Russell C. RodrÃguez (University of California, Santa Cruz)
Presently there is a consistent leaning towards envisioning mariachi as a western art form, as seen in the development of mariachi conferences and festivals, the integration of mariachi programs into educational institutions and the co-presentation of mariachi with symphonies. The types of discourse integrated into the curation of mariachi performance and transmission coincide with an ongoing quest for legitimacy, which comes from the behest of a Mexican American middle-class. The goal of this presentation is to address the significant erasure of cultural and colonial history in curatorial process of folk and traditional expressions. I argue that these musical forms, under these conditions, were viewed as disruptive and unsuitable expressions that occurred outside of the formal and hegemonic practices of music making, sociability and politics.
Part of 01-10 Music and Folklore, Thursday, November 02, 8:30 am–10:00 am