Champeta!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLIESLesi4s&feature=youtu.be

Graffiti in Colombia

Graffiti, street art, is used as a form of expression of individuals, groups or organizations of certain place.

In Colombia, graffiti allows to read the recent past of our country by capital’s graffiti

Graffiti in Colombia are similar to graffiti in Egypt and North Africa because they are a reminder of some social problems such as violence, corruption and ineffectiveness of policy, intolerance of rich people, education, forced displacement of indigenous, and terrorism. Colombian graffiti show the plight of false positives, too.

However, today we can find some graffiti that emphasizes the beauty of places or things. For example, in Colombia the beauty of Indian culture is highlighted.

Around the world there are many debates and controversy around this street art, but the most important thing is that when we look at graffiti in the streets, we might be more critical with the messages that the artists want to convey, before considering them as vandals and gangsters.

Thai and Mexican gangsters

How are Thai gangsters an example of cultural appropriation of another subculture? What
do we learn about Thai and Mexican subcultures from this article & video within the article?

Thai gangsters are an example of cultural appropriation because they have taken some of the characteristics of Mexican gangsters, for example, hairstyle, tattoos, clothing, and bling; they assume these features as their own but none of these gangsters recognize the violence as a determinant factor , as this it is in these  Latin gangs. That is, the Thais interpret and share some of the elements of this Mexican subculture, followed by stereotypes, but they do not share all the traits by which the original ¨Mexican gangster ¨ are recognized. They are not violent and they do not deal drugs like the Mexican gangster; they just are obsessed with their aesthetic, although they are aware of the hyper aggressiveness and machismo of this culture.

 

I did not know these subcultures, but according to the reading and video I learned that Thai gangsters just imitate the simple and ¨clean¨ style of Mexican gangsters, and they differ from them because they have family and ask permission to their wives to get tattooed. While Mexican gangsters are associated with violence in Latin America, they fight each other and they do not deal illegal drugs. They are also aggressive and chauvinist.

Moreover, the Thais have a general understanding of this culture and Mexico. Besides, the hostility of these Thai gangsters rarely is directed to people in authority in Thailand.

Afro-Colombians

Afro-Colombians are Colombians of African descent. Their history has its origin with the arrival of the Spaniards, in conditions of slavery. They assume Africanism as a personal value. Moreover, they represent one of the more important ethnic groups in our country. Afro-Colombians represent 10.6% of the Colombian population and they are located in places like Cali, Quibdó, Buenaventura, Cartagena, Chocó, Tumaco, and others.

Some of their contributions are recognized by UNESCO as the cultural space of San Basilio, marimba music and traditional songs from the Colombian Pacific. According to the Virtual Library Luis Carlos Arango, the Afro population arose with the issuance of the law of liberty of slaves, in 1851, in which legally was abolished the slavery of people in Colombia.

In my opinion, Afro-Colombians are the heart of our country. They bring the autochthonous things that we have today. Besides, we are represented by many of them in aspects such as music and writing. For example, some Afro writers are Manuel Zapata Olivella (Lorica, Córdoba), Arnaldo Palacios (Chocó), Mary Grueso Romero (Guapi, Cauca) and some Afro-Colombian musicians are Alejo Durán (Cesár), Joe Arroyo (Cartagena), Totó la Momposina (Mompox), Chocquibtown, Petrona Martínez.

They are part of our culture!