Southwest High School - Roundup Yearbook (St Louis, MO)

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unskilled laborers are beginning to play a great and important part in the development of the cultural life of their nation. Heitor Villa-Lobos has been called the most significant twentieth century composer of both Americas. If the bigness of South America has prevented her from completely coordi- nating her creative life, the interesting racial mixtures have, to a certain extent, compensated her with a fascinating richness of color. The dominant national trait expressed in the people's contribution to South American art shows a deep concern in the interpretation of their own lands. The element of mystery seems to be a genuine characteristic, and this fact has often impressed the artists of other countries. From Louisiana and stretching across New Mexico and Arizona to Cali- fornia, there is a cultural background founded upon the influence of South America. To some extent the language, social institutions, customs, and archi- tecture in these states reflect this influence. At the same time in South America there is a trend to the modern in architecture, clothing, music, and techniques in painting, which reveals the influence of movements in the United States. Indeed the Americas have something to give each other. Each has some- thing of great value to contribute to developing a great Pan-American Art. . - 'Ei' .f: - ,,f5lfE33EfLQ , Q , .- , 1 Mk 55 ' V . ,. f,gg5 133 ff 1- 5' fc - , ,V if .W 1-Qgssfififtlllf - at x 'w s- , A' fw Wf'f' fe- -- 3 ' Lorcnc lV1lIiams Twenty-eight

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ART IN SGUTH AMERICA By MARJORIE LUGENBEEL 4 4, SI-IE necessity for closer cooperation between the Americas has stimu- ing between peoples can be achieved, however, on this basis alone. A knowledge of the art and general culture of South American countries is just as important to a full appreciation as is any other phase of civilized life. It is true that the civilizations of the two nations are essentially different: but as modern methods and materials are adopted, the two Americas and their arts are brought closer together. lated the interest of citizens of the United States in the political li ..,' lj and commercial life of South America. No true understand- No one who visits Peru fails to sense the greatness of its past. Though we have no written record of its history, we know that the empire of the Inca Indians was one of the most perfect governments ever established in the world. Their caste system seems strange to us, but it was accepted by them as a natural order. And though this system discouraged among artists the strong individual- ism that is shown in other countries, the culture was enriched by the early inhabitants who drifted into this region from different parts of South America, bringing with them their well-developed arts. The Indians had already generally developed the arts of spinning, weaving, and pottery making. The designs woven into the Peruvian fabrics were con- ventional and largely geometric. Many of the textiles are today rated as the world's best artistically: they are frequently being copied in modern art. Archaeologists have unearthed pottery which shows great skill in work- manship, and beautiful temples which the Indians built to the Sun God. The Inca city of Machu Puchu, rich with palaces, temples, fountains, and terraces, rests upon the crest of a mountain which rises high above a valley. The work shows not only great engineering ability but also astonishing skill in cutting stone. The stones are so closely fitted one can hardly slip a knife blade between them. This architecture is the expression of a people who were governed by a deep feeling for God. Another influence in South American art is that of Spain. This can be found in the street, the old houses, and in the cathedrals. The Spanish con- quest of Peru by Pizarro in 1532 brought about the gradual downfall of the Indian. The Spaniards forced the Indian culture into the background while their own was encouraged. The Indians were enslaved and were very slow to grasp the new culture of the Spanish. Thus two distinct classes were created, one of which was never to arise and throw off the yoke of a conquered people. Today the ancestors of the first Sun Worshippers dress in their brilliant costumes and perform the ancient rituals of their dance. The haunting music that accompanies these dances has a strange quality that is buried in the past. Contemporary South American artists seem to be very busy, vigorous, and eager to learn. This trait is shown especially among the writers, painters, educators, and musicians. The arts are being given an important part of the program in the schools. There are several organizations designed to assist young artists. Amigos del Arte CFriends of Artj has an exhibition gallery open to the young artist who wishes guidance and help along these lines. Alice Blackwell's Some Spanish American Poets shows the direction of their literature. The emperor of Brazil, Don Padro II., did much to encourage the artistic traits of his people. Many promising young men and women as well as the Twenty-seven

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ARE THE GOVERNMENTS OF SOUTH AMERICA Tl-IREATENED? By DOROTHY CANTONI . X Y, O UNDERSTAND the relationship between the United States 'iam and South America, it is necessary that we understand the ll el' HAZ' organization of the South American governments. Some of l-all ,tk lr i them are formed along lines similar to our own. I 'C' Brazil is governed under the constitution adopted on February 24, 1891. This document is described in the pre- amble as the Constitution for the Republic of the United States of Brazil, and a reading shows obvious influences of the Constitution of the United States. This type of government is called a federal, republican, representative form, and consists in the everlasting and indissoluble union of the former provinces of Brazil as states in the new republic. Like the American Constitution, that of Brazil contains a special section devoted to a declaration of individual rights. Most of the guarantees of indi- vidual liberty and property are familiar features of our state constitutions and the first amendments to our federal Constitution. The legislative power in Brazil is vested in the National Congress, subject to the approval of the Presi- dent of the Republic. The executive power is vested in the President as elective head of the nation. The judicial power is taken over by a Federal Supreme Court and in such inferior courts as the Congress may create. Argentina, commonly called the Argentina Republic, is governed under the constitution which was revised in 1860 when Buenos Aires entered into the Argentine Confederation. This constitution also provides for the federal, republican, representative form of government. The Argentine legislature is a bicameral body organized along lines closely related to those followed in the organization of our Congress. The executive power is vested in the Presi- dent of the Argentine nation. The judicial power is conferred upon the federal government. The written constitution under which Chile is governed was published in 1833 and established the principles of a unified government. The document includes a list of guarantees of individual rights. In the organization of the legislature, which is called the National Congress, the bicameral system has been followed. The supreme chief of the nation is a citizen with the title of president, and the constitution intrusts to the president the administration and government of the state. The constitution says little about the judicial branch of the government besides asserting its 'independence of the executive and legislative branches. Peru, Bolivia, Venezuela, Colombia, and Ecuador are also governed under their own constitutions which distribute the powers of the government among the three traditional departments. The governments of Uruguay and Paraguay follow the same procedure as do the governments in the other countries of South America. Twenty-nine