Literature

          The literary tradition in Macedonia lasts for over 10 centuries. First generation Macedonian writers are Kiril Pejcinovic, Joakim Krcovski and Teodosij Sinaitski who created didactic works with a noticeable transition from religious to secular themes. Second generation writers are the brothers Constantin and Dimitria Miladinov (with the first collected works of folk poems published in Zagreb 1861), Jordan Hadzi Konstantinov - Dzinot, Rajko Zhinzifov, Grigor Prlicev etc. In the second half of 19th century collectors of folklore sayings from Macedonia emerged. Such collectors were Marko Cepenkov, Kuzman Sapkarev, Gorgia Puleski etc. The 19-century literary tradition ends with the works of Krste Petkov Misirkov -"On Macedonian Matters".

Macedonian literature achieved its complete development in the second half of 20th century, after liberation (1944). The well-known novelists Stale Popov, Slavko Janevski (author of the first Macedonian novel "Selo zad Sedumte jaseni" or "Village Beyond the Seven Ash Trees"), Metodija Fotev, Kole Casule, Vlado Malevski, Tasko Georgievski, Simon Drakul, Dimitar Solev; the storytellers Jovan Boskovski (author of the first collection of short stories), Ivan Tocko, Gorgi Abadziev, Blagoj Ivanov etc also started working. The most prominent writers of Macedonian poetry are Blaze Koneski, Aco Sopov, Slavko Janevski, Vlada Urosevic, Radovan Pavlovski, Gane Todorovski etc. Goran Stefanovski, Tome Arsovski, Pendovski Branko, Plevnes Jordan etc. gave their contribution to the development of Macedonian drama. The first critics and essayists like Bla`e Koneski, Georgi Stardelov, Vlada Urosevic, Dimitar Mitrev, Aleksandar Ezhov etc. also appeared.

Admiring their own works, the fresco-painters started signing their creations more often. Several generations of frescoe-painters will leave abundant traces on the Balkan Peninsula. Such were the well-known artists and wood-carvers from the Debar School: Frckovski, Dicovs, Pecarovs, Remzovs etc.

                Between the two World Wars, Macedonian fresco-painting and architecture was supported by a new generation of tallented artists who proceeded with the 19-century tradition. Such artists were: Lazar Licenovski, Nikola Martinoski, Vasil Kodzoman etc. After 1945 fresco-painting and architecture underwent intensive development in Macedonia. Fine artists were: Borko Lazevski, Dimce Protuger, Dimitar Kondovski, Petar Mazev, Spase Kunovski, Gligor Cemerski, Ana Temkova, Simon Semov; and famous sculptors: Dimo Todorovski, Petar Hadzi -Boskov, Stefan Vasilev and others.

Musical Art

Between the two World Wars composers whose work and creativity develop after 1945 surface. Such are Stefan Gajdov, Zhivko Firfov, Trajko Prokopiev, Todor Skalovski and Petre Bogdanov - Kocko etc. The new generation that carried on the tradition after the Second World War worked on operas, symphonies and on instrumental music in general. Such composers are: Vlastimir Nikolovski, Blagoja Ivanovski, Tomislav Zoografski, Toma Prosev etc. The institutions such as Makedonian Philharmonic Orchestra, Opera, Ballet, Academy of Music, Folklore Institute etc. will contribute to the development of the musical life in Macedonia.

Film production in Macedonia has just started to become popular beyond the frontiers of Macedonia with the films: "Before the Rain" (nominated for Oscar award), "Angels of waste", "Gipsy Magic" etc. The first Macedonian production films were: "Frosina", "Miss Stone", "Assassins from Thesaloniki", "Macedonian Bloody Wedding", "Peaceful Summer" etc. In these films, and in the other films, a great deal of young and promising actors and directors were involved.