Blog #11: D.I.E Model

Description:
Greetings was an interesting cultural difference to observe in Chile. Everyone greeted each other with a hug and kiss on the cheek, which we were told about. It was more of a shock and interesting to see because whether you are just meeting the person for the first time or know them very well, every time they would greet and say goodbye with a hug and kiss on the cheek. Every person I met in Chile greeted me this way whether it be my host family, teachers, children, colleagues, etc. everyone was greeted this way.

Interpretation: 
I have heard of this in other countries as well so I was expecting it but it was interesting to see because it is not a thing in America not unless it is towards family usually. I think this is just a cultural thing amongst the Chileans and also a respectful way for them to greet each other and welcome people.

Evaluation: 
It was a little strange at first constantly being greeted this way but as time went on it became natural. It makes greeting more comforting and welcoming this way. In America most are just greeted with handshake or possibly a hug but that is it. I appreciate this type of greeting because no matter how well you know the person you are still accepting of them and welcoming them in a respectful and comforting way. People seem much more friendly and family like amongst the Chileans compared to America where there is a lot less interaction amongst people and a lot less physical contact.

Blog #10: Chilean Dance

      A famously known dance in Chile is know as the cueca, this traditional Chilean dance is danced with a man and a woman in which they hold handkerchiefs while they dance. The cueca symbolizes something deeper then just a dance, it became a form of protest during the Pinochet regime. They had a cueca solo done where women danced alone to represent their loved ones being alone or a part from  those who are dead or missing. The cueca stands has a very powerful and symbolic meaning for the Chilean people and their culture.  

      While I first watched the dance I saw pairs of people dancing to music, doing a series of steps while holding and waving around a white handkerchief. My interpretation of this was that it was a famous cultural dance amongest the Chileans. It looked like an upbeat fun dance done at celebrtaions or with some type of crowd, since there were peole gathered aorund and it seemed very upbeat and happy. In doing the reading about the dance ti was once a celebratory dance but I was suprised to find out that later became a dance for protest. The cueca is very significant in theor culture and has a lot of meaning to it and is a very traditional and well known dance among the Chileans.

Blog #9: Chilean Art

Arpilleras

Chilean art is very significant among the people of Chile, all the art you see has a meaning behind it, usually associating with social and political struggles within Chile. One type of art I watched a video on is called arpilleras, these are pieces of fabric sewn together to create a picture that had a deeper meaning behind it to represent what was happening during the time of struggle in the 70s. Another form of art they use to express feelings and emotions is through graffiti or street art. All throughout the streets especially in Valparaiso, there is art on all the walls painted by many different people, but each and everyone is significant because they have a strong and powerful message or meaning behind them.

Street Art 

Art is very significant in the Chilean culture, it is a way for people to express themselves. Many people also use art as a way of protest in their country. A guy known as Papas Fritas stole debt documents of students from the University Del Mar and set them on fire, later put all the burn ashes in a bin and displayed them in his art exhibit.  He did this because the University has been having financial irregularities and students are in so much debt for trying to seek higher education. He was making a statement through his actions and through art. Art was a way for the people to be able to fly under the radar of censorship because it could have many meanings to it, so without the real message it can be seen as harmless. 

Blog #8: Chilean Music

Violeta Parra: 
She was a Chilean composer, folk singer, and social activist, through her work she expresses her viewpoint on politics. She used her music to help the Nueva Cancion movement, a social movement, and musical genre characterized by folk-inspired styles and socially committed lyrics. She was one of the most influential women in this movement, her songs incorporated ideas that played a role in political movements of that time period. Parra, in particular, focused on writing her songs using the poor as her social theme. She traveled the world to collect information, she also spent time trying to spread her works, musical and artistic with the world. 



Victor Jara:
He was a Chilean teacher, theater director, poet, singer-songwriter, and political activist. He was against violence and included his ideals into his songs. Victor Jara would use political issues and his advocating for Allende’s election and work them into his music; he also played a large role in the development of la Nueva Canción Chilean. Victor Jara was later killed by the military. men because of his political ideas. His music left a lasting impression on the music world, the political ideas expressed in his music were still relevant and gave a long lasting impression after he died.


Los Prisioneros:
They were a group of 3 main members of a Chilean rock/pop band formed in Santiago, Chile. They are one of the strongest musical influences that Chile has made to Latin American music and the band with the strongest socio-political impact in Chile. They wrote their songs on controversial topics that criticized these topics, such as socio-economic issues, education, economic policies, etc. Their songs were used by Chileans to protest the military protest against Pinochet. Their band did become banded at one point from 1985 to 1990, but their music continued to spread in Chile.

Ana Tijoux: 
She is a French-Chilean musician, originally an MC of a hip-hop group Makiza, later she crossed over to the mainstream of Latin pop. Her parents were Chilean but were imprisoned and escaped and fled from Chile because of Pinochet at the time, fleeing to France where they had Ana. She became a hip-hop artist and moved back to Chile in 1990, where she started developing songs discussing the politics that happened in Chile, even though she didn't live through it. Her music is about feminism, education, and politics. She used Victor Jara and Violeta Parra as inspirations and musical role models that she used in creating her own music.