Are Chileans the nerds of Latin America?

Question

It seems that Chile is so secluded from the rest of Latin America. They do not bring out interesting Latin musicians. They mainly just have scientists, economists and some famous poets. There really is nothing that Latino about them.

Atleast from my visit there, I didn't feel like I was in just any Latin American country. Maybe I came in with American goggles on and was expecting another version of Mexico or Puerto Rico, but the country is very unique. The people very bookish and kept back. Any thoughts?

Answer 1

If you just look for interesting Musicians (never heard or Miriam Hernandez ???)...the legendary Peruvian Bolero (who was invented by Lucho Barrios, Alci Acosta...etc.) todos Chilenos...muchacho! The "nueva ola" chilena back in the sixties and seventies, and... plus... Chile had quite a lot of famous bands from the past 40 years, which are good know in EVERY Country of the Middle and South-american continent....Plus, muchacho, "Vina del mar" is since decades a "must" for musicians from all over the world !

That was just for your opinion in Latin-Music. Latin Music is not just Salsa, Reggaeton and Merengue....!!!!!!!!

Answer 2

Why nerds??? Did you think that bcoz is in Latin America pple would be dancing and singing in the streets???

Reading the opinion you have from Chile, I really dont understand how you didnt put all latinoamerican countries in "the same bag"

You would be surprised  about the richness that latinoamerica has. I'm not talking about dollars ( of that we have really few) but about culture ( sciences, music, painters, sculptors, writers, musicians, singers and of course ancient civilizations as Mayas, Aztecas, Incas, Toltecas, for say some)

Our culture is not Mexico..but Mexico is the only that pple from USA knows. Each country has its own characteristics...and what makes from Latin America what it is, is just the diversity that it has.

Answer 3

well, the "American" vision of LAtinamerica is Mexico.

For americans everything Latin is Mexico.

So, they get surprised when they visit Chile and Uruguay, where people are educated, where they have snow, ski resorts and glaciers. And where they don't eat tacos and sing mariachis songs!

Answer 4

Right.. I totally agree with bebobobo..

Latin America is not Mexico. That would be like expecting the Germans to behave like the Italians only because they're both in Europe.

People in the US talk about "Latin" food.. but they're actually referring to Mexican food.

They do not eat 'tacos', 'fajitas' or 'enchiladas' in the other countries, they don't even know what those are.

That's the big mistake people in the US make.

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Answer 5

You must have gone to Santiago in Chile.

I agree with the previous opinions-

Answer 6

I completely agree with the rest of the comments. Your opinion is very popular among US citizens, but it's far from truth.

"Latino" is not the same as mexican. Latinamerica is a very diverse continent, and each country's culture is the product of hundreds of years of cultural exchanges between indigenous peoples, european colonizers and african slaves, among others. And because of that, each country has a very rich and diverse set of traditions (music, food, celebrations, etc), and provides a very wide range of experiences to those who visit them.

The problem with that latino stereotype is that it doesn't allow people to see the complexity that relies within each country: most people can't see Mexico as an industrial or scientifically advanced nation, the same way you can't see Chile as a fun or expressive country. And that's the reason why you think they don't "bring out any interesting latin musicians": Occidental culture has a very strong tendency to forget what doesn't fit into those long-established stereotypes (that's why Shakira is only known for her s**y dance songs, instead of her more lyric-complex ballads, to give an example).

I invite you to look for more information about latinamerica, and to share your experiences with other people, so those stereotypes can finally step aside and allow visitors to be more open-minded about our culture.