Flamenco Essay - 2200 Words

To what extent is Flamenco iconic of Spanish cultural identity? The passionate imagery conjured by the flamenco art form of colour, life and exoticness are characteristics often associated with perceptions of Spain. In saying that, within contemporary society flamenco has now become an icon of â€Å"Spanish culture† however the degree to which its resemblance accurately portrays Spanish, or more specifically the Spanish nation’s cultural identity is limited due to it being more an expression of regional identity that has been portrayed to be a national symbol (Malefyt 1998). This argument can be seen in the examination of how it is tied to the social identity of the southern locality of Andalusia, its exploitation as a politicised art form and†¦show more content†¦The importance of that description is twofold, not only because it ties regional and national identity together but demonstrates how a regional cultural peculiarity can be converted into the imagination to have national significance. From the 1960s with the influx of tourists came kitsch â€Å"flamenco†, a shoddy parody of the real thing yet a way for gypsies to earn a living (Totton 2003, p.156). The ability to further appropriate for personal benefit can be seen in Franco’s eagerness to use unifying Spanish images during his dictatorship of 1939-1975 where he adopted flamenco into the nationalist discourse known as La Hispanidad which effectively led the process of deregionalisation through internal migrations from Andalusia to northern provinces (Paetzold 2009, p.209). The Franco regime deployed messages through flamenco as they used film as a means of disseminating propaganda to the masses (Hayes 2009, p.94) and Spanish scholars sought to make flamenco a symbol of national identity (Washabaugh 1997). Furthermore, a network of penËÅ"a bars were opened across Spain, television programmes such as Cantares supported this unofficial nationalization of flamenco and along with this new Francoist narrative, Spain was promoted a s anShow MoreRelated Flamenco Essay898 Words   |  4 Pages Flamenco is an individualistic folk art, a genuine Southern art form, which was mainly originated by Andalusian gypsies. It exists in 3 forms: El cante, song, el baile, dance and guitarrra, guitar playing. Its roots also are with Arabs, Spanish Jews and socially outcasted Christians. The flamenco essence is song, which is usually accompanied by guitar and improvised dance. Complex rhythmic patterns and sophisticated footwork differs from other European dance forms. The word quot;flamencoquot;Read MoreThe Works Of Francisco Pena Perez1969 Words   |  8 Pagescomposer, producer and innovator of Flamenco. He was born in Andalucian city of Cordoba on June 1st, 1942 and has started learning how to play the guitar from his brother at the age of 6. At the age of 12, he experienced his first professional performance. He performed throughout Spain in his early age and decided to move to London in 1960s to pursue his career abroad. According to Woodall (n.d.), â€Å" since then, his reputation as a refined interpreter of traditional flamenco-guitar forms has remained unequalled†Read MoreEssay On Your Daughter Dances Flamenco1493 Words   |  6 Pagesswirl, that’s how it all started. I remember it like it was yesterday. My mother and I were standing in line at a frame shop. There was a girl with a black leotard and a red flowy skirt standing in front of us, with her mother. â€Å"Your daughter dances Flamenco, right? 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Also known as Spain s food is very intense and flavorful. In fact, in a previous block, I wrote an essay about compared with Spain and South Korea s food culture. Food of Spain and Korea deal in common. Both countries have love of the spicy foods, and rice is a main ingredientRead MoreSpain And South Korea s Food Culture1470 Words   |  6 PagesSpain. I think Spain is very interesting country because it has a long history and fervent people. Most people think about Spain as football WorldCup, a fighting bull and Flamenco. However, Spain is very famou s with its cuisine. Also known as Spain s food is very intense and flavorful. In fact, in a previous block, I wrote an essay about compared with Spain and South Korea s food culture. Food of Spain and Korea deal in common. Both countries have love of the spicy foods, and rice is a main ingredientRead MoreNiche Tourism2488 Words   |  10 PagesThe aim of this essay is to discuss the relevance of niche tourism and what facts may affect it. It discusses briefly what a niche market is and what role has in the tourism industry. Different facts are exposed during the essay in order to give a better understanding on how economy, politic, technology and social affect tourism in general and the construction of niche markets. In addition, other influences have been discussed to give more information on current facts affecting the industry. An interesting