Argentina

Chelsea Gannage Argentina

===Introduction  ===

After the United States of the Rio Plata declared independence from Spain, countries Paraguay, Uruguay and Bolivia separated leaving land that then became Argentina. The population of Argentina consists of mostly Spanish and Italian ethnicities. Their languages include mainly Spanish, but also Italian, English, French and German. 92% of the population in Argentina are Roman Catholic, leaving 2% Protestant, 2% Jewish and 4% practicing other religions. Argentina has a population of 42,192,494 making it the 32nd most populated country in the world. This country has a republic government. Argentina is well known for their beef, music and dance (especially the Tango) and wine.

Argentina’s culture is full of the arts. World-renowned artists including Candido Lopez, Antonip Berni and Guillermo Kuitca are all from Argentina. The most eminent music of Argentina is Tango. Singers such as Tita Merello and Roberto Goyeneche are most well known for their music of Tango. Education is very important to the Argentinian society. The Argentine National Council of Education has set a standard curriculum that all schools must follow throughout the country because it is believed that a national education system promotes unity in Argentina. Kindergarten is optional and mandatory education begins at age six and ends at fourteen. While public schooling is free, students are required to buy their own books and uniforms. These uniforms resemble lab coats and are worn over regular clothing. These uniforms also promote unity and equality. Private schools are offered as well and are sponsored by churches and organizations where there is a tuition fee. Wherever students attend school, when they arrive in the morning the Argentine flag is raised and they sing the national anthem.

Artist
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Xul Solar was the adopted name of Oscar Agustin Alejandro who was an Argentine sculptor, painter and even a writer. Xul Solar was born on December 14, 1887 in San Ferando, Buenos Aires Province. Xul was fluent in seven languages, two being his own creation. Xul invented two imaginary languages including Neo Criollo, a poetic fusion of Portuguese and Spanish. The other was called Pan Lingua which was a language that linked math, astrology, music and the visual arts. Xul once said, "I am maestro of a writing no one reads yet."

He went to school in Buenos Aires studying music and then architecture. Not completing architecture school, he went on to become a schoolteacher. It was during WWI that he met Emilio Pettoruti, an Argentine artist who inspired him to get involved with painting, especially with watercolors. His very first art exhibition was in Milan in 1920. Xul Solar was famous for using watercolors that made drastic contrasts between light and dark. His paintings are also known for having a lot of geometric shapes in them. Xul was very intrigued by astrology, which was a fundamental importance in his creative process. He also was interested in Buddhism and believed in reincarnation. His paintings reflect both of these interests. His use of geometric shapes and symbols shows his interests in math. Xul’s preferred medium was watercolor. He also has his own museum in Buenos Aires, which opened in 1993. One of his most famous watercolor paintings is called “yoguis”. This paintings these is “the message of fantastic things.” In the painting there is an angel at the top and people who are trying to reach the angel on ladders at the bottom. This is a representation of the angel as the messenger came to deliver the people fantastic news. This painting is one of his most appealing in my opinion.

Arts Organization


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ph15. ph: drawing with light <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">15: standing for the number assigned to identify the slum called Ciudad Oculta or Villa15 at the edge of Buenos Aires Argentina. <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Together ph15 means a place where a group of children are encouraged to express their personal views through the use of photography. <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Ph15 is created by a group of photographers that believe in education through visual arts and the use of art as a means to promote social inclusion. Ph15 provides a photo workshop to 30 underprivileged young people. Each student attends a free 3-year course including expression through photography, expression and technique and digital photography. This project began in August 2000 due to a group of children that wanted to learn how to photograph in Cuidad Oculta. <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">The activities presented to the children intend to spread photographic creativity. By examining the different aspects of their own life as a group and individually, the students learn to explore their environment around them and express themselves through personal views and new perspective. Ph15 allows students to explore their own neighborhood and cities around them that they never knew existed through field trips. The process of selection, edition, mounting, framing and hanging are required of each student. Exhibition places range from small venues to major cultural centers. The locations are selected close to the students’ homes so they create a close tie with the community and are able to take their families to show them their work. <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">“Ph15 has helped me meet new people and go forward with my life, teaching me to express myself and to not be trapped by the bad things in the villa, and to think instead about what’s outside.” - Natalia Godoy, 19 years old, Ph15s 3rd year student. <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">media type="youtube" key="1h7UXYmlRv8" height="315" width="420"

<span style="color: #26823d; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">School art programs
<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">The educational system in Argentina started in 1852. In 1884, the Law of Basic Education was passed which provided public education to children in schooling age. Although the coverage of education in Argentina is wide, the quality is lacking. Argentina is a middle-income country that has had a bad economic history, which mirrors in its education. Equal opportunities among students are not offered much anymore. Although the school curriculum includes the arts, it is not heavily focused upon and there is not much variety. I feel this is due to the bad economy and lack of funds. The deterioration of education in general is believed to be due to low investment and lack of appropriate policies. Government officials probably feel that it is better to use the little money they have toward general academics and not subjects such as music and art.

<span style="color: #26823d; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Conclusion
<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Argentina’s arts education is much different from what I have experienced in my own years of schooling. The arts have always been incorporated in my school curriculum. No matter where I went or what grade I was in I always remember there being some sort of art being taught. Although art was not seen as a major subject most of the time, it was still offered and available to take. Even when funding in my middle school was low, they never cut any of the art programs. I would not want to attend school in Argentina. With the low quality of the curriculum, and poor art program in the schools, I do not think I would enjoy it compared to the U.S. <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">I was surprised about the lack of the arts in Argentina. This country is where Tango originated and I was shocked to learn that there was no sort of dance class in the school curriculum. I was also surprised because there is a lot of famous artists that come from Argentina and the school curriculum does not focus on teaching the children about them.

<span style="color: #26823d; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Sources
<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">[|https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ar.html#]

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<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/support-youth-education-in-argentina/

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">http://www.argentina.org.au/education.htm

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/26516.htm

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">http://www.geographia.com/argentina/