The role of art in the struggle for a national identity in Lebanon

Seminar paper from the year 2005 in the subject Ethnology / Cultural Anthropology grade: keine American University of Beirut course: Cultural Boundaries and Identities language: English abstract: The paper will analyze the nationalist movements and national sentiments of four entities: Quebec Lebanon Israel and Greece and attempt a comparison with the conditions for a vital national identity in Lebanon. It will be suggested that the internal differences in Lebanon dominated by a very intolerant ethnic marker namely religion are so predominant that they overshadow any kind of national identity that can detach Lebanese society from their sub-national attachments in order to generate national sentiments for all Lebanese people. Complicating this condition also foreign intervention through alliances with the various groups within Lebanon comes into play. Using the Québécois the Israeli and the Greek example it shall be shown that a certain amount of internal unity is needed to create sentiments of belonging. Only then art can play a significant role in enhancing national identity through symbols and material objects. Québec developed a strong legal code to protect its distinct Québécois nature against English-speaking Canada. In Greece the Orthodox Church took the responsibility of safeguarding not only religion but also language folklore dance and literature against Turkish domination and the post-Ottoman conflict over territory. Israel had and still has to struggle with the construction of a national identity that is based on the ethnic marker religion. Furthermore the political state had to embrace various Jewish communities with different cultural habits and customs and define what kind of Jewish life is truly acceptable. Hence cultural customs have been defined in order to create a distinct Israeli identity. For our purposes we refer to the Arab-Israeli conflict from the Israeli perspective being fully aware that we only spotlight one certain