Overview of the Culture of Spain
General:
-Culturally, Spain is a western country
-Because of its strong Roman heritage, Spain is often described as a Latin country
-Still, despite other influences, Spain maintains a unique culture
The Royal Spanish Academy:
-the institution responsible for regulating the Spanish language
-based in Madrid
Art:
-Spanish artists have been highly influential in the development of various European art movements, especially the Baroque and Neoclassical periods
-their Moorish heritage clearly still seen in the art
-Famous Spanish artists include Diego Velazquez, Francisco Goya, and Pablo Picasso
Cinema:
-Spanish cinema has achieved major international success
-Oscar wins for recent films like "Pan's Labyrinth" and "Volver"
-Filmmaker Luis Bunuel was the first to achieve universal recognition, followed by Pedro Almodovar in the 1980s
-Known for intense scenes of emotional despair and pensivity
Music and Dance
-Spanish music is often considered abroad to be synonymous with flamenco
-Various regional styles of folk music abound in Aragon, Catalonia, Valencia, Castile, the Basque Country, Galicia and Asturias
-Pop, rock, hip hop and heavy metal are also popular.
-In classical music, Spain has produced a number of noted composers such as Isaac Albeniz, Manuel de Falla and Enrique Granados
-In Spain there are over forty professional orchestras, including the Orquestra Simfonica de Barcelona, Orquesta Nacional de Espana and the Orquesta Sinfonica de Madrid
-Thousands of music fans travel to Spain each year for internationally recognised summer music festivals
-The most popular traditional musical instrument is the guitar which originated in Spain
Science and Technology
-In the 19th and 20th centuries science in Spain was held back by severe political instability and consequent economic underdevelopment
-Despite the conditions, some noted scientists and engineers emerged such as Miguel Servet, Santiago Ramon y Cajal, and Severo Ochoa
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