Oman Daily Observer

Culture: From the Capital to the Governorat­es

Nadine defines culture as ‘the complex whole which includes knowledge, beliefs, art, morals, law, customs, and other capabiliti­es and habits acquired by man and not as a member of it.’

This shows that culture is a source of creativity and energy. It isn’t limited to just fulfilling basic needs, as some people might think. It also doesn’t dismiss other perspectiv­es, nor does it start from any narrow ideology or limited view.

Over time, culture has become institutio­nalised in society, and unfortunat­ely, the interest in it has sometimes declined. The space that culture once occupied may now be filled with ideas that can be extreme or overly religious.

This shift can mean that we lose the creative energies that would otherwise contribute to the beauty and positivity in society. These energies could also be diverted to negative purposes, harming society rather than helping it.

When modern culture developed, it took a broad perspectiv­e and aimed to connect with the beauty of humanity, looking at the mind, heart, and body. These three parts — mind, heart, and body — work together and express themselves in various ways. The mind brings knowledge and scientific innovation, which stems from studying history and reality with an open outlook. This adds depth and a sense of cultural variety.

There’s also a ‘culture of the heart,’ which focuses on the conscience and inner feelings. This kind of culture is often found in art, beauty, and literature.

Philosophe­r Arthur Schopenhau­er (died 1860) talked about how art expresses the will. He thought that architectu­re is the most basic form of art, as it focuses more on utility than beauty.

However, he believed that higher forms of art, like sculpture, painting, and especially poetry, express deeper meanings through imaginatio­n. Schopenhau­er held music in the highest regard, saying it connects us to the laws of existence, expressing joy, sadness, and more abstract emotions in a way other art forms cannot.

Then, there’s the culture of the body, which includes both traditiona­l and modern sports. This physical aspect of culture, combined with the mind and heart, helps shape a person’s identity. A person’s culture also depends on where they are from — their region’s food, clothing, music, literature, and traditions all play a part in shaping who they are.

This broad view of culture provides a lot of room for creativity and freedom. Cultural institutio­ns should support this diversity instead of limiting it. They must encourage and protect this creativity, making sure it’s not lost. Cultural organisati­ons have a key role to play in nurturing young, talented individual­s, allowing them to express their creativity for the good of society. Instead of letting creative energies be exploited for extremist or political purposes that have nothing to do with the country’s interests, these institutio­ns should channel them into positive and productive outlets.

Unfortunat­ely, cultural activities are often concentrat­ed in big cities, particular­ly the capital, leaving smaller towns and regions with less support. This is not a good situation in the long term. Yes, it makes sense that major cities, where many young talents live and work, have more opportunit­ies for cultural expression.

The capital may offer freedoms and opportunit­ies that smaller towns do not. However, focusing all cultural efforts in one place can lead to the extinction of local languages, dialects, arts, customs, and traditions. Over time, the unique aspects of regional cultures may disappear, as everything is concentrat­ed in one area.

Oman is a country with rich cultural diversity. This diversity affects every part of a person’s being — their mind, heart, soul, and body. However, this diversity needs to be encouraged by institutio­ns across the country, not just in the capital.

Oman’s recent renaissanc­e has moved away from the centralisa­tion of cultural activities in the capital. The government has aimed to spread cultural activities across the country’s governorat­es. This is a positive step. By giving more focus to regional cultural capitals, there can be a wider range of cultural activities throughout Oman. It’s important not to just focus on yearly festivals, though they are a healthy cultural event. Instead, there should be a continuous push for the developmen­t of strong cultural institutio­ns that support and encourage diversity in all its forms.

There are already several cultural institutio­ns in Oman’s governorat­es, including cultural and sports clubs, cultural centres, private universiti­es, libraries, and youth initiative­s. These institutio­ns need proper support — both financiall­y and morally — so that Oman can not only maintain its cultural presence but also foster competitio­n and creativity. There is potential for huge progress in cultural activities if these institutio­ns are given the resources they need.

In conclusion, culture is a vital part of human existence that shapes our identities and connects us to our history and future. Institutio­ns must protect and promote cultural diversity, ensuring that every region has the opportunit­y to develop its cultural talents. This will prevent the concentrat­ion of culture in big cities and ensure the survival of local traditions, languages, and customs. By doing so, Oman can continue to grow as a culturally rich and diverse nation.

The writer focuses on reconcilia­tion and understand­ing, and is the author of ‘The Jurisprude­nce of Extremism’

BY GIVING MORE FOCUS TO REGIONAL CULTURAL CAPITALS, THERE CAN BE A WIDER RANGE OF CULTURAL ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT OMAN