(PDF) Contemporary Portugal

Running head: WORLD CULTURE
WORLD CULTURE
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1WORLD CULTURE
Introduction
Culture is responsible for the salient contrasts which can be observed between the
behavioural patterns of people from diverse communities. Thus any form of disregard towards
varied cultural patterns would result in the underestimation of the strengths as well as depths of
cultural disparities (Januário & Guerra, 2017). World culture tends to emphasise on the
enrichment of societal functions as a whole through the development of cultural horizons. In the
era of global awareness attaining knowledge about other cultures, beliefs and perceptions are
fundamentally important to make well-informed decisions and achieve cultural insights (Guerra,
Silva & Santos, 2015). The following paper will argue on the wide-ranging cultural patterns and
significance of Portuguese culture, beliefs and language in the contemporary world. In addition
to this, it will further emphasise the rest of the world has perceived the way culture of Portugal.
Discussion
Culture in Portugal
Portugal is recognized as a predominantly Roman Catholic nation with an integrated
family ethic. Portugal’s enriched cultural outcomes from varied influences involving Celtic,
Germanic, Viking, and Sephardic Jewish and Moorish. However, in current decades, the nation
has been experiencing revitalization in the arts, and the capitals of Lisbon, Porto and Guimarães
have all been chosen as the European Capitals of Culture (Januário & Guerra, 2017). In Portugal,
culture and heritage possess unique characteristics emerging from historical events as well as the
perception of people. According to Gray, (2017), the country’s affluent civilization dating back
to prehistoric times have been perceived in the vibrant Celtic-influenced tradition of the North in
the Moorish-influenced Fado music, idealistic language, painting and unique architecture that
have spread its culture across the world ever since the age of discovery as well as its intriguing

2WORLD CULTURE
history.
However, in recent times, Portugal has developed as a stable nation that is well integrated
into the European Union. Portugal has attained a significant position among countries with ‘very
high human development’ and consideration in prospective years will emphasize on bringing the
country’s level of skilled jobs as well as educational success closer to the European average
(Campos, Gamallo & Alegria, 2018). Panke, (2016) has revealed that in 1998 Lisbon hosted the
World Fair Expo 98 that lead to significant infrastructure along with urban regeneration projects.
Portugal has eventually adopted the Euro as its official currency alongside ten other countries of
the European Union. However, regardless of the current economic and financial challenges of
the Eurozone that has posed critical impacts on the country, Portugal recently is emerging as a
country progressing towards the future while never overlooking or disregarding its long and
remarkable past (Gray, 2017). The country’s valuable art, language, literature and architecture
have significantly contributed to the Portuguese character. These attributes and distinctiveness,
however, reflect in cities, monuments as well as landscapes which in their way articulate a part
of the history of the world (Faulkner & Liz, 2016).
Insights of Portuguese Literature and Language
At this juncture, Gray, (2017) has revealed that Portuguese literature significantly
developed in the 12th century mainly from the expressive works of scholars like “the Poet King
“Dom Denis who noted mostly from the oral customs and customs which were sung by
troubadours. However, in the 16th Century, Gil Vicente introduced drama to the field of
Portuguese literature including subjects drawn from events occurring in modern lives. Campos,
Gamallo and Alegria, (2018) have further revealed that 20th Century gained immense
prominence in the 20th Century for its lyric poetry with substantial work of renowned lyric poet