Culture in Argentina can be viewed in two ways. Culture can describe activities such as attending the theater, ballet, musical presentations and other events common considered to be enjoyed by upper class and well educated citizens, or it can just as properly to used to describe all the components which together make up the description of how the people of a particular area look, dress, eat and drink, and just as importantly entertain themselves. The country of Argentina has a unique mixture of people groups and historical influences that make it one of the most interesting and culturally diverse countries in the world.

Literature and Music in Argentina

Because of the significant mixture of peoples and historical impact on the land area known as Argentina, the styles of literature and music are as wide as you might expect. One of the most critically acclaimed authors of the 20th century; Jorge Luis Borges has contributed much to the culture in Argentina. He is best known for such works as Ficciones and The Aleph. Argentina culture has also benefited in the field of music. The haunting dance rhythm of the tango is the country's signature sound. At the other end of the spectrum is the more classical European music which is also well represented at such locations as the Colon Theater.

Argentina Film and theater scene

A modern breed of film makers has made their mark on Argentina culture, particularly since the 1980s. Argentina is widely recognized as the leader in producing Spanish language films and many of the offerings from this South American country are known and appreciated throughout the world. Argentineans not only produce great films, they attend the film showings enthusiastically, producing one of the highest per capita viewing rates in the world. Several of the population centers now have film festivals which are well received and draw visitors from around the globe.

Argentinian Art :: Painting and sculpture

Xul Solar of Argentinian birth is one of the best known and most intriguing sculptors, painters and inventor of languages the country has known. His profound influence on the culture in Argentina is still being recognized through his students and through those that flock to showings in order to study his work. In today's world, the work of Ciruelo, a recognized sculptor and fantasy artist is noted for his works about dragons. Some of the mythical creatures have graced music albums and magazine covers such as Playboy and Heavy Metal.

Eating and Drinking in Argentina is a Treat

Because of the mixture of races and people groups, the food and drink choices found in Argentina are truly a gastronomic expert's delight. The food fare is somewhat distributed geographically, with seafood dishes more popular in the coastal and river regions, while the pampas of Northern Argentina provide more beef dishes. Culture in Argentina related to the composition of favorite dishes has incorporated specialty dishes from Spain, Germany, France and native groups. Wine production is an increasingly important Argentina product and as such provides visitors and international markets with a picture of Argentina culture related to the fruit of the vine.

Argentina Loves Sports, and Sport Loves Argentina

Obviously, football (soccer) is the most popular sport in Argentina culture. The national team took the FIFA Championships twice in recent years and received a gold medal in Olympic competition. Not only the professionals play football in Argentina; about 1 in every 25 adult males plays on amateur teams in the country. Even the women and girls now are in the picture with a women's championship league for the last 15 years. Other sports enjoyed by the populace of the country include volleyball, basketball, rugby, hockey, golf and sailing.

Religions & Culture in Argentina

One of the most important influences on Argentina culture is that of religion. Most Argentineans identify themselves as Roman Catholic, with a sizable showing from the Jewish sector and Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, commonly known as Mormon. Islam is also well represented in the country of Argentina. The culture in Argentina benefits from the influences of these religions shown in many instances through the major architectural styles and buildings for places of worship. Some of the Roman Catholic structures date back to the Middle Ages, while the Muslim mosque in Buenos Aires is one of the largest in South America.