For those of you that don't have a clue here's your chance to get one. Recently Acroarte, and the Cassandra's denied an appeal by some Dominican artists to include a new genre into the awards ceremony. The "genre" as it is claimed, is Merengue de Calle or Mambo. As was expected Mambo, and Dominican Rap (who was also vying for some form of recognition) was denied entry into the show. Some have said that this new sound emerging from the streets of Santo Domingo isn't music or that its just vulgar trashy sounds with no real musical values. Proponents however argue that the music represents Dominicans, the culture, the poor people who listen to it and they say that to recognize the music is to recognize the importance of the people who create and listen to the music (i.e lower class Dominicans). So should Mambo have its own category in the Cassandra's? Does the Cassandra's and in turn upper Dominicans society turn its back on poorer Dominicans (this is an argument about class) when it doesn't recognize this genre?
For some of you this might be something totally new, and for some of you the concept of Mambo is irrelevant, so unless you have something important to say please don't comment. And even if you don't like the music, the underlying argument is what's important. Still, I feel there is a subtle argument about class here that I'd like to get some opinions on.
And for your reading pleasure (in Spanish) here are some articles:
Merengue de Calle (Listin Diario)
Blog that includes more articles about Mambo
For some of you this might be something totally new, and for some of you the concept of Mambo is irrelevant, so unless you have something important to say please don't comment. And even if you don't like the music, the underlying argument is what's important. Still, I feel there is a subtle argument about class here that I'd like to get some opinions on.
And for your reading pleasure (in Spanish) here are some articles:
Merengue de Calle (Listin Diario)
Blog that includes more articles about Mambo