Culture
European influences permeate Argentina's
art, architecture, literature and lifestyle. However, in the field of
literature in particular, this has been a cross-cultural transaction,
with Argentina producing writers of international stature such as Jorge
Luis Borges, Julio Cortázar, Ernesto Sábasto, Manuel Puig
and Osvaldo Soriano. With the education of many Argentines taking place
in Europe, Buenos Aires in particular has self-consciously emulated European
cultural trends in art, music and architecture. As a result, there are
many important art museums and galleries in the city, and it has a vigorous
theatre community. Argentine cinema has also achieved international stature,
and has been used as a vehicle to exorcise the horrors of the Dirty War.
Probably the best known manifestation
of Argentine popular culture is the tango - a dance and music which has
captured the imagination of romantics worldwide. Folk music is also thriving.
Sport is extremely important to the Argentines and soccer is more of a
national obsession than a game. Argentina won the World Cup in 1978 and
1986, and the exploits of Diego Maradona, (the most famous Argentinian
since Che Guevara) have kept soccer fans, paparazzi and columnists busy
for the past ten years.
Argentine Roman Catholicism, the
official state religion, is riddled with popular beliefs which diverge
from official doctrine. Spiritualism and veneration of the dead are deep-seated,
with pilgrimages to the resting places of relations and of the famous
dead a common sight. Spanish is the official language, but some immigrant
communities retain their language as a badge of identity. Italian is widely
understood, reflecting the influence of the country's single largest immigrant
group, and BBC English is the preserve of the Anglo community. There are
17 native languages, including Quechua, Mapuche, Guaraní, Tobas
and Matacos.
Meat dominates Argentina's menus,
and 'meat' means beef. Mixed grills (parillada) are apparently the way
to go, serving up a cut of just about every part of the animal: tripe,
intestines, udders - the lot. In this vegetarian's nightmare, Italian
favourites, such as gnocchi (noquis), are a welcome alternative. Exquisite
Argentine ice cream (helado) deserves a special mention - again reflecting
Italian influences. The sharing of maté, Paraguayan tea, is a ritual
more than a beverage, and if offered is a special expression of acceptance.
The leaves, a relation to holly, are elaborately prepared and the mixture
is drunk from a shared gourd.
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