3.0

Average Course Rating

From Carmen Miranda to Bad Bunny, and Carlos Gardel to Lucrecia Dalt, this course examines how popular music has shaped Latin American thought, identities, vibes, and cultural practices, serving as a nexus where various segments of society intersect. We will read and discuss theoretical texts centered on music and sound studies, literary theory, affect theory, national identity, migration, and politics. Through attentive listening, we will inspect the works of numerous performers and songwriters who have defined the Latin American songbook, elevating it to one of the most sophisticated art forms in the Americas, as well as musical genres such as Argentine Tango, Brazilian Samba, Bossa Nova, Colombian Psychedelic Cumbia, Puerto Rican Reggaetón, Dominican Dembow, and Son Cubano. In doing so, we'll explore their Afro-diasporic, Indigenous, and European roots and examine how contemporary popular music responds to these traditions. The course will be conducted in English.