By: Dalia Perez
Forgotten histories is a theme that helped me to connect the readings from this week. The reading Country Music Is Also Mexican Music by Lugwid Hurtado discusses the forgotten history of country music. Hurtado states that “ without Mexican culture, the beloved American genre might never have existed” (Hurtado). I find this statement extremely interesting because I would never have imagined that country music was influenced by Mexican music. Hurtado also mentions that country music was specifically influenced by Mexican ranchera music. I am quite shocked by this statement because I grew up listening to ranchera music and never made the connection between ranchera and country music. Another article from this week that brings up forgotten histories is the article FINALLY, FILMMAKERS TELL THE FORGOTTEN HISTORY OF SEATTLE DIY SELF-DEFENSE GROUP HOME ALIVE by Laina Dawes. This article about the non-profit organization called “Home Alive”. It was important to tell the history of this organization because it taught women physical self-defense by saying “no” when in an uncomfortable situation and “finding escape route techniques” (Dawes). This was important because many women that were in the “grunge scene’ in Seattle. Also this film was important because there was no information on the organization but know you are able to learn about “Home Alive” and its history.
Two songs that help me relate to these readings are La Bala by Los Tigres Del Norte and Momma Why by Heart Ann & Nancy Wilson. The first song La Bala helps me relate to the article by Hurtado. In the article Hurtado mentions the country band The Last Bandoleros, as I watch the music video attached to the article I began to notice the accordion and began to connect this song to tejano music. The accordion shows me the connection between country and mexican music. The other song Momma Why connects to the Dawes article specifically because it is part of the album released by the organization and it discusses the harsh reality of sexual violence in everyday society.
AFRAM337 