IE Master in Management

Application

By Jaime Figar Diego

Question

• If all of the World’s cultural heritage (Sports, music, fashion, architecture, literature, painting, etc.) was contained in a time capsule, what would you include to demonstrate the legacy of your country?

• Introduction

– I feel very proud to have been born and raised in Spain, a beautiful country which, not only is home to different cultures, languages and traditions, but also welcomes many other ones, causing it to be a multicultural country. Due to this fact, and the influence of the historical events that have taken place in the country, Spain has become a very culturally – rich country.

– Along this presentation, I will synthesize aspects , characters and events of the Spanish culture, which I consider to be part of the Spanish cultural legacy to the World.

History • The historical events which have taken place in Spain and the Iberian

Peninsula have shapen our culture and traditions to form the actual Spanish society.

• These slides outline the historical periods and events of Spanish history, which in my opinon are part of the Spanish legacy to the World’s cultural heritage.

• Hispania:

– The Romans conquered the Iberian Peninsula and stayed 7 Centuries.

– Imported traditions, economy, legislation, infrastructures and art.

– The Roman legacy in Spain:

• Archeological settlements and monuments: – Aqueduct of Segovia, Roman theatre of Mérida, etc.

• The Spanish, Galician and Catalan languages.

• Umayyad conquest

– Establishment of al – Andalus.

– The Muslim rule in the Iberian Peninsula lasted 8 Centuries.

– Their legacy:

• Many words of the Spanish vocabulary.

• Monuments: Alhambra, Mosque of Córdoba, Giralda de Sevilla.

History

• The Catholic Monarchs

– Unification of Spain.

– Victory over the Moors.

– Preserved Catholicism in the country.

– Christopher Columbus discovered America in their name.

• Exported the Spanish traditions, religion and language to the “new World”.

• The Monarchy

– Centerpiece of a big part of the Spanish history.

– Institution which forms part of our traditions and culture.

– Philip II: Spain reached the height of its influence and power.

– Juan Carlos I: Vital role in Spanish transition.

– Philip VI: Crucial role in the unification of the actual Spanish society.

Literature

• Spanish literature has produced excelent authors, which influenced by the social and political situation of the time, developed novels, poems and plays of high cultural value.

– El Cantar de Mio Cid:

• First literary work of Spanish literature written in Romance language.

– El Lazarillo de Tormes:

• One of the most important novels of the Spanish Golden Age.

• It exposes injustice while amusing the reader.

– Don Quixote de La Mancha:

• Most influential literary work of the Spanish Golden Age and of the entire Spanish literature.

– Lope de Vega:

• Renewed Spanish theatre at the time it was becoming a cultural phenomenom.

• Seen as one of the most prolific authors in the history of literature.

– Camilo José Cela:

• “Generation of 36” movement.

• Nobel Prize in Literature.

Art • Spain is the cradle to some of the finest artists in history, who excelled in

their respective art movements and inspired new styles.

• The artists outlined herein developed pieces of art of unestimable value and which are part, not only of the Spanish cultural heritage, but also the World’s.

– Diego Velázquez:

• Painted Las Meninas and The Surrender of Breda, amongst others.

• Spanish Golden Age.

• Inspired Manet, Bacon, Picasso and Dalí.

– Francisco de Goya:

• “The last of the Old Masters and the first of the modern ones”.

• Most important Spanish artist of the late 18th and early 19th Centuries.

• Painted The Third of May 1808, amongst others.

Art

– Pablo Picasso:

• One of the greatest and most influential artists of the 20th Century.

• Co – founder of the Cubist movement.

• Guernica.

– Salvador Dalí:

• Great creativity and imagination.

• One of the most prominent Spanish surrealistic painters.

• The Persistence of Memory.

– Museo del Prado:

• Keeps one of the finest collections of art in the World.

– Museo Reina Sofía:

• Home to important paintings like Guernica.

Sport

• Sport is an important part of the Spanish culture and society, and as such, it has hold major sporting events like the Olympic Games and Football and Basketball World cups.

• For the results they have achieved along their careers, some sportsmen and sportswommen are to be considered as part of the Spanish cultural heritage.

• Football

– Real Madrid and Futbol Club Barcelona.

• Best teams in the World

• Million – dollar businesses

• Millions of fans across the World

– The Spanish national team

• Two consecutive Euro cups and a World cup between them.

• Philosophy and style admired by other football clubs and national teams.

• Tennis

– Rafa Nadal

• Best Spanish sportsman in history

• One of the best tennis players of all time.

Sport

• Cycling – Miguel Induraín:

• 5 consecutive Tour de France • 2 Giro d’Italia • Gold Olympic medal in 1996.

• Motorcycling – Ángel Nieto:

• 13 motorbike World cups. • Golf

– Severiano Ballesteros: • Greatest Continental European golfer of all time. • Leading role in the re-emergence of European golf.

• Basketball – Pau Gasol:

• First Spanish player to win the NBA title. • First Spanish player to play the NBA All – Star game.

• Mountaneering – Edurne Pasaban:

• First woman in history to reach the summit of the eight- thousander peaks.

Fashion

• Eventhough Spanish fashion designers may not be as renowned as those coming from neighbouring countries like France and Italy, we have several designers and fashion firms which have certainly made an impact in the fashion World.

– Inditex:

• Reshaped the fashion industry through its business model: Trendy clothes at a very affordable price.

• Biggest textile group in the World.

• Over 6.000 strores worldwide.

• Founder and majority shareholder, Amancio Ortega, one of the richest mans on Earth.

– Cristóbal Balenciaga:

• Most important Spanish fashion designer.

• “The master of us all” - Christian Dior.

• “The only couturier in the truest sense of the word” - Coco Chanel.

– Manolo Blahnik:

• One of the most renowned shoe makers in the World.

Gastronomy and Folklore

• Spanish gastronomy and folklore are a reflection of the Spanish society and traditions.

• Folklore:

– Bull - fighting:

• Controversial and critized.

• Admired and regarded as an art manifestation.

– Flamenco:

• Traditional music and dance from Andalucía.

• Closely linked to bull – fighting.

• The Flamenco outfit: most characteristic fashion item of the Spanish folklore.

• Gastronomy:

– Pintxos:

• Originated in the Basque Country but they are popular now all over Spain.

– Paella:

• Traditional dish from Valencia.

• Interrnationally well – known thanks to tourism.

– Wine:

• Spanish wines are internationally recognised.

• Spain is one of the leading wine exporting countries in the World.

Conclusion

• In this presentation I separated the different elements which I believe form part of the Spanish culture: its history, literature, art, sport, fashion, gastronomy and folklore.

• For each of these elements I have outlined those characters or events which in my opinion are relevant enough to form part of the Spanish legacy to the World’s heritage.

• Spain’s rich culture and the historical events developed along its long history, have influenced the traditions, habits and way of living of the Spanish society.

Thank you