn baby is dug up - 0:04:36.680,0:04:41.060 an unhappy woman arrested for the murder of her own infant. 0:04:41.060,0:04:46.620 Was it fair that she was arrested? Why? Why not? 0:04:47.040,0:04:49.640 Did she have a choice? 0:04:50.960,0:04:58.820 Why do you think it was considered not just a crime, but also a moral issue in those days? 0:04:58.820,0:05:05.580 According to the picture, can you figure out how women's conditions in Denmark were in those days? 0:05:06.240,0:05:11.040 Could this happen today? Why? Why not? 0:05:11.040,0:05:15.340 And how do we see ourselves as Danes today? 0:05:15.860,0:05:19.660 As time shifted and a new social awareness grew up, 0:05:19.660,0:05:22.380 our national feelings changed too. 0:05:22.380,0:05:28.120 We became critical against society, in relation to our national identity. 0:05:28.880,0:05:31.500 Nowadays we look upon ourselves 0:05:31.500,0:05:35.920 in a more critical, self ironic and humorous way. 0:05:36.580,0:05:38.440 In the old days we could 0:05:38.440,0:05:43.520 picture ourselves as one cohesive people, one culture, one language. 0:05:44.060,0:05:50.500 Today it is different. It is more complex. We have no final model for the good life 0:05:50.500,0:05:56.620 and how to live our lives. We must piece the parts together and form our own 0:05:56.620,0:05:58.920 perception and identity. 0:06:00.480,0:06:04.440 A painting like "2009" by Peter Carlsen and 0:06:04.440,0:06:08.900 the caricature expresses that, in a very direct way. 0:06:11.080,0:06:14.200 Reflection: Do you think these 0:06:14.200,0:06:21.700 two pictures has anything to do with Danish national identity today? Why? Why not? 0:06:21.700,0:06:29.460 To know one's history, one's national identity - do you think that can be useful 0:06:29.460,0:06:34.180 for you in your work with other people? Why? Why not? 0:06:34.920,0:06:36.660 It is said that art reflects 0:06:36.660,0:06:41.300 the society we live in, and therefore also our self-awareness. 0:06:41.300,0:06:45.220 Do you agree? Why? Why not? 0:06:48.420,0:06:55.540 Assignment group work: inspired by Peter Carlsen's painting, stage a photograph 0:06:55.550,0:07:00.639 with your tablet, or mobile, that show us something about your national identity. 0:07:00.639,0:07:07.610 Discuss what your photo should express. Do you want to be critical, observational 0:07:07.610,0:07:13.820 proud or something completely different? What kind of symbols and props can 0:07:13.820,0:07:17.940 underline your national identity in the picture? 0:07:18.980,0:07:23.680 Give your photo a title and present it to each other.