GWSS Blog Post 1

Raia X
GWSS 241

I found this week's exploration of syncretism between punk and Alice Bag's Latina identity extremely compelling. What was most interesting to me was that it wasn't until later in her career that she realized subconsciously, the influence of her childhood and culture on her musical identity and means of expression. The ability to trace certain elements of Alice Bag's movements and tendencies in her performance to the national culture of Ranchero and estilo bravio style serves as proof of our identities coming together especially in forms when we express ourselves. -- "But Alice realizes now that, without conscious intent, she did bring the influence of Mexican/Chicano musical culture to the Hollywood punk scene via what she herself recently identified as the Mexican genre of cancion ranchera" (Habell-Pallan 250).

This reading has forced me to think of my own identity, and how my South Asian, Middle Eastern, British, American, Muslim upbringing influences how I often choose to express myself when doodling, when choosing my music, etc.

The DJ song I have chosen here is by an artist I discovered about a year ago, Lolo Zouaï. She uses her Algerian, French, and American identities within her song Desert Rose. The first word of this song is "InshAllah," a term used by Muslims and those within the Arab subcontinent as "God-willingly," despite the song being R&B and hip-hop in style, and being in English. I had no choice but to keep listening.

https://youtu.be/N1D4Yx1_wOM

Similarly, in Gayle Walde's "Rosetta Tharpe and Feminist 'Unforgetting,'" we learn about identity and "'forgetting,' memory and remembering [as] a social practice" (Wald 160). The idea of telling narratives and biographies as a tool used to remember our histories is compelling to me because I have found in my culture, the nature of privacy is often one of great importance. Wald's yearn to remember Sister Rosetta Tharpe is crucial to the musical genres and industry as a whole, of which she had tremendous impact. False narratives prove threats to the beautiful work ethic of artists such as herself. To remember our histories not only humbles us, but reminds us of the social constructs that often forces us to hide even in the face of adversity. Changing the perception of Rosetta Tharpe is of immense importance, even without her presence today, because it holds the power of re-examination of past "trends" in the industry during her time which she may have had heavy influence on.

The song I have chosen in light of Sister Rosetta Tharpe and the idea of biographies as a tool to remember is Me and Mr. Jones by Amy Winehouse. She writes about her lover, Nas, before her tragic death. This song can be used to remember the feelings, sound, and style of Winehouse even after her passing.

https://youtu.be/PLuf3VsrO4g