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.
