Editing Venezuela (section)

== Culture ==
{{Main|Culture of Venezuela}}
[[File:Joropo foto.jpg|thumb|[[Joropo|Música Llanera]] is the most popular folk genre, and the cowboy music, of Venezuela. Depiction of a Llanera band in 1912.]]
The culture of Venezuela is a melting pot made up of three main groups: The Indigenous Venezuelans, the Africans, and the Spanish.

The Africans brought in many musical influences, especially introduction of the drum. The Spanish influence predominantes due to the colonization process and the socioeconomic structure it created. Spanish influences can be seen in the country's architecture, music, religion, and language.

Venezuela was also enriched by immigration streams of Indian and European origin in the 19th century, especially from France. Most recently, immigration from the United States, Spain, Italy, and Portugal has enriched the already complex cultural mosaic.{{Citation needed|date=October 2020}}

=== Architecture ===
[[File:Casco Central Santa Ana de Coro, estado Falcon, Venezuela.jpg|The historic center of [[Coro, Venezuela|Coro]], a UNESCO [[World Heritage Sites by country|World Heritage Site]],<ref>{{Cite book |last=Gasparini |first=Graziano |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lV0wAQAAIAAJ&q=coro+patrimonio+mundial |title=Coro: patrimonio mundial |date=1994 |publisher=Armitano |isbn=978-980-216-125-6 |language=es}}</ref> is an example of [[Spanish Colonial architecture|Spanish colonial architecture]] in Venezuela.|thumb]]
[[File:Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Chiquinquira.jpg|[[Basilica of Our Lady of Chiquinquirá, Maracaibo|Basilica of Our Lady of Chiquinquirá]], built between 1686 and completed in 1858, where is kept the colonial image of the [[Our Lady of the Rosary of Chiquinquirá|Virgin of Chiquinquirá]], in [[Maracaibo]]|thumb]]
[[Carlos Raúl Villanueva]]<ref>{{Cite book |last=Dembo |first=Nancy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m7qettmYF_UC&q=carlos+raul+villanueva+arquitecto |title=La tectónica en la obra de Carlos Raúl Villanueva: aproximación en tres tiempos |date=2006 |publisher=CDCH UCV |isbn=978-980-00-2336-5 |language=es}}</ref> was the most important Venezuelan architect of the modern era; he designed the Central University of Venezuela, (a [[World Heritage Site]]) and its Aula Magna. Other notable architectural works include the Capitolio, the [[Baralt Theatre]], the [[Teresa Carreño Cultural Complex]], and the [[General Rafael Urdaneta Bridge]]. In Venezuela, [[Prehistory|prehistoric]] man began to build useful architecture from approximately 1000 BC to the 15th century AD, in the period known as the "Neo-Indian". Neo-Indian architecture consisted of incipient constructions, such as [[Terrace (earthworks)|agricultural terraces]] and vaults lined by stones, called mintoyes, which were used as tombs and silos for the storage of agricultural products. The Indo-Hispanic architecture is the one that begins to develop from the year 1498 AD.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Lucca |first=Rafael Arráiz |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0hJ5DwAAQBAJ&q=espa%C3%B1oles+venezuela+1498 |title=Venezuela: 1498-1728: Conquista y urbanización |date=15 February 2016 |publisher=Editorial Alfa |isbn=978-84-16687-13-8 |language=es}}</ref> Venezuelan colonial architecture is built from the 16th century, when Venezuela began to be a dependent colony of the [[Spanish Empire]],<ref>{{Cite book |last=Gasparini |first=Graziano |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eMQYAAAAYAAJ&q=arquitectura+colonial+venezuela |title=La arquitectura colonial en Venezuela |date=1965 |publisher=Ediciones Armitano |language=es}}</ref> until 1810, when the process of Venezuelan independence began.

The architecture of this period is characterized by its discreet modesty, with the exception of some cities. The explanation lies in the socioeconomic conditions of the [[country]]. Venezuela did not offer then to the colonizers the immense riches kept by nature for later times. The simplification of technical problems, the renunciation of most of the decorative elements and variegated ostentations of fanciful baroque, the impossibility of using [[Cost|expensive]] materials and the consequent lack of craftsmen, contributed to establish a modest but well-defined physiognomy of the colonial architecture of Venezuela. During the [[Colonialism|colonial]] period, there were eventually confrontations between the Spanish conquerors and the barbarians and pirates that sailed along the Venezuelan coasts, in order to take over the provinces located on the coasts of the country.

[[Christians|Christian]] temples from the colonial era were constituted by an almost invariable, arrangement consisting of a rectangular plan, three naves separated by arches of alfarje roofing composed of religious architecture in colonial times. The Venezuelan society dedicated a great amount of resources to erect religious monuments comparable to those of other countries of the continent. The XVII century was of reconstruction of the [[Catholic Church|Catholic churches]] that had been destroyed by the earthquake of 1641. In the 18th century, specifically between 1728 and 1785, the prosperity that Venezuela enjoyed due to the opening of the [[Guipuzcoan Company of Caracas|Compañía Guipuzcoana de Caracas]]<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ojanguren |first=Montserrat Gárate |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=K_NUAAAACAAJ |title=La Real Compañía Guipuzcoana de Caracas |date=1990 |publisher=Sociedad Guipuzcoana de Ediciones y Publicaciones |isbn=978-84-7173-156-2 |language=es}}</ref> was also reflected in the construction of new architecture, especially of a religious nature.

=== Art ===
{{Main|Venezuelan art}}
[[File:Antonio Herrera Toro Autoretrato 1880.JPG|thumb|upright|right|[[Antonio Herrera Toro]], self portrait 1880]]

[[Venezuelan art]] was initially dominated by religious motifs. However, in the late 19th century, artists began emphasizing historical and heroic representations of the country's struggle for independence.{{sfn|Ng|2004|p=31}}{{sfn|Aponte|2008|p=45}} This move was led by [[Martín Tovar y Tovar]].{{sfn|Aponte|2008|p=45}}{{sfn|Tarver|Frederick|2006|p=10}} [[Modernism]] took over in the 20th century.{{sfn|Tarver|Frederick|2006|p=10}} Notable [[List of Venezuelan artists|Venezuelan artists]] include [[Arturo Michelena]], [[Cristóbal Rojas (artist)|Cristóbal Rojas]], [[Armando Reverón]], [[Manuel Cabré]]; the [[kinetic art]]ists [[Jesús-Rafael Soto|Jesús Soto]], [[Gego]] and [[Carlos Cruz-Diez]];{{sfn|Tarver|Frederick|2006|p=10}} and contemporary artists such as [[Marisol Escobar|Marisol]] and [[Yucef Merhi]].{{sfn|Fichner-Ratus|2012|p=519}}<ref>{{cite web|last=Silvera|first=Yohana|url=http://www.talcualdigital.com/Nota/41697/Poesia-En-Objetos|title=Poesía en objetos|publisher=TalCualDigital|date=10 June 2010|access-date=24 July 2015|language=es|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150724162507/http://www.talcualdigital.com/Nota/41697/Poesia-En-Objetos|archive-date=24 July 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Literature ===
{{Main|Venezuelan literature}}
[[Venezuelan literature]] originated soon after the Spanish conquest of the mostly pre-literate Indigenous societies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.latintrails.com/venezuela-info|title=Information|publisher=Latin Trails|access-date=1 July 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150702042820/http://www.latintrails.com/venezuela-info|archive-date=2 July 2015}}</ref> It was originally dominated by [[Culture of Spain|Spanish influences]]. Following the rise of political literature during the Venezuelan War of Independence, Venezuelan [[Romanticism]], notably expounded by Juan Vicente González, emerged as the first important genre in the region. Although mainly focused on narrative writing, Venezuelan literature was advanced by poets such as [[Andrés Eloy Blanco]] and [[Fermín Toro]].

Major writers and novelists include [[Rómulo Gallegos]], [[Teresa de la Parra]], [[Arturo Uslar Pietri]], [[Adriano González León]], [[Miguel Otero Silva]], and [[Mariano Picón Salas]]. The great poet and humanist [[Andrés Bello]] was also an educator and intellectual (He was also a childhood tutor and mentor of [[Simón Bolívar]]). Others, such as [[Laureano Vallenilla Lanz]] and [[José Gil Fortoul]], contributed to Venezuelan [[Positivism]].

=== Music ===
{{Main|Music of Venezuela}}
[[File:2952-Danzas Guanaguanare de Venezuela no Festival folclorico da Coruña. (8200095256).jpg|thumb|The Guanaguanare dance, a popular dance in [[Portuguesa (state)|Portuguesa State]]]]

The Indigenous musical styles of Venezuela are exemplified by groups like Un Solo Pueblo and [[Serenata Guayanesa]]. The national musical instrument is the [[Cuatro (Venezuela)|cuatro]]. Traditional musical styles and songs mainly emerged in and around the llanos region, including "Alma llanera" (by [[Pedro Elías Gutiérrez]] and [[Rafael Bolívar Coronado]]), "Florentino y el diablo" (by [[Alberto Arvelo Torrealba]]), "Concierto en la llanura" by [[Juan Vicente Torrealba]], and [[Caballo Viejo|"Caballo viejo"]] (by [[Simón Díaz]]).

The [[Gaita zuliana|Zulian gaita]] is also a very popular genre, generally performed during Christmas. The national dance is the [[joropo]].{{sfn|Cortés|2013|p=2134}} Venezuela has always been a melting pot of cultures and this can be seen in the richness and variety of its musical styles and dances: [[Calypso music|calipso]], [[bambuco]], [[fulía]], cantos de pilado de maíz, cantos de lavanderas, sebucán, and maremare.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.turpialtravel.com/countries/key-facts-venezuela.html|title=Key Facts Venezuela|publisher=Turpial Travel & Adventure|access-date=13 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016050959/http://www.turpialtravel.com/countries/key-facts-venezuela.html|archive-date=16 October 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Teresa Carreño]] was a world-famous 19th century piano virtuoso. Recently, great classical music performances have come out of Venezuela. The [[Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra]] has hosted a number of excellent concerts in many European concert halls, most notably at the 2007 London [[The Proms|Proms]], and has received several honors. The orchestra is the pinnacle of [[El Sistema]], a publicly financed, voluntary music education program now being emulated in other countries.

In the early 21st century, a movement known as "Movida Acústica Urbana" featured musicians trying to save some national traditions, creating their own original songs but using traditional instruments.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.eluniversal.com/arte-y-entretenimiento/141208/rock-and-mau-sonara-bajo-las-nubes-de-calder|title=Rock and MAU sonará bajo las nubes de Calder|newspaper=El Universal|date=8 December 2014|access-date=13 July 2015 |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Fernández B.|first=María Gabriela|url=http://www.eluniversal.com/arte-y-entretenimiento/150314/el-jazz-es-el-lenguaje-universal-de-la-musica-popular|title=El jazz es el lenguaje universal de la música popular|newspaper=El Universal|date=14 March 2015|access-date=13 July 2015}}</ref> Some groups following this movement are Tambor Urbano,<ref>{{cite book|last1=Olsen|first1=Dale|last2=Sheehy|first2=Daniel|title=The Garland Handbook of Latin American Music|date=2007|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-135-90008-3|page=32}}</ref> Los Sinverguenzas, C4Trío, and Orozco Jam.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Christie|first1=Jan Fairley|title=Living politics, making music : the writings of Jan Fairley|date=2014|isbn=978-1-4724-1266-9|page=113|publisher=Ashgate Publishing}}</ref>

Afro-Venezuelan musical traditions are most intimately related to the festivals of the "black folk saints" San Juan and [[Benedict the Moor|St. Benedict the Moor]]. Specific songs are related to the different stages of their festivals and processions, when the saints start their yearly "''paseo"'' – stroll – through the community.

=== Sport ===
{{Main|Sport in Venezuela}}
{{See also|Baseball in Venezuela|Football in Venezuela}}
[[File:Estadio Monumental de Caracas Simon Bolivar Feb 2023 Venezuela (5).jpg|[[Monumental Stadium of Caracas Simón Bolívar]] is used by the [[Venezuelan Professional Baseball League]] and has a capacity of approximately 40,000 spectators.|thumb]]
The origins of baseball in Venezuela are unclear, although it is known that the sport was being played in the country by the late 19th century.{{sfn|Nichols|Morse|2010|p=306}} In the early 20th century, North American immigrants who came to Venezuela to work in the nation's oil industry helped to popularize the sport in Venezuela.{{sfn|Wardrope|2003|p=37}} During the 1930s, baseball's popularity continued to rise in the country, leading to the foundation of the [[Venezuelan Professional Baseball League]] (LVBP) in 1945, and the sport would soon become the nation's most popular.{{sfn|Jozsa|2013|p=12}}{{sfn|Gibson|2006|p=18}}

The popularity of baseball in the country makes Venezuela a rarity among its South American neighbors—association football is the dominant sport in the continent.{{sfn|Wardrope|2003|p=37}}{{sfn|Gibson|2006|p=18}}{{sfn|Nichols|Morse|2010|p=307}} However, football, as well as [[basketball]], are among the more popular sports played in Venezuela.{{sfn|Aalgaard|2004|p=54}} Venezuela hosted the [[2012 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Men|2012 Basketball World Olympic Qualifying Tournament]] and the [[FIBA Americas Championship|2013 FIBA Basketball Americas Championship]], which took place in the [[Poliedro de Caracas]].

Although not as popular in Venezuela as the rest of South America, football, spearheaded by the [[Venezuela national football team]] is gaining popularity as well. The sport is also noted for having an increased focus during the World Cup.{{sfn|Aalgaard|2004|p=54}} Venezuela is scheduled to host the [[Copa América]] every 40 years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.conmebol.com/articulos_ver.jsp?id=61730&slangab=E|title=Copa America: a new cycle begins and the revolving calendar remains|publisher=CONMEBOL|date=21 December 2007|access-date=30 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205191359/http://www.conmebol.com/articulos_ver.jsp?id=61730&slangab=E|archive-date=5 December 2008}}</ref>

Venezuela is also home to former [[Formula 1]] driver, [[Pastor Maldonado]].<ref name="Strickland2015">{{cite web|last=Strickland|first=Jamie|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/formula1/32275593|title=Pastor Maldonado: Does 'Crashtor' deserve his bad reputation?|publisher=BBC|date=12 April 2015|access-date=6 July 2015}}</ref> Maldonado has increased the reception of Formula 1 in Venezuela, helping to popularize the sport in the country.<ref>{{cite web|last=Montiel|first=Santiago|url=http://spartannewsroom.com/changeup/article/blog/formula-1-needs-more-attention-united-states|title=Formula 1 needs more attention in the United States|publisher=Spartan Newsroon|access-date=6 July 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150706181313/http://spartannewsroom.com/changeup/article/blog/formula-1-needs-more-attention-united-states|archive-date=6 July 2015}}</ref>

In the [[2012 Summer Olympics]], [[Rubén Limardo]] won a gold medal in [[Fencing at the 2012 Summer Olympics|fencing]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nbcolympics.com/news-blogs/fencing/fencer-ruben-limardo-returns-to-heros-welcome-in-venezuela.html|title=Fencer Ruben Limardo returns to hero's welcome in Venezuela|publisher=NBC Olympics|date=7 August 2012|access-date=30 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120807221821/http://www.nbcolympics.com/news-blogs/fencing/fencer-ruben-limardo-returns-to-heros-welcome-in-venezuela.html|archive-date=7 August 2012}}</ref>

In the Winter Sports, [[Cesar Baena]] had represented the country since 2008 in Nordic Skiing, the first South American skier to compete in a FIS Cross Country Ski World Cup on Düsseldorf 2009.