Arts in West Phoenicia
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The Empire of West Phoenicia has a thriving arts culture dating back thousands of years.
Art was first depicted in caves drawings drawn by members of the Mermania tribes. The earliest which has been confirmed by the archaelogy department of the University of Jackson to be over 5000 years old. The cave drawings were discovered in what is today the city state of St Mary's in 1900.
The Babalites, who were the last of the five initial groups to arrive in the region, established their own art culture that thrieved and soon dominated the region.
Poetry, music, paintings and sculptures are just some of the many forms of art that thrives.
Art Types
Literature
Poetry
Poetry in the region began with the arrival of first migration groups in the form of oral traditions. While most of the oral history and story telling has been lost, fragments have been discovered that show art was a part of the cultures of the first tribes.
Archaeologists have discovered Northern Dweorg cave paintings depicting song and dance. Wind Kithana; an elder and poet of Dryadi heritage continues the tradition of story telling to other members of the Dryadi culture to keep the tradition alive as well as to educate West Phoenician citizens on their history.
Upon West Phoenician independence, poetry was heavily influenced by Greater Phoenicia. However as the new nation begun to shape itself, the arts also transformed to focus and celebrate West Phoenician artists.
The royal family played a huge part in encouraging the emergence of new artists who highlighted the independence of West Phoenicia and sought to define it's own identity.
In the early stages of the nation, sonnets, epics, narrative poetry and rhymed poetry were popular forms of poetry for artists. Themes ranged from West Phoenicia as a new nation, nature, love, wars, religion and beauty. These styles were popular for hundreds of years. Among some of the most popular poets of their times were; Whiskey Graham (1560-1610), an epic styled poet who published over 30 works; one of his most famous being Blood on the West Phoenician flag. Sir Charles De'Ville (1700-1768), who was famous for his epic war poetry.
Isabella Sainte, Harlow Van, Ross Keilor and Diamond Tse are four popular narrative poets who placed their mark in the literacy world during the 1700 and 1800's.
Lady Agatha Wiggs and Phillip Guye took poetry in a new direction with the rise of rhymed poetry from the early 1800s. Themes of nature, love and death interwove to tell wonderful depictions with the use of rhyming. Donnell Greggs, a rhymed poet stepped outside the box in 1840 by producing rhyming poetry that was seen as more crass and a little naughty. It's humour was condemned by many in the church and proper society in 1845 for its vulgar language but it did not stop citizens wanting to take a hidden peek at his works. Some of his most popular works are; Milky mounds of a handmaiden, The Red Rooster is not the only cock up in the morning, and Secret Desires in the grassy knoll.
In the area of sonnets, Melissa Rosse and Herman Jackson were two poets whose sonnet proved popular in the 1700s and continue to find relevance today in the poetry world. Justus Browne holds the honour of being one of the most famous West Phoenician sonnet writers, starting in 1595 with his play the War on Greater Phoenician aggression spoken in sonnet verse. He also wrote a further 100 sonnet pieces during his life.
From the nineteenth century onwards other forms of poetry such as blank poetry and spoken word also grew in the arts community. Immigration from Asian countries also saw Haiku become extremely popular in the city-state of Scarlett Orient Isles.
The old styles which many up and coming poets labelled as outdated were also given new life as the modern contemporary poets movement grew to continue making poetry relevant to new generations of people.
Poetry is still seen as an evolving art, that continues to change with the times as well as reflect the times.
Poetry Slams are quite common throughout many city-states, held mainly in cafes and libraries. It has produced a new style and breed of younger poets whose works focus on equality, social justice and the environment.
On a national level,Lady Calliope Muse VIII is the current Poet Laureate appointed by the royal family and tasked with composing poems for special events and occasions.
Novels
Performing arts
– among them music, dance, and theatre;
Culinary arts
Baking
Baking has always been an essential part of the daily life of West Phoenicians in the kitchen. Bread, sweets and other foods for years were always baked from scratch. By the 1980s as supermarkets expanded their products more and more citizens choose the easier option of purchasing pre-baked goods.
However in recent years West Phoenician television shows like West Phoenicia's Next Top Baker, Muffin Mayhem and Bakery Wars have transformed how many see baking.
A baking revolution began after 2010 where many citizens have returned to baking as a healthy alternative than store brought. Increased baking at home and television shows have paved the way for a large number personal bakery stores and cottage industries opening throughout the country. Selling everything from artisan breads to elaborate cakes.
A number of competitions and festivals have also risen over the years to reward the artistic expression many put into their designs.
The West Phoenician Women's Association is one of the biggest supporters of the booming bakery industry. With 300,000 members and 2000 branched across the nation. The association advocates for improved conditions for women and children. The Association takes part in alot of find raising with bakery being at the top of the list. On any giving day a West Phoenician Women's Association operates stalls selling home made cakes, sweets and savoury basked treats.
Chocolatiering
The city-states of Bourbon-Versailles and Africana Territory are renowned for their chocolate production.
Chocolatiers from across the empire travel to these states to undergo training in the art of chocolate making.
Bourbon-Versailles Chocolate & Patisserie School and Africana Territory Institute of Cooking and Baking are regarded as the top two culinary baking schools in West Phoenicia. Pierce Andressi, Mandy Gee and Bai Qi Chen are ranked as the top chocolatiers in the nation.
West Phoenicia has over 2000 speciality chocolate shope throughout the nation offering wide selection of chocolate in all shapes, sizes and tastes.
In 2010 for the emperors' coronation, Bai Qi Chen created a life sized golden chocolate statue of Emperor Glenton Gryphon-Bush II.
Winemaking
The City-state of Agape is the biggest wine producer in the country, having the most vineyards and making up 70% of all wine production in the nation. The City-state of New Rome and Mythologica are the other two producers of wine.
All three city-states celebrate the art of wine making by hosting a number of wine festivals and competitions through out the year to showcase this art. Liberalia on March 17th is a national holiday and one of the biggest events for this industry.
Other festivals such as Dionysia and Bacchanalia are celebrated by many city-states to celebrate the West Phoenician deities responsible for vineyards and wine. Aside from excess amounts of drinking and revelry during these festivals, a number of theatre plays are performed during this time. Sexual promiscuous behaviour at these events are encouraged as a way to honour the wine deities.
Aside from festivals, wine tours are another opportunity for citizens and tourists to understand the process of winemaking as well as partake in each step of the process from helping to plant new vines, remove grapes from wine, crush them under feet and the bottling process.
Media arts
including photography and cinematography,
Visual arts
– including drawing, painting, ceramics, and sculpting
West Phoenician Artists
- Aphrodite Love: Burlesque Dancer from Jackson
- Dr Peppermint: Comedian
- Karen Melton: Basket Weaver from Fort Blackfoot
- Phoenixx: Artist from Titania
- Angel Baroda: Contemporary Dancer from Antebellum Territory
- Anton Fountain: Poet from Polytheisa Heaven
- Karen Ascot: Native potter from Polytheisa Heaven
- Gaius II: Novelist from Bourbon-Versailles
- Babs Abozz: Burlesque Performer from New Egypt
- Gracie Sing- Famous Chef from Scarlet Orient Isles