SPANISH 312

“Music and Politics in Latin America”

Voices of the Spanish-Speaking World

SPRING 2021 (versión 2.0) / 2018 versión 1.0 )

Prof. Kristina I. Medina Vilariño

Prerequisite: Spanish 250 and one 270 level course
Prof.  Kristina Medina Vilariño
MWF 12:55pm – 1:50pm

Over the last three decades reguetón, trap, bachata, and salsa songs have been in the top-ten music charts of radio stations as representatives of “Latino music” in  festive essence, but their popularity renders invisible a more rich cultural tradition told by political expressions of Latin American music. In this course we will explore the connections between music, history, politics, and culture in Latin America. This course will examine genres such as merengue, la nueva canción, corridos, rock, tango, reggae, and danza, to determine the role that musicians have played in larger social narratives. We will also discuss films and texts such as El hombre del acordeón, a novel by Marcio Veloz Maggiolo’s, Martín Fierro by José Hernández, and short stories such as Ana Lydia Vega’s “Letra para salsa y tres soneos por encargo.” Guest speakers will join our conversation, and their expertise on ethnomusicology and music production will complement our analysis. As part of their final presentations, students will create a playlist reflecting a historical period of one or more Latin American countries. They will also complete a critically engaged and civically informed (virtual) story map (similar to this project) on the musical culture of their choice.

Counts Toward Majors: Performance, Political Science, Spanish, Women’s and Gender Studies
Counts Toward Concentrations: International Relations, Women’s and Gender Studies

Students majoring in Music that have completed the prerequisites for this course should talk to to their music advisor about your intent to register.