1. QUESTIONS 1. What are the two types of cultures present in latin america? 2. What are the languages spoken in LA? 3. In which countries do the Amerindians live? 4. Write the different combinations between Europeans, Amerindians, and Africans? 5. In which countries are Native languages still spoken? 6. Mention some religions that are practiced in LA? 7. Write some famous writers that LA have had? 8. How is the L A music? 9. Mention some popular LA dances.

2. Latin American CulturesLatin American Cultures

3. Objective TO KNOW ABOUT THE LATIN AMERICAN CULTURES AT A GLANCE. TO NAME THE DIFFERENT LANGUAGES SPOKEN IN LA TO ENUMERATE THE DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF LA CULTURE.

4. Introduction Latin American culture includes the high culture (literature and high art) and popular culture (music, folk art and dance) as well as religion and other customary practices. The languages of LA includes Spanish, Portuguese, French, and English. There is also an important Latin American cultural presence in the USA. The cultures of LA are a combination of many other cultures such as European, Chinese, Korean, and Japanese.

5. Ethnic groups Only in Peru, Guatemala, and Bolivia exist Amerindians and in the rest of the continent, most of the Native American descendants are of mixed race ancestry. Here are the main race combinations that influenced the LA cultures: Europeans + Amerindians = Mestizos (most of LA) Africans + Europeans = Mulattoes (Dominican Republic, high % of Brazil, Colombia, Honduras, etc..) Africans + Amerindians = Zambos Many LA countries have a substantial tri-racial population.

7. Languages Besides the Spanish, French, and Portuguese, several nations, especially in the Caribbean, have their own Creole languages, derived from European languages and African tongues. Native American languages are spoken in many LA countries, mainly Peru, Panama, Ecuador, Guatemala, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Mexico.

8. religion The primary religion throughout Latin America is Christianity, mostly Roman Catholicism. There are more religions like Protestant, Pentecostal, Evangelical, Mormon, Buddhist, Jewish, and Islamic that are practiced by some people.

9. Visual art In the earlier XX, the LA art was influenced by the Constructivis. Joaquin Torres Garcia and Manuel Rendon brought it to LA. The Muralism movement was represented by Diego Rivera, David Alfaro, etc. The most impressive murals can be found in Mexico, Colombia, New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia. Frida Kahlo remains to be the most known and famous Latin American artist.

11. Literature At the end of the 20th, modernismo emerged, a poetic movement whose founding text was Ruben Dario´s Azul. Julio Cortazar´s Rayuela, Gabriel Garcia Marquez´s Cien Años de Soledad led the LA literature to the magic realism. Isabel Allende and Paulo Coelho are the more avantgarde acclaimed work of writers.

13. Music LA music is very diverse with the only thing in common is the language (Spanish) Latino-Caribbean music such as salsa, merengue, bachata, etc. Are styles of music that have been strongly influenced by African rhythms and melodies. Tango, Cumbia, and vallenato in Colombia, ranchera in Mexico, palo de mayo in Nicaragua, Uruguayan Candombe, etc.. Are just some of the LA music genres.

14. Modern dance LA dance is considered to emphasize sexuality. The mariachi of Mexico has especial movements similarly to Cuban music. Other dances are mambo, chachacha, rumba, samba, flamenco, and tango.