SPAN 581HIt Takes Two: Tango&Capitalism

Catalog

Buenos Aires (Argentina) experienced a big transformation at the turn of the 20th century. In only two decades (1880-1900) the town turned into a modern metropolis, while the continuous influx of immigrants promoted by the governments created a cosmopolitan city. The beginning of the industrial era, the emergence of unions, women occupying the public space, and the birth of mass political parties was accompanied by a cultural movement that reflected all of these social changes. The most remarkable of these original artistic expressions is tango music. In this course, we will explore tango (1890-1955) as the soundtrack of this society and as a representation of the main social contradictions in the beginning of industrial capitalism in Argentina. The class will be conducted in Spanish. Prerequisite: SPAN 344, 360 or 370