LAST Parting Post

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Writing this it’s hard to believe it’s been a whole semester. It seems like just yesterday I was trying to figure out how to set up this blog. I really enjoyed going through this course content and exploring different viewpoints with classmates. It was very interesting to come together and discuss in the format that we all did. I thank everyone for being so open, honest and respectful throughout the term.

Personally my favourite topic we discussed this semester was Rosario Castellanos “Cooking Lessons”. I found that the content was relatable in terms of questioning what someone’s purpose is (particularly being a women myself) and being able to look back and question what her place was/is and should be moving forward. It gave us a view into feminism and ideas surrounding expectations around married women in Latin America but also around the world.

WEEK 13: TV and Internet

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The Article “Sex, soap and society: telenovela noir in Alvaro Uribe’s Colombia” by Nick Morgan is very informative in terms of explaining the rise of telenovelas; in particular narconovelas in the early 2000’s in Colombia. To be honest right off the bat after reading the introduction seeing the word ‘narco’ ingrained in narconovelas it drew me to conclude that their popularity might have arisen also just due to what the people of Colombia were experiencing at this time. With a rise in terms of crimes connected to the production and trafficking of narcotics this may have done something to do with the popularity of these tv shows because people could either directly or indirectly relate to them.

This rise in popularity had an impact on everyone; but in particular those who were wanting to portray a squeaky clean image of what Colombia stood for and what was really happening. As Morgan states “Many critics, especially in the country’s agenda setting media, attacked them for presenting a distorted and degrading image of Colombian society, and the widespread fascination with their sensationalist story lines was interpreted as confirming a general decline in the nation’s values” (54). With this being said one can see that in the process of these novelas becoming as popular as they did, some people may have not been as favourable to them because it might have not had the greatest light on Colombian society at the time.

When I think about a similar situation to this I think back to Narcos. The very popular netflix show on Pablo Escobar and other drug cartels in Colombia. Which is yes unfortunately based on true events however so much of it is made to be more dramatic for the factor that people wanted to hook the audience in and make them watch more. What people fail to see is the actual destruction that the drug trade has on already poor suburbs in Colombia in terms of violence and crime. Yes, some of this is displayed in the show however not nearly to the extent that it is experienced by every day civilians.

As Morgan says “I argue that alongside its obvious sensationalism, the success of the form has to do with its dramatisation of the most pessimistic aspects of a social imaginary marked by suspicion and distrust” (54). From this we can see that perhaps a lot to do with the success of these novelas in the fact that these crimes and wrongdoings are sensationalized and made to look glamorous and fun. Whereas, the real everyday civilizations are the people who are suffering the most at the mercy of those on top.

Question: Besides narcos are there any other popular tv shows that display the drug trade on major platforms?

WEEK 12: Comics

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While reading the Isabella Cosse article titled “Mafalda: Middle Class, Everyday Life, and Politics in Argentina, 1964-1973” it made me draw comparisons to popular comics that I might have read growing up such as Betty and Veronica, and the Archie comics. What drew me to these comics was seeing similar in nature characters displayed throughout. Being middle class Betty and Veronica going through the dramatics of westernized life. I feel as though Mafalda exploded as a character in Argentina and then eventually beyond because of the way that people were able to connect with her character and relate stories back to their own lives.

Cosse discusses how the influx of European immigrants and modernization at this time grew Argentina’s middle class. Therefore, starting to solidify a certain identity in terms of what/who the middle class are and act like. The middle class during this time was integral in political conversation (whether this we good or bad; re the discrimination of indigenous individuals).

What Cosse is wanting to get across is that Mafalda was so popular because the middle class was able to relate to certain social material and as one knows representation in the media is important. However, it went both ways as the comic was also used to shape the middle class. The author would do this by displaying situations of social identities with humour as well as interpreting everyday people intersecting in the political sphere. Which is important in a democratic functioning society.

Crosse states “Laughter is an act that presupposes shared meanings that make humor intelligible because it requires an audience familiar with the subjects evoked” (39). What this tells the reader is that the popularity of the comic was due to the humorous nature along. This also opens a conversation looking at the intersection of humour and political messages that one might see today in various comics around the world (Canada for one has an abundance of politically humorous comics all while stating opinions in newspapers).

The comic displayed a married couple that consisted of a “normal” family structure at the time being a stay at home mom and a white collar working mother with the little girl Mafalda living in the city. This makes sense at the main consumers of the comic were middle class individuals living in urban areas. As was shown through survey’s at the time which were a leading business tool as described by Cosse.

Question for the class: Why do you think the Author of Mafalda, Joaquı´n Lavado, stopped writing these comics 1973? Not even 10 years after the original strip was published in 1964.

WEEK 11: Peruvian Punk by Shane Greene

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Shane Greene’s article does a fantastic job in terms of discerning what goes into the production of certain music (passion, talent, grit) versus the means that can go into music that may not be as authentic. It was interesting to dive into the different mechanisms that would go into someone’s thoughts about what “overproduction” or “underproduction” entails.

What I first though about when I read overproduction and underproduction my mind instantly though in terms of effort and what goes into the final project of a band in this case or a musicians work. However while reading through it my understanding shifted towards how they are almost rebelling against the idea that there is an elitism with popular music having to be perfect everything in terms of costumes, instruments etc. Making it more raw as Greene states “Punk intends to de-fetishize cultural-industry norms of creativity via whatever DIY strategies are available to it, e.g. bands using cheap instruments, punks spreading their subculture via fanzines, musicians distributing recordings through independent labels, punks arranging shows through informal social networks, and so on” (p. 289). Reading this it made more sense to me on the level that it’s not effort at all, rather presenting music in a way that would be attainable for people who might not be able to spend so much money on new instruments and costumes to be involved in as well. The nature in my mind then as aggressive as punk rock might have been viewed by me in the past is that of a genre that can be quite inviting to outsiders. Which is contradictory in nature due to the tone of the music.

What I also found interesting was that the Peruvians that first had access to punk rock music in the late 70’s would’ve been from a wealthier class as they would be the ones that had access to foreign markers and hearing about it from travelling or friends that had traveled. Which goes against the very nature of punk as it is meant go against a lot of  societal norms in terms of tone, outfits and overall production.

My question is: In terms of the genre punk rock what would constitute in your own mind after reading the article an album being overproduced or underproduced?

WEEK 10: Soccer

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I found Eduardo Galeano’s piece “Soccer in Sun and Shadow” quite dramatic. This doesn’t surprise me as someone who has played soccer and watched a lot of soccer on tv there is almost a cult like following the surrounds the sport. What I did find interesting however was his “confession” at the beginning. This is where he admits that he only played soccer well in his dreams and during the day on the field he really wasn’t all that good. He goes on to say that he is an appreciator of “good soccer” saying he doesn’t care who or what country performs is more so just the level of skill that is required to excel at it.

Throughout the piece he goes through the individual positions and components of soccer which I found interesting. In this sense it gives someone who does not have the best idea of what the sport is some contextual understanding as to how it works. I was not a fan of the author comparing the night before a game to a concentration camp; in the sentence “And on the eve of big games, they lock him up in a concentration camp where he does forced labor, eats tasteless foods, gets drunk on water and sleeps alone” (3). What’s ironic about this is I can imagine a survivor or someone who experienced a concentration camp would consider this situation to be a luxury. Therefore I found this comparison to be overly dramatic to the point of being disrespectful.

Another crazy hyperbole that I found was the section titled “the language of war”. This is how soccer players get a bad rep in terms of being overly dramatic on the pitch. No a soccer game is not the same as going to war no matter how intense the players are being about the competition. At the end of the day the well-being and security of their country is not on the line and people are not putting their lives on the line for their freedom. Therefore again I found this section to be a little bit too dramatic and intense for my liking.

Question: As you can tell from my post I think that the author was overly dramatic throughout the article. Do you think that his dramatics enhanced or worked against the overall message that the article was trying to portray?

WEEK 9: The Fighting Cholitas

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While watching The Fighting Cholitas I loved how there were many different women in the first part of the video being introduced and how they identify as; more so as well what this means to them. I found it interesting that the Cholitas were characterizing themselves as being old fashioned and people perhaps judging them for that; however in my opinion they were challenging many stereotypes by participating in a male dominated sport such as wrestling. Albeit wearing traditional outfits that I can imagine just by looking at them are heavy.

It was interesting for me to see how there was a certain aspect of performance that goes along with the wrestlers as one of the bad ones was talking about 80% is real and there’s 20% performing. However when I was watching it there is almost a grace that goes along with the performances I thought that they were choreographed wrestling matches. One watching the short documentary can also see the way that it brings people together. Mostly working class, poorer groups as a cholita explained. They are stressed and sad throughout the week however this provides them with an escape and some entertainment during a long week.

I found it interesting the themes of good and bad during the wrestling matches. There are literally wrestlers that choose to be good or bad and this decides how the audience responds to them in terms of booing or cheering. And as one bad cholita describes it sometimes a mixture of both.

I liked when they were interviewing the indigenous Cholita and she was talking about how she does not wrestle for the money it was something that she wanted to pursue and get better at. Moreso when she was showing the camera her award for being one of the best in her field and the pride that went along with that. There was a nice connection there I believe in terms of doing a sport that liberates her as a person along with being able to send her children to school. As she talked about how she wants her daughters to both be professionals and remember that it was their mother who worked hard and made this possible for them. Which is liberating in and of itself.

Question: Do you think that with the aspect of wrestling this cancels out the cholitas being more old fashioned? As they are participating in a male dominated sport?

WEEK 8: Religion

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This of this weeks reading by Roger Canals titled “The mirror effect: seeing and being seen in the cult of Marıa Lionza” was of particular interest to me because I seemed to keep drawing parallels between certain aspects of their practices and the religion that I grew up in. BIG disclaimer I was baptized and raised Roman Catholic so cult not quite depending on whom you’re talking to. However I was drawing connections between different ritualistic movements I would go through during mass. Such as making the sign of the cross, making eye contact with others and shaking hands offering peace during certain sacraments. When I was thinking of this I thought about the importance that the cult of Maria Lionza held on eye contact and connectivity in this sense.

I appreciate that this cult worships females at the centre and puts emphasis on them being forces of nature. Again, there is a sense of old school thought in terms of fertility being a main focal point as well. As per my first connection to my own Catholic faith I found it interesting the further I read in the article they mentioned various elements that were adopted from the Catholic faith such as the adoration of saints.

In terms of drawing another personal observation between the cult of Maria Lionza and the Catholic faith is the theme of death.  Catholics believe that Jesus, the son of God, came to Earth and died for us on the cross in order for us to have eternal life with him in heaven. This is similar to how in the cult the death of Hugo Chavez, the ex president. So much so that his picture can be found on many alters according to the article. I found this interesting as well as wondered what the significance to do with seven years passing before someone’s spirit enters the spirit realm. More so the particular number seven and the significance that holds.

My question for the class (if people are comfortable discussing their experiences with their own religion) is what are some parallels that stood out to you while reading about the traditions and rituals of the cult of Maria Lionza and do you think your own religion had any impact on why these particulars stuck out to you?

Final Project: Mexico’s Feminist Movement and the Effect Reggaeton has

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For my final project I hope to shed some light on the connection between the feminist movement happening in Mexico and the effect (positive and negative) that a very popular form of music has on this movement. Reggaeton originated in Puerto Rico during the 90’s as part of an upbeat dance hall sort of music and has since risen in popularity recently in the mainstream pop media. We see popular Latin American artists such as J Balvin, Maluma etc being played on mainstream radio. However, these songs and how they are song are often very sexual in nature and in particular a lot of the time overly sexualize the female body. What I am interested in uncovering is if this effect in terms of liberating women and then wanting to speak out against this, or to do with the feminist movement have they had enough and despise this music. I realize the particular group I look into as well is sure to dictate what comes from this but more or less this is what I’m trying to look into.

Why I am including Interviews with Mexican Women: We Don’t Talk about Feminism here:

I am including this in order to give my project some background on varying geographical and political standpoints in women’s opinions and thoughts about the movement back in the 60’s and 70’s. With this I hope to provide to give the project some context in order to set the landscape for how reggaeton would have been received by these different groups of women as it rose in popularity, not only in Latin America but the world.  Intersectionality is a section that I am interested in diving into in order to differentiate the various womens circumstances as with projects like these it is important to not generalize a whole group of people into one category therefore this book is helpful in terms of exploring the experience of different groups of women in Mexico’s Feminist Movement.

Works Cited:

Coria-Sanchez, Carlos M. 2019. Interviews with Mexican Women: We Don’t Talk about Feminism here. 1st ed. Milton: Routledge. doi:10.4324/9780429505454.

WEEK 5: The Cultural Life of Coca

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Right away there is an emotional element to this story as the Yungas have growing coca embedded in their culture as well as different associations and signs that are harnessed to the act of growing and harvesting coca. One of these symbols being how it is equated to a woman’s life cycle which I find very interesting. This goes along with how when a young couple move in together the man begins to plant coca seeds. Which might also draw parallels on them starting their own family and (potentially) having daughters. All while planting and wanting to foster such a culturally significant symbol for the new couple. As the young family grows the kids will then start to help in the fields when the plants are at the stage that they are, in terms of being young adolescents and needing more attention. So on as they mature over the age of 40, the plants begin to need less attention. At this time the children have probably begun to move away with their wives/husbands and start the cycle of planting cocoa plants on their own accord. I find this life cycle of the family very wholesome as at the beginning of the new couples journey this is a constant in terms of having the coca plants around. I find that a lot of traditional cultural plants will have more connections to the male side of the culture, so the cocoa plant being associated with a woman’s life cycle is interesting to me.

I found it interesting the different superstition that are in place surrounding coca and it’s harvest as this is something that I’ve never experienced growing up in Vancouver. In terms of the process they go through and how they feel about the pungent odour, more so how their anxiety surrounding the energy will ease when the coca is dried and they can use it as a means to get funds to support their family.

This connection is something that I think is special as well, this is something that the whole family is involved throughout the stages of their lives while harvesting the coca and then using it to be able to support themselves and their loved ones.

Question: are there any culturally specific plants in Canada you can think of that are connected to a woman’s life cycle?

WEEK 4: Food and Drink, Cooking Lessons

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I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story by Castellanos. I found the language that she used to be descriptive and related to a lot of the things she was writing about (not in terms of marriage) but in terms of society’s expectations of women. I found it interesting how a lot of comparisons about a women going through the motions of marriage are being compared to a piece of meat. Something a lot of people seek out in terms of “their favorite cut” or “the best quality” which is then prepared in a way to their liking and served to enjoy. In this sense I found that the parallels being drawn in terms of shifting and molding to society’s expectations can be very toxic in terms of how they must perform to be thought of as enjoyable and making sure that in this case her husband is satisfied. I find the main character reflecting throughout the story being well thought out in terms of how it all started with one question “Do you work or study” to where she is now in terms of having to satisfy his needs whether it be physically, emotionally, or sexually.

I find that the theme throughout the story of questions and her being put in situations where she is questioning objects that make her feel a certain way. When it was her husband asking her how much time it was before dinner a certain night for example she went into questioning how it was that she as a female was expected to just know these sorts of things. She starts to say that in the cookbook it doesn’t say specifically step to step it is very subjective in terms of someone’s own cooking level at that therefore how should she innately know just given that she’s a women.

The whole story as a matter of fact goes through how she feels about her current role in life with her husband now, while flashing back to the current hand at task which is making him dinner. It’s important to understand that her questioning is going to be trying to get her own understanding of who she is.

Question: What was one of the most interesting questions the main character asked in your opinion?