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Here's a question:
Franco was from Ferrol in La Coruna province. Why did his regime play up Andalusian stereotypes as "Spanish national stereotypes" rather than Galician national stereotypes? The Castilian stereotypes being played up as "national stereotypes" makes sense considering the centralization of power in pre-1977 Spain, but why were southern stereotypes considered "national" given that Franco himself was a Gallego? Was it because Galicia wouldn't be considered "exotic" enough by Northern Europeans?
And what is even sadder and more symptomatic: it's still that way. Andalusian folklore is still seen as Spanish folklore (when it's never been traditional in Galicia and we've never been interested), while Galician folklore (or Catalan, or Basque, etc.) is seen as provincial and irrelevant, and thus totally ignored by the Government.
The general official consensus is that the Castillian language is the real language of Spain, and Andalusian folklore is the real folklore of Spain. Some circumstancial attention is paid to other (mainly Catholic) traditions elsewhere, but basically if your language or folklore isn't what Spain considers as really Spanish, you're either viewed with suspicion or with derision. Or ignored, of course.
Franco and Fraga (both from Galicia, the latter Minister of Tourism during the 60s) tried to sell the flamenco and the Andalusian culture in general as the Spanish culture simply because it was exotic to most Europeans. But that was not invented by them, you only have to read foreign (especially French) literature from the Romanticism to see that Spaniards are often depicted as either bullfighters of bandoleros (men) and gipsy flamenco dancers (women).
Being myself half-Basque (Alava) half-Castilian (Burgos) I personally find Andalusian folklore indeed exotic and attractive to the average European's taste. Just look at the regional costumes:
Andalusian:
Female : Feria de Abril | Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/javier_almarza/475769313/ - broken link)
Male: Detalles de una fiesta (VII) | Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ihnasio/511373228/ - broken link)
Quote:
Originally Posted by noela
And what is even sadder and more symptomatic: it's still that way. Andalusian folklore is still seen as Spanish folklore (when it's never been traditional in Galicia and we've never been interested), while Galician folklore (or Catalan, or Basque, etc.) is seen as provincial and irrelevant, and thus totally ignored by the Government.
That's not 100% true IMO. The rest of Spain despises the Andalusian folklore as it is seen as something linked to Francoism and incompatible with development. Moreover when any member of the Royalty, the Prime Minister, or any important politician comes to the Basque country, he is received with an "Aurresku de honor" (typical Basque dance). The same in Asturias with the Bagpipes (in the "Premios PrÃncipe de Asturias", for instance) or Galicia (last Pope visit). However I can't imagine a bunch of people dancing Flamenco after the King Juan Carlos landing in Seville.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Miranda Sebastian
Why limit yourself only to Spain, there are about 28 countries that speak Spanish. A good place to start is the U.S.Territories forum that always has blogs about the beauty of the Spanish woman. Here is one dancing|:
And again. Those woman are not Spanish. They are Puerto Rican or whatever, Spanish-speaking at most. But definitely not Spanish.
Very true. They don't look very Spain Spanish though.
In Latin America, they all seem to want to say they are 100% european - for status reasons, but very few actually do look like that.
Which is a good thing, they look much better by and large. Not only in Brazil, but even in a relatively white "European" country such as Uruguay, where there is quite a lot of dislike for Europe.
I was there and did not detect women trying to look European at all. Unlike European women they still stress their femininity over there
Very true. They don't look very Spain Spanish though.
In Latin America, they all seem to want to say they are 100% european - for status reasons, but very few actually do look like that.
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Oh, yes, they do.
Recently I was in Cuba, where about 70 percent are black or mixed, and you find a lot of very stunning white women there.
Nice, well shaped, lean and fit women. No surgery, no fake addendums.
Particularly in the city of Holguin, an almost entirely white city.
Must be the "socialist" food.
Those women tend to be in better shape and have better bodies than their Spanish counterparts, maybe it's because they are always walking or using bycicles and they teach gymnastics or because food there is scarce.
White women in that city tend to look from Galicia, Northwestern Spain and also from Canary Islands.
In Spain, women from Galicia are beautiful, but many or most are overweight.
Impressive.
There's a company that plays "Cuban Flamenco" with many dancers, I've never seen any women like that here in Spain, and I'm talking about white girls. Not an ounce of fat, lush women, incredible.
Problem here is that girls eat a lot of crap, sugary things and junk food and they don't exercise.
Oh, yes, they do.
Recently I was in Cuba, where about 70 percent are black or mixed, and you find a lot of very stunning white women there.
Nice, well shaped, lean and fit women. No surgery, no fake addendums.
Particularly in the city of Holguin, an almost entirely white city.
Must be the "socialist" food.
Those women tend to be in better shape and have better bodies than their Spanish counterparts, maybe it's because they are always walking or using bycicles and they teach gymnastics or because food there is scarce.
White women in that city tend to look from Galicia, Northwestern Spain and also from Canary Islands.
In Spain, women from Galicia are beautiful, but many or most are overweight.
Impressive.
There's a company that plays "Cuban Flamenco" with many dancers, I've never seen any women like that here in Spain, and I'm talking about white girls. Not an ounce of fat, lush women, incredible.
Problem here is that girls eat a lot of crap, sugary things and junk food and they don't exercise.
Interesting you mention the Canary Islands. Many immigrants from the Canary Islands settled in Cuba, as well as Puerto Rico, and even Louisiana.
I have met a few overweight Cuban women as well as some overweight Spanish women. All of them lived in the USA. Maybe the American lifestyle makes a difference.
It is interesting that most of the images I see of Cuban women are just as you actually saw in Cuba. I went to eat at a Cuban restaurant and the food made me wonder about that. Pork sandwiches, fried tostones, and some other rich foods.
Oh, yes, they do.
Recently I was in Cuba, where about 70 percent are black or mixed, and you find a lot of very stunning white women there.
Nice, well shaped, lean and fit women. No surgery, no fake addendums.
Particularly in the city of Holguin, an almost entirely white city.
Must be the "socialist" food.
Those women tend to be in better shape and have better bodies than their Spanish counterparts, maybe it's because they are always walking or using bycicles and they teach gymnastics or because food there is scarce.
White women in that city tend to look from Galicia, Northwestern Spain and also from Canary Islands. In Spain, women from Galicia are beautiful, but many or most are overweight.
Impressive.
There's a company that plays "Cuban Flamenco" with many dancers, I've never seen any women like that here in Spain, and I'm talking about white girls. Not an ounce of fat, lush women, incredible.
Problem here is that girls eat a lot of crap, sugary things and junk food and they don't exercise.
Mano, yeah women form Galicia and Canary Island are stunningly beautiful. Gorgeous women but damn they have this manly attitude about live and an excess of femminism. No way!, I enjoy life better with a nice and beautiful Caribbean (CU, PR, DR), Colombian, or Venezuelan girl that would let me think I'm the king of the house.
Ah, Cuba. Who knows, maybe it is the diet. Possibly the fashion as well?
I spent 10 months in South America, and beautiful women were absolutely everywhere, with all shades of skin colors.
I saw very few attractive women in Spain anywhere near the level that you'd find in Latin America.
I am thinking about it, and while Spain women were certainly less obese than your average American. I can think of very few instances of 'slamming bodies' like you'd readily find in Latin America (or in the U.S. among younger and thinner women) than that were in Spain.
It could be the diet, or probably the fashion. I was in Spain in 2004 for six months, and whenever a girl walked by who was absolutely head-turning, she was always Romanian, Colombian, or Dominican. (Those three are readily found throughout Spain). They just had a 'wow' factor, especially compared to the Spain woman.
I can't put a finger on what made Spain women appear so average and mundane. I was living in Valencia though, if that makes a difference. In my mind, I just remember a lot of bad and choppy haircuts. I remember a lot of chronic smokers. Fashion seemed a bit outdated, and 'sexy' certainly wasn't 'in', like it is in Latin America.
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: Feria de Abril | Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/javier_almarza/475769313/ - broken link)
