In this reading, Duany discusses the definition of salsa, its roots and formation, as well as its overall characteristics. Duany explains to us that salsa is a mixture of Caribbean folktales, music, and rhythm that is characterized as an extremely multicultural entity in its use of instruments and dance steps. It also represents a new phase in Afro-Hispanic culture, that of the urban-industrial working class. In Puerto Rico, races mixed due to their similar socioeconomic background, resulting in a blended ethnicity and culture. Duany also analyzes songs and points out that these songs express the cultural characteristics of oral tradition, indifference, and collectivity.
Discussion question: Salsa has its roots in African American music and in our other readings so far, we have seen that many music subcultures have been influenced or have roots in previous or other genres (ex. metal and classical music). Through this apparent interconnectivity between multiple genres, it seems that all music subcultures are somewhat similar. What, then, truly differentiates subcultures from each other? Could it be fusions between multiple cultures to create something new? Is it something beyond "the music itself"?
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