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Response to Graphic Novels from Argentina

The Eternaut and Mafalda are two very interesting sites of struggle and resistance—they both seem to use the comic form as a way to digest modern politics and war. Mafalda balances comedy with reality in a way that both questions the existing structures and challenges its readers to act. I think that Mafalda, and The Eternaut, introduce a new aspect of popular culture that can be political, but not exhaustingly political—readers are not confronted with images of war or violence. In other words, these very harsh realities of modern times are made unreal so that people can consume without becoming hopeless or overwhelmed. The comic becomes a place to voice the inner struggles of the average citizen, and as a result becomes a part of popular culture. While some openly critique the “popular” or use the “popular” for political means, comics are means through which the people own national struggles; it is a form of empowerment that allows everyone to participate. Mafalda shows this when...
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Response To: The End of Popular Culture?

I grew up listening to three different types of music: rock (i.e. Journey), salsa (i.e. El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico), and classical. Listening to salsa music was a way of connecting to Puerto Rico while living in Seattle, WA—for both my parents and for their children. It is interesting then that a part of Puerto Rican, and Latin American, identity is a genre of music that has both European and African influences. It goes back to what Latin American identity actually is, and who owns it. Music—something that is considered an important part of any culture—has become widely distributed and consumed. It is identified with Latin America, but is listened to and danced to in Europe and North America by people who are not from Latin America. What is culture then if it can become so easily sold off? It must have been an important part of Latin American identity, especially for the Puerto Ricans and Cubans living in New York City, but now it is no longer just for these groups of people. Does i...
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Response to Theories of Mixture III: Hybridity

Hybridization describes the cultural mixing that occurs in Latin America, and that process is a result of modernization. Latin America remains inundated with new influences as development spurs global communication and urbanization creates more space for people to access the global market. Hybridization started and created mestizaje, but the process continues and there are still more influencers being introduced. As Latin America becomes more modern, it gains more access to the global community. It is a beneficial relationship (i.e. Latin America and the global community’s relationship) because it means more access to information, technology, and goods. In some ways this improves the national market and provides locals with more resources, and in other ways this globalization can exacerbate the pre-existing inequalities and chip away at the local culture. The global market means access to cheaper goods, which takes money away from locally sourced products. It also motivates people...
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Reaction To Popular Culture As Mass Culture

It seems pertinent to first address the fact that Bellos is equating Brazil’s defeat by Uruguay in 1950 to Hiroshima. In my personal opinion, it seems that these two “national tragedies” might not be at the same level, seeing as no one’s life was lost as a result of the football game. Still, it does say something about Brazil’s culture, and the importance of football to Brazilians. That there were would be such a strong reaction to this event is representative of something that has become more than just a game—becoming almost like a national religion. This is made evident from the multiple books that were published about this game. The loss definitely permeated through the nation, and became part of the national consciousness. In a way it is the greatest unifier for the nation, and brings a source of national pride; it ties the country together and allows people to show their patriotism. Another sign of football’s omnipresence was how Bellos writes that the Brazilians were called ...
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Transculturation

Both readings took on the term transculturation to further describe it and to challenge how it is commonly used. Both readings were rather pessimistic to their approach of their term, and seemed to consider that the white European culture that the Spaniards brought to Latin America won out over the local, indigenous cultures. The readings argued that acculturation was not the correct term to use when describing the culture in Latin America, but that transculturation was a better representation of the cultural effects of the Spaniards arrival to the Americas. As Millington points out, the cultural phenomena occurring in Latin America cannot be completely described by transculturation. It seems an easy conclusion to reach that the cultural processes that took place in Latin America were more complex than any one word can summarize. More than anything Millington seems to be saying that people should be more critical of the processes that took place in Latin America; this is a job that ho...
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