Culture of Chile

Last updated

The coat of arms of Chile Coat of arms of Chile (c).svg
The coat of arms of Chile

The culture of Chile reflects the population and the geographic isolation of the country in relation to the rest of South America. Since colonial times, the Chilean culture has been a mix of Spanish colonial elements with elements of indigenous (mostly Mapuche) culture, as well as that of other immigrant cultures.

Contents

The Huasos of Central Chile and their native or folk music and dance are central to Chilean folk culture. Even though the folk traditions of Central Chile are central to Chilean cultural and national identity, Chile is both geographically and culturally diverse with both the North and the South having their own folk music and dance due to different indigenous peoples and different immigrant groups settling there. Additionally, while some regions of Chile have very strong indigenous heritage, such as Araucanía Region, Easter Island, and Arica y Parinacota Region, some regions lack considerable indigenous communities and a few other regions have noteworthy non-Spanish European immigrant heritage.

National identity

The term Chilenidad describes the Chilean National identity.

Hernán Godoy describes the psychological characteristics of the Chilean, and hence part of the Chilean national identity, with following words: roto , madness, sober, serious, prudent, sense of humor, great fear to the ridicule, servile, cruel, and lack of foresight, among other qualities. Jorge Larraín criticized these older descriptions as "overgeneralized abstractions" impossible to apply to a whole nation. [1]

Cultural expressions

Music

Chilean huaso singing Musico chileno tocando cueca.jpg
Chilean huaso singing

The national dance of Chile is the cueca (short for Zamacueca) and first appeared in 1824. Another form of traditional Chilean song, though not a dance, is the tonada . Arising imported by the Spanish colonists, it is distinguished from the cueca by an intermediate melodic section and a more prominent melody. The cueca was promoted by the Pinochet regime in the 1970s and 1980s for political reasons to promote Chilean nationalism, cultural pride and conservative patriotic fervor.

In the period from 1930 to 1970, a rebirth in the interest and popularity in folk music in Chile appeared, carried out initially by groups such as Los Cuatro Huasos, who took folk songs from the Chilean country and arranged them vocally and with musical instruments. They gave several recitals in Chile, and in Latin America that contributed with its diffusion. Later appeared other groups such as Los de Ramon, Los Huasos Quincheros, Los Cuatro Cuartos, and others who continued with this diffusion. Also appeared several Chilean folk composers such as Raul de Ramon, Margot Loyola, Luis Aguirre Pinto, Violeta Parra, Víctor Jara, and others that carried out folk investigation and composed folk music that is still sung up to this day.

In the mid-1960s native musical forms were revitalized by the Parra family with the Nueva Canción Chilena, which became associated with political activism and reformers like Chilean socialist Salvador Allende and his Popular Unity government. Violeta Parra, Víctor Jara, Los Jaivas, Inti-Illimani, Illapu and Quilapayún perform of this music. During the military rule in the 1970s, all forms of public expression contrary to the junta were repressed, and protest songs, which were played and circulated in a clandestine manner. In the late 1980s and after the return of democracy in the 1990s, new musical bands like La Ley, Los Tres and Los Prisioneros, began to appear, and the rise of heavy metal and alternative rock there. Even 1970s Chilean rock bands like the Los Ángeles Negros regained popularity across Latin America.

Literature

Nobel laureate Gabriela Mistral Gabriela Mistral-01.jpg
Nobel laureate Gabriela Mistral

Chile's most famous contributions to literature have come from Nobel Prize poets Pablo Neruda and Gabriela Mistral, whose homes and birthplaces are now museums that attract literary pilgrims to Chile. The majority of Neruda's poetry, as individual books or collections of selected poems, as well as his memoirs, are widely available in English, however Mistral's works are harder to find, though collected editions are available. [2]

José Donoso's novel Curfew recalls the latter days of the recent military dictatorship, while Antonio Skármeta's novel Burning Patience (drawing on Neruda's life as a Chilean icon) was the inspiration for the Oscar-winning Italian film, Il Postino (The Postman).

Arts

The first Condorito comics collection, published in Chile in 1955. MC0031801.jpg
The first Condorito comics collection, published in Chile in 1955.

Established in 1849, the Academy of Painting (Santiago, Chile) has helped foster fine painting and inspire young artists. Roberto Matta, a 20th-century painter, is a world known artist who used abstract and surrealist technique in his work. Carlos Sotomayor (1911–1988) is considered one of the main exponents of cubism from South America. Camilo Mori (1896–1973) was the founder of the Group Montparnasse. Claudio Bravo (1936–2011) was a hyper realist who lived and worked in Morocco since 1972.

Sculpture has also been prominent in Chile's culture. In the 19th century, sculptor Rebeca Matte (1875–1929) was the first Chilean woman to embrace the art. She was commissioned to produce a piece by the government of Chile as a gift to the government of Brazil which she called "Icarus and Daedalus" (United in Glory and Peace). In 1930, her husband donated a bronze copy to the Museum of Fine Arts in Santiago which is recognized as a leading masterpiece. Matte also created a battle monument as a tribute to the heroes of Concepción. In the 20th century, Marta Colvin (1907–1995) gained international status by exhibiting her work in cities around the world.

In the field of classical music, the International Society for Chilean Music is a non-profit organization committed to a comprehensive mission of promoting and disseminating the artistic efforts of Chilean musicians, both in Chile and around the world. To this end, they have compiled and disseminated a report published in 2022 (translated the following year), which summarizes their efforts, since its inception, to promote the cause of Chilean music and its exponents, both at Chile and abroad.

Cuisine

Paila marina S4020436.JPG
Paila marina

Chilean cuisine uses a variety of products due to Chile's location and long coastline. [3] The cuisine arose from the fusion of traditional indigenous ingredients with Spanish culture and traditions. Further European immigration also brought various styles and traditions in cooking were heavily influenced by the Italians and the Germans. In the 20th century, French cuisine marked an important turning point influencing culinary methods and creating a type of Criollo style that has been implemented now in Chilean cooking. British cooking influences include the onces or tea breaks usually taken in the afternoon among Chileans of all classes and backgrounds. Many Chilean recipes are enhanced and accompanied by wine and Chilean pisco , a type of grape brandy produced in Chile, Pisco is also consumed in neighbouring Peru. Throughout Chile each region spanning from north to south contain a variety of culinary recipes special to each location.

Notable Chilean dishes

Television

This section is an excerpt from Television in Chile.[ edit ]

Television is one of the major mass media of Chile. It was introduced in 1957.

There are 63 broadcast stations throughout the country (plus 121 repeaters) (1997). The broadcast television system used is NTSC.

The primary regulator of television content is the National Television Council (CNTV). The technical aspects are regulated by the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications, through the Undersecretariat of Telecommunications (Subtel).

Cinema

Domestic film production in Chile is still small but dynamic, it has been steadily growing since 1990 and the country now produces about 20 motion pictures annually. The most important filmmakers include Raúl Ruiz ( Palomita Blanca ), Miguel Littín ( El chacal de Nahueltoro ), Silvio Caiozzi ( Julio comienza en julio ), Andrés Wood ( Machuca ), Pablo Larrain ( No ) and Sebastián Lelio ( A Fantastic Woman ). In short animation, Gabriel Osorio ( Bear Story ). Other entertainment includes radio and television with TVN (Television Nacional de Chile) owned but not paid by the government but funding comes from commercial sponsors by private companies and media productions.

Chile's small and steadily growing film industry has had some hard time filming compared to countries like the United States. A lot of the most successful films before the 1960s were imported form the U.S., Europe, and other Latin American countries. With Chile's film industry really not having as much funding, technology, and education to keep up with some of the bigger filmmakers. [4] Despite the small start, in the recent years Chile's filming industry continues to grow. In the early 2000s things started to take a better turn for the industry as a whole. With the Universidad de Valparaíso, Universidad de Chile and Universidad Católica offer careers in cinematography, which means the expansion and establishment of formal instruction in this field after 2004. Also after 2004, Chile's film industry stated the use of digital cameras, which lowered the cost of production. [5]

Chilean cinema has won an Academy Award on two occasions, Bear Story for Best Animated Short Film and A Fantastic Woman for Best Foreign Language Film.

Sports

Estadio Nacional de Chile Estadio Nacional de Chile.jpg
Estadio Nacional de Chile

Football (soccer)

Football is the most popular sport in Chile, and practiced by Chileans from all economic backgrounds, it is the one sport that appeals to both young and old that is the most accessible. The Federación de Fútbol de Chile is the governing body of "fútbol" in Chile. Practices such as "baby fútbol", which is a street level scrimmage match, is played on areas made of concrete. Located throughout Chile are football stadiums such as Estadio Nacional de Chile located in Santiago, and where the final of the 1962 FIFA World Cup was held. Chile was banned in FIFA participation in the early 1990s due to a faked player injury on the field during a 1989 playoff game and could not appear in the 1990 and 1994 FIFA World Cup events as a result.

Skiing

Chile practices a host of sporting events, and because of its geographical location that is situated between the Andes Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, skiing and snowboarding are done in between those two locations. With more than 4,000 kilometers (2,500 miles) of mountains, Chile is known internationally as one of the world's best skiing destinations and the best in South America. This is a very popular sport in Chile among the wealthier classes (considering that this is an expensive sport in this country). This recognition is based on the excellent quality of the slopes, a beautiful landscape, accessibility and proximity to urban centers. Santiago de Chile is interested in hosting the Winter Olympics in the future, destined to be the second site in the southern hemisphere.

The main ski centers are located in Central Chile right in the middle of the Andes, at heights that vary from 2,400 meters (7,900 feet) up to 3,000 meters (9,800 feet) above sea level. These centers are the ones with the biggest skiing surfaces as well as the best supporting infrastructure.

The centers of Southern Chile are located at lower altitudes and most of them are on volcano slopes. The scenery is notable, including scenic forests and panoramic views. [6]

Surfing

Chile is a great surfing destination, and from the Northern region to the Central region there are many beaches with the right conditions for the sport. It is possible to surf almost all year round except for the middle of the winter (July and August) when weather conditions are non-conducive to surfing. The water temperature fluctuates between 10 and 20 °C (50 and 68 °F).

In northern Chile, the waves are smaller, but very forceful, and between Arica and Iquique, tubes are common. The temperature of the water fluctuates between 15 and 20 °C (59 and 68 °F). Due to the difficult conditions of the Atacama Desert, there are many unexplored, quiet beaches in that area. In the Central Region, the water is a little bit colder, and there are steeper shores and bigger waves. [6]

Basketball

In addition to football (soccer), basketball is particularly popular in southern Chile, where it as an indoor sport can be played all year round despite Southern Chile's cold and rainy winters. The NCBAOC is the official league. It stands for the National Chile Basketball Association of Chile.

Rodeo

Rodeo was declared the national sport in 1962. It has since thrived, especially in the more rural areas of the country. Chilean rodeo is different from the rodeo found in North America. In Chilean rodeo, a team (called a collera) consisting of two riders (called Huasos) and two horses rides laps around an arena trying to stop a calf, pinning him against massive cushions. Points are earned for every time the steer is properly driven around the corral, with deductions for faults. Rodeos are conducted in a crescent-shaped corral called a medialuna.

Unlike rodeos in other countries, there is no bull riding or using ropes to tie up cattle. And the idea behind the point system in the game is to get a high number of points. Getting these points takes a high amount of skill. Deductions for faults may included, incorrect maneuvering or the cow escaping. [7] Each pair of Huasos start with 13 points then the deduction system comes into play. Every official rodeo is held over two days, normally Saturdays and Sundays, though occasionally it will be held on Chilean Public holidays. [8]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nicanor Parra</span> Chilean poet and physicist (1914–2018)

Nicanor Segundo Parra Sandoval was a Chilean physicist and poet. He has been considered one of the most influential Spanish-language Chilean poets of the 20th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Los Jaivas</span> Chilean musical group

Los Jaivas is a Chilean musical group who perform in folk, rock, psychedelic, and progressive rock styles formed in 1963 in Viña Del Mar, Chile. They are considered one of the most important and influential artists of all time in Latin America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Violeta Parra</span> Chilean musician and folklorist (1917-1967)

Violeta del Carmen Parra Sandoval was a Chilean composer, singer-songwriter, folklorist, ethnomusicologist and visual artist. She pioneered the Nueva Canción Chilena, a renewal and a reinvention of Chilean folk music that would extend its sphere of influence outside Chile.

Chilean music refers to all kinds of music developed in Chile, or by Chileans in other countries, from the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors to the modern day. It also includes the native pre-Columbian music from what is today Chilean territory.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rancagua</span> City and commune in OHiggins Region, Chile

Rancagua is a city and commune in central Chile and part of the Rancagua conurbation. It is the capital of the Cachapoal Province and of the O'Higgins Region, located 87 km (54 mi) south of the national capital of Santiago.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cueca</span> Family of musical styles

Cueca is a family of musical styles and associated dances from Chile, Argentina, and Bolivia. In Chile, the cueca holds the status of national dance, where it was officially declared as such by the Pinochet dictatorship on September 18, 1979.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Huaso</span> Chilean countryman and skilled horseman

A huaso is a Chilean countryman and skilled horseman, similar to the American cowboy, the Mexican charro, the gaucho of Argentina, Uruguay and Rio Grande Do Sul, and the Australian stockman. A female huaso is called a huasa, although the term china is far more commonly used for his wife or sweetheart, whose dress can be seen in cueca dancing. Huasos are found all over Central and Southern Chile while the Aysén and Magallanes Region sheep raisers are gauchos. The major difference between the huaso and the gaucho is that huasos are involved in farming as well as cattle herding.

<i>X Vietnam</i> 1968 studio album by Quilapayún

X Vietnam or Por Vietnam is an album by Quilapayún released in 1968. This was among the first albums to be released under the DICAP label and was a success upon its release in Chile. The music and subject matter of the recording is very internationalist and was the first recording success of the Nueva Canción Chilena.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chilean rodeo</span>

Rodeo is a traditional equestrian sport in Chile, declared the national sport in 1962.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chileans</span> Ethnic group native to Chile; people identified with the country of Chile

Chileans are an ethnic group and nation native to the country of Chile and its neighboring insular territories. Most Chileans share a common culture, history, ancestry and language. The overwhelming majority of Chileans are the product of varying degrees of admixture between European ethnic groups with peoples indigenous to Chile's modern territory. Chile is a multilingual and multicultural society, but an overwhelming majority of Chileans have Spanish as their first language and either are Christians or have a Christian cultural background.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">El Quisco</span> Commune in Valparaíso, Chile

El Quisco is a Chilean city and commune in San Antonio Province, Valparaíso Region. Located in the country's central coast, it serves as a popular summer resort for the population of Santiago and forms part of the Coast of Poets, a cultural space named after four world-renowned Chilean poets: Pablo Neruda, Vicente Huidobro, Violeta Parra and Nicanor Parra. El Quisco is home to La Casa de Isla Negra, the former house of Chilean poet Pablo Neruda, which is now a museum and Neruda's burial site.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pablo Larraín</span> Chilean filmmaker (born 1976)

Pablo Larraín Matte is a Chilean filmmaker. He is known for directing films such as No (2012), Neruda (2016), Jackie (2016), Spencer (2021), El Conde (2023), and Maria (2024). Larraín and his brother Juan de Dios co-produced Sebastián Lelio's A Fantastic Woman (2017), which was the first Chilean film to win the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. In 2021, Larrain directed the Apple TV+ psychological romance horror miniseries Lisey's Story.

Nueva canción chilena was a movement and genre of Chilean music incorporating strong political and social themes, taking influences from traditional or folk music of Chile. The movement was to spread throughout Latin America during the 1960s and 1970s, in what is called "Nueva canción" sparking the renewal in traditional folk music and playing a key role in political movements in the region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daniel Muñoz (actor)</span> Chilean actor, comedian, and folklorist

Daniel Patricio Muñoz Bravo is a Chilean actor, comedian, and cueca singer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pablo Neruda Order of Artistic and Cultural Merit</span> Award

The Pablo Neruda Order of Artistic and Cultural Merit was created in 2004 by the National Council of Culture and the Arts of the government of Chile, as part of the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Chilean poet Pablo Neruda.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raquel Barros</span> Chilean folklorist

Raquel Barros Aldunate was a Chilean folklorist noted for her studies and dissemination of Chilean folk music and dance.

<i>Toda Violeta Parra: El folklore de Chile Vol. VIII</i> 1961 studio album by Violeta Parra

Toda Violeta Parra: El folklore de Chile Vol. VIII is an album by Violeta Parra released on the Odeón label in late 1961. It was the fifth full-length album by Parra and part of Odeón's "El folclore de Chile" series to which Parra contributed five albums. The album contains 14 songs collecting Parra's work as a folk songwriter at different stages of her career. The album was Parra's first to explore issues of social justice and includes three tracks in which she set to music poems of Nicanor Parra and Pablo Neruda.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Silvia Infantas</span> Chilean singer and actress (1923–2024)

Sylvia Elvira Infantas Soto was a Chilean singer, actress, and folklorist.

References

  1. ↑ Larraín, Jorge. Identidad chilena. 2001. Editorial LOM.
  2. ↑ "Red Poppy: Pablo Neruda. Spreading poetry's potent power. Documentary Pablo Neruda: The Poet's Calling". Archived from the original on 2014-03-22. Retrieved 2014-05-12.
  3. ↑ Gastronomy, Chile's top traditional foods: a visitor's guide Archived 11 November 2013 at the Wayback Machine 29 July 2009 retrieved 6 August 2013
  4. ↑ La Batalla Del Cine Chileno: Chilean Cinema's History of Resisting Hollywood. scholarworks.gvsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1171&context=cine.
  5. ↑ A Brief Chronicle of Chilean Cinema (English Version ... revista.drclas.harvard.edu/book/brief-chronicle-chilean-cinema-english-version.
  6. 1 2 "Chile Activities: Skiing". Gochile.cl. Archived from the original on 2013-01-16. Retrieved 2013-09-25.
  7. ↑ Pierce, Lucy. “Why Rodeo Is Possibly Chile's Most Significant National Sport.” Culture Trip, The Culture Trip, 23 Oct. 2017, theculturetrip.com/south-america/chile/articles/why-rodeo-is-possibly-chiles-most-significant-national-sport/.
  8. ↑ “Rodeo.” Rodeos in Chile - Traditional Huaso Sport Photos, www.southamerica.cl/Chile/Sport/Rodeos.htm.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.