Improving the World... One Interaction At A Time.
A Performers Guide to Cultural Interactions
By William Draven
As an actor at a major motion picture studio, and theme park in Hollywood, as well as a magician I frequently get the opportunity to entertain for from all over the world. A year ago or so a document was released within our entertainment department that outlined different countries, and some good information you can use to create meaningful, lasting encounters with their people.
I immediately saw the advantage of this information for the magician community because what are we if not entertainers? We can use just about any tool at our disposal to help create that one magic moment with our audience that can make it even that much more memorable. So I got permission to share the information with you. Of course this project will take some time to post up, so I'll be updating this based upon two factors. The first being how well received, and appreciated it is from you the community, and the second how relevant the community feels this information is as applied to their lives. That is to say if not encouraged, I won't keep it up. Otherwise, I'll post new threads titled: "Improving The World: {country name}" that that specific file relates to.
Without any further delay, I bring you our first country: Argentina
Improve the World: Argentinia
Country: Argentina
What They Call Themselves: Argentineans
Primary Language: Spanish
Prominent Cities: Buenos Aires [capital], Cordoba, Rosario, Mendoza, Mar del Plata.
Famous/Historical sites: Teatro Colon [Buenos Aires], one of the world’s great opera houses; 17th Century Cathedral of Cordoba.
Currency: Argentine Peso
Starter Phrases:
Welcome: Bienvenidos
Hello: Hola
Goodbye: Adios
Thank you: Gracias
Your welcome: De nada
Cultural Notes:
Prominent People/ Celebrities: Eva Peron aka “Evita” (former First Lady to President Juan Peron, deceased); Lionel Messi aka “Lio” (pronounced LEO; 22 year old soccer phenom); Diego Maradona (soccer legend; current manager of national team); Lalo Schifrin (composer; “Mission: Impossible”); Manu Ginobili (basketball player, San Antonio Spurs).
-Futbol (soccer)is a national obsession with Argentineans. They have produced globally known superstars like Maradona and Lio Messi. You may have noticed soccer jerseys with MESSI on the back. Lio plays for the national team (sky blue & white stripes) and Barcelona (navy & red stripes). He is popular worldwide as Tiger Woods or Michael Jordan. Really!
-Argentina hosted and won the FIFA World Cup Finals in 1978; they also controversially won in 1986. Maradona’s 2 goals against England in the 1986 World Cup Finals have names. The first is referred to as the “Hand of God”, as he illegally touched the ball with his hand to score. His game winner was named “The Goal of the Century” in 2002 by FIFA. The men’s national team won the Gold at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.
-Made up of 23 provinces, Argentina is the second largest country in South America, and eighth in the world by land area. It became independent of Spain on July 9, 1816. July 9 is their national holiday. The name Argentina is an approximation of the “Land of Silver.” It is boardered to the east by the Atlantic ocean and the Andes mountains to the west with Chile.
-A majority of the Argentineans are of European descent, mainly Italian and Spanish. According to the most recent censuses less than 2% of the population are of indigenous ancestry.
-Evita championed charitable & international causes via the Eva Peron Foundation. In 1952 shortly before her death from cancer at the age of 33. Eva Peron was given the official title of “Spiritual Leader of the Nation” by the Argentine Congress.
-Sound Familiar? The current President of Argentina is its former First Lady. Cristina Kirchner was a Senator from Buenos Aires Province prior to taking office. She is the wife of former President of Argentina Nestor Kirchner, and acted as First Lady during his term.
-Pampas, home of the Gauchos, are the plains west and south from Buenos Aires
-Argentine cuisine is known for its barbecued beefsteak dishes like asado.
-Argentina is the home of the Tango. The golden age of tango (1930 to mid- 1950s) mirrored that of Jazz and Swing in the United States, featuring large orchestral groups.
What to Avoid:
Mention of the Falklands Islands which resulted in a losing war with the UK in 1982.
A Performers Guide to Cultural Interactions
By William Draven
As an actor at a major motion picture studio, and theme park in Hollywood, as well as a magician I frequently get the opportunity to entertain for from all over the world. A year ago or so a document was released within our entertainment department that outlined different countries, and some good information you can use to create meaningful, lasting encounters with their people.
I immediately saw the advantage of this information for the magician community because what are we if not entertainers? We can use just about any tool at our disposal to help create that one magic moment with our audience that can make it even that much more memorable. So I got permission to share the information with you. Of course this project will take some time to post up, so I'll be updating this based upon two factors. The first being how well received, and appreciated it is from you the community, and the second how relevant the community feels this information is as applied to their lives. That is to say if not encouraged, I won't keep it up. Otherwise, I'll post new threads titled: "Improving The World: {country name}" that that specific file relates to.
Without any further delay, I bring you our first country: Argentina
Improve the World: Argentinia
Country: Argentina
What They Call Themselves: Argentineans
Primary Language: Spanish
Prominent Cities: Buenos Aires [capital], Cordoba, Rosario, Mendoza, Mar del Plata.
Famous/Historical sites: Teatro Colon [Buenos Aires], one of the world’s great opera houses; 17th Century Cathedral of Cordoba.
Currency: Argentine Peso
Starter Phrases:
Welcome: Bienvenidos
Hello: Hola
Goodbye: Adios
Thank you: Gracias
Your welcome: De nada
Cultural Notes:
Prominent People/ Celebrities: Eva Peron aka “Evita” (former First Lady to President Juan Peron, deceased); Lionel Messi aka “Lio” (pronounced LEO; 22 year old soccer phenom); Diego Maradona (soccer legend; current manager of national team); Lalo Schifrin (composer; “Mission: Impossible”); Manu Ginobili (basketball player, San Antonio Spurs).
-Futbol (soccer)is a national obsession with Argentineans. They have produced globally known superstars like Maradona and Lio Messi. You may have noticed soccer jerseys with MESSI on the back. Lio plays for the national team (sky blue & white stripes) and Barcelona (navy & red stripes). He is popular worldwide as Tiger Woods or Michael Jordan. Really!
-Argentina hosted and won the FIFA World Cup Finals in 1978; they also controversially won in 1986. Maradona’s 2 goals against England in the 1986 World Cup Finals have names. The first is referred to as the “Hand of God”, as he illegally touched the ball with his hand to score. His game winner was named “The Goal of the Century” in 2002 by FIFA. The men’s national team won the Gold at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.
-Made up of 23 provinces, Argentina is the second largest country in South America, and eighth in the world by land area. It became independent of Spain on July 9, 1816. July 9 is their national holiday. The name Argentina is an approximation of the “Land of Silver.” It is boardered to the east by the Atlantic ocean and the Andes mountains to the west with Chile.
-A majority of the Argentineans are of European descent, mainly Italian and Spanish. According to the most recent censuses less than 2% of the population are of indigenous ancestry.
-Evita championed charitable & international causes via the Eva Peron Foundation. In 1952 shortly before her death from cancer at the age of 33. Eva Peron was given the official title of “Spiritual Leader of the Nation” by the Argentine Congress.
-Sound Familiar? The current President of Argentina is its former First Lady. Cristina Kirchner was a Senator from Buenos Aires Province prior to taking office. She is the wife of former President of Argentina Nestor Kirchner, and acted as First Lady during his term.
-Pampas, home of the Gauchos, are the plains west and south from Buenos Aires
-Argentine cuisine is known for its barbecued beefsteak dishes like asado.
-Argentina is the home of the Tango. The golden age of tango (1930 to mid- 1950s) mirrored that of Jazz and Swing in the United States, featuring large orchestral groups.
What to Avoid:
Mention of the Falklands Islands which resulted in a losing war with the UK in 1982.