MuchWorldMusic: EXPLORING SOUND CULTURES - PERU EDITION

(1 hour)
Produced: 1998

This video presents us with many aspects of the issues of poor people and minority groups in Peru. We also experience the panorama of musical styles played in many regions of Peru. There is no voice-over narration, but some flowing titles provide background information and explanation. For the most part, the Peruvians speak for themselves. Human rights are an underlying, ongoing theme in the video, and government oppression of minorities is referenced. More information and background on Peruvian music and these issues can be found by using an internet search engine and the search terms: Peru, music, culture.

1. Cuzco
Cuzco is Peru's oldest continuously inhabited city.
What impressions do you get from the images of Cuzco?
Would you like to visit Cuzco? Why?
Would you like to live in Cuzco? Why?

2. Akundun - Miki Gonzalez
What influences of hip-hop music and hip-hop videos do you see in Akundun?

3. Machu Pichu Ruins
Why did the couple choose to be married in Machu Pichu? [Because it was the oldest, the highest, most powerful place they knew.]
Where was the couple from? [California]
Would you want to be married at Machu Pichu? Why?

4. Nazca Lines
The Nazca Lines are only visible from the air. They are considered to be a strong spiritual center.
What images do you see in the Nazca Lines?
Why do you think the Incas would create such large images in the 12th and 13th centuries? Some people think these were images created by or for aliens. Why might they think that?

5. We see Andean musicians, dancers, and fire-eaters.
Could we see this kind of circus in Canada? Why?
Might we see this kind of circus in Europe? Why?
What parts of the Andean culture do you think these people are perpetuating in their music, dance and fire play?

6. Inti Raymi, Winter Solstice Festival - Cuzco
We see an Andean holy man leading a celebration of the Peruvian winter solstice.
Why do you think the Peruvians have maintained their Mayan religion while also practicing Christianity?
How do Canadians celebrate the winter solstice?
In Canada, the winter solstice occurs on December 21st. Would that also be true for Peru?

7. Describe the features of the Peruvian countryside.
What do you think would be the challenges of living there?
What would be the benefits?

8. "Coca is a medicinal plant found in most homes used to combat altitude sickness." - Vladimir Gomez - exchange student, University Of Alberta
The exchange places students in a developing country, this year Peru. They study development and research social issues, bringing this experience back. Past exchange students include Pierre Trudeau.
"I started researching street kids and seeing their situation and stuff like that. You'll see them everywhere if you're in the plaza, doing anything: selling newspapers, cigarettes, shining shoes, selling chiklets, you name it. You'll see them working in the morning, going to school in the afternoon, and coming back to work in the evening. They sniff glue. That's because a twelve-year-old boy can't cope with his reality -- the harshness that they are out in the streets."
Do Vladimir's statements help you understand the pressures on the poor children? Can you understand why they would sniff glue? What is the reason?

9. Chicles, Cigarrillos, Caramelos - Miki Gonzalez
"Kids are abused in Cuzco. Andean society is a different society. It's not a western society. There are many kids who go to work in houses where they are in the status of slaves and yet they have the possibility of being fed and of having something to wear." Miki Gonzalez
We see a young boy selling candy in the streets, falling asleep at school, and returning to work in the streets. Is this part of a Miki Gonzalez music video or is this part of the MuchMusic documentary? How can you tell? If this is a music video, how has it been made to look like a documentary? If this is a documentary, how has it been made to look like a music video?
[The hand-held camera and natural light of the street scenes seems like a documentary, but the lighting and cutting on action in the classroom scene betrays it as a constructed story.]
Miki Gonzalez wrote this song in response to the charter listing the basic rights of children. How does the video help people understand the suffering of poor children?

10. "Education is not one of the main issues of the government. It has never been. As long as people are uneducated they can be exploited and can be fooled." Miki Gonzalez
Do you think education would improve the lives and rights of the poor? Is your education improving your life and rights? Explain.

11. We see a teen male selling bananas on the streets.
What kind of T-shirt is he wearing? [Duckhound] Have you heard of that brand?
Is this person a stylish dresser?
Could he wear those clothes acceptably in Canada? Why or why not?

12. Miki Gonzalez has been playing music since the early '70s. His 25-year musical journey has taken him from blues and jazz to rock to Afro-Peruvian to Ika to today's fusion of all the above.
We hear an example of Trinidadian-Soca and Zairean-Soukos. What are the musical qualities of the Soca? What are the musical qualities of the Soukos? When you listen to Miki Gonzalez' song, can you hear each of the influences?

13. Julie Freundt
We have three kinds of Peruvian music: from the Andes, from the Coast and from the jungle.
Sacas Las Manas
"I think that it's percussion that's going to enrich our music in the future. Peruvian influence not only from the instruments, but the rhythms will make the music fuse together to create something interesting at a global level."
Julie shows us three Peruvian rhythms: the Marinera: national dance of Peru where the man lures the woman; the Festado: Afro Peruvian festive dance; Vals: a blend of European waltz and Inca rhythm.
"If you sound like the American bands, then you'll do good. If you sound like Native, then you have to get very lucky. A hit in Peru is like 10,000 copies or 15,000. A super hit is like 20,000."

14. Me Estoyu Enamorando - Pedro Suarez-Vertinez
Before embarking on a solo career, Pedro was the lead singer and front man of Peru's most popular rock band, Arena Hash.
If you have a number one hit in Brazil, you can sell one million copies. If you have a number one hit in Mexico, you can sell five million copies. In Peru, with a number one hit, you sell 15,000."

Birth control is a contentious topic in Peru, a society that is 90 percent Roman Catholic. Traditional attitudes still prevail, condoms are rarely used. A Canadian non-governmental organization supports a family planning clinic for the poor on the outskirts of Lima.

While we are listening to the man explain about the birth control promotions, we also see part of Pedro's music video.
Is Pedro's video sending a different message about birth control than the interview with Jenny? In the video, we see Pedro playing and singing, his fan taking pictures, and his fan posing by a chair. Feminist critics tell us that many women in music videos are represented as objects, while the males are active. Does this accusation apply to Pedro's video? Or are the males and females equal? Does Pedro's video encourage women to take care of themselves and not make themselves available to the machismo of men?
"The fact of the matter is that in Peru there is an abundance of machismo. There are a few who aren't, but there is an abundance. Not only in the treatment of women, but of children too. I don't know to what level this will change. It hasn't changed much, and in fact I think it has gotten worse. Even though women have been able to reach newer heights, as much politically as socially."
"I think men in this country should take more responsibility." Julie Freundt
We see a street play produced by Canadian students to educate Peruvian youth about birth control. Which issues are dealt with in the sample we see? Do you think Peruvian youth will get a healthy attitude toward sex from viewing this play? Why?

15. "El Refuerzo"
A Canadian student group, "El Refuerzo," or reinforcement, intends to improve the quality of life for the rural women and children. The goal is education and independence.
We hear from two Canadian women who describe what they are trying to do for the Peruvian women and what they have gained from these women. What have they learned? Do you think they have had an enriching experience? Would you like to participate in this program? Why or why not?

16. Terrorism
We hear Miki Gonzalez and Diego Versini describe their views on terrorism. We also see images of a prison and guards.
What is the effect of the prison images being black and white? Are they more threatening than colour might be?
Miki and Diego provide no reasons for terrorist activities in Peru. Research Peru's politics and economy to determine possible causes for political strife. What are the goals of the terrorists? Why are an increasing number of Peruvians living below the poverty line?

17. Soup Kitchens
How many people in Lima depend on the soup kitchens for food? [one and a half-million]
What is the proportion of men to women using the soup kitchens? [one man to three women]
How does this statistic connect to the earlier statements about Machismo in Peru? [Julie stated that men needed to take more responsibility. If men participated more in the support of families, fewer women would need the services of soup kitchens.]

18. Que Dificil Es Amar - Diego Bertie
What elements of this song seem distinctly Peruvian? The rhythms? The melody?
Which of the images are connected to the Mayan culture? Could this music video be successful on MuchMusic? Why or why not?
What modifications would make the video more successful in Canada? Diego Bertie states that he would like to see Peruvians respect each other.
Is his intention of mutual respect communicated in his music video? How?

19. Summarise this video on Peruvian music and explain the major Peruvian issues the music deals with.

20. List the major Peruvian musical artists and describe their musical styles.

21. Compare the music and culture of Peru to those of Brazil and Guatemala, which are described in other MuchMusic documentaries.
Do all of the musical cultures show evidence of American influences? Explain.
Which country's music is most influenced by the indigenous culture? Explain. 
 

Written by: Neil Andersen
Neil Andersen is an award-winning Curriculum Consultant with the Toronto District School Board. He is also a speaker and consultant in media and communications technology. His most recent work includes the Between the Lines CDs, the teachers' study guide for the award-winning Scanning Television, and study guides for Space, Bravo! and MuchMusic's Cable in the Classroom broadcasts of original media literacy programming.

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