MUSIC 26AC Lecture 16: October 31
Chiao Moeet Otoer , 7
• Historical context
o The border
▪ Political boundary
▪ Political-economic tool: systemically used as a way to exploit labor resources, and has
not supported long-term residency in the US
▪ Geographic and cultural zone: where culture overlaps; the area around the border is
distinct and has a hybrid culture
▪ Identity concept: navigating 2 worlds that often seen in opposition
• To eist fluidl etee 2 spaes ased o eah idiidual’s eperiences –
may be positive, negative, or both
o Chicano: word that is neither Spanish or English; self-identification of urbanized, politicalized
individual of Mexican descent
▪ Existed in both Mexican and American space
o Mexican-American: nationals, immigrants, individuals born in the US but identify with their
homeland; more interested in assimilating into the dominant culture in the US;
predominantly middle class
o Mexican: wanting to make specific cultural distinctions
o Despite the distinctions, all 3 groups are lumped together as one group or broader label of
Hispanic by the dominant culture
o Mechicano: used to talk about all 3 groups and how they are marked and understood as a
holistic unit
o Aztlan: larger indigenous land and history of the Aztecs; Chicanos reclaimed this mythical,
ancestral homeland
▪ Redrawing the border was a symbolic act
▪ Black people living in Mexico were included in the conversation
o La raza – the rae: the group of people that ere idetified/oeted to the Aztla lad
and the history of marginal oppression
▪ Informing what was happening within the artistic space
• El Movimiento (Chicano movement) beyond California
o Nonviolent approach
o United Farm Workers of America
o International Grape Strike (1985): major agricultural crop in CA
▪ March up to the capital from the Central Valley: raise concerns about the working
conditions
▪ Get people outside of CA aware of the situation
• Theater (El Teatro Campesino)
o Teatro Campesino: musical group focused on theater making and supporting the movement
by writing songs in meetings and other spaces
• Huelga songs
o Huelga song video:
▪ Delores Huerta: the leader of the labor movement
o Larger space that music making is happening within movements
o Other thigs that are happeig alogside usi akig: eetigs, kids’ sigig, speehes
• Acto: short play that asked for audience involvement that was created usually from real life stories
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
