Late post due to catching the wretched flu floating around! :
This piece the beginning sections of this reading struck a cord in me because of my personal experiences travelling throughout Peru and also my time spent with indigenous peoples from Sungai Utik Indonesia.
Having lived on the other side of the world my knowledge on the influence of colonisation within Latin American indigenous communities, and popular culture for that matter, was very basic. So, learning the depths at which adaptation and merging of cultures occurred was fascinating to me. The acknowledgment that the convergence of cultures did result in a new form of culture (although in unjust circumstances) gives me slight reassurance when grappling with the hardships indigenous peoples go through in the face of modernity. It gives me reassurance as culture continues to persevere in times of pressure. “The search for purely Indian expression is romantic and anti-historical” was an interesting point as it calls people to the present reality and gives space for contemporary indigenous life to evolve and continue through whatever influence. Additionally, this loosens the ties of modernity colliding with tradition and allows all dimensions history to be acknowledged. This piece emphasised the avoiding superimposition by analysing and understanding the convergence of many cultures in Latin America as opposed to a romanticised history.