In order to bring music of Puerto Rico to the general music classroom, it is important to understand the sociocultural and sociohistorical context of the music. The traditional genre of plena shares cultural threads with West Africa, Spain, and indigenous (Taíno) culture. Commonly known as "El Periodico Cantado" (the singing newspaper),…

"Atlas de Geografía Humana" constitutes a critique of the much vaunted notion of a progressive Spain that has rectified the gender inequalities of the Francoist era, as one of the highly educated and successful protagonists, Fran, unwittingly adopts her mother's alignment with patriarchal norms. This novel elucidates the incompatibility…

THERE ARE MANY POINTS OF CONTACT WHERE THE SPANISH AND ANGLO-AMERICAN SOUTHWESTERN CULTURES NOT ONLY ACCEPT EACH OTHER, BUT RECOGNIZE VIRTUALLY INTRINSIC VALUES. IN CASES WHERE THE TWO CULTURES ARE APART THEY ARE NOT INIMICAL EXCEPT AMONG INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE LOST THE VALUES OF BOTH CULTURES. THE PROBLEM IS HOW TO BRING THE CULTURAL POLES…

Prepared by the staff of the University of Texas Institute of Texan Cultures at San Antonio, this pamphlet is one of a series which reports contributions made by ethnic groups to the history and culture of Texas. Specifically, historical incidents involving Spanish explorers and missionaries are discussed, relating their contributions to Texas.…

Contends that a single television production from one centralized source exposes children to largely standardized cultural material and is therefore a potential massive cultural assault with incalculable consequences. (MH)

Deals with the Spanish influence in the Philippine Islands and the necessity of teaching the Spanish language. (Text is in Spanish.) (DS)

IN THE AMERICAN SOUTHWEST, FOUR MILLION SPANISH-AMERICANS ARE CONCENTRATED IN FIVE STATES. THEIR CULTURAL TENACITY IS A PECULIARITY NOT DISPLAYED BY OTHER IMMIGRANT GROUPS. EVEN AFTER 125 YEARS THEY SPEAK AND LIVE IN A SPANISH-AMERICAN SOCIETY. THE REASON FOR THIS IS DIFFICULT TO DISCERN, BUT IT IS FELT BY SOME THAT THIS TENACITY IS VERY NOBLE AND…

Folk dances from three regions of Mexico (Yucatan, Veracruz, and Jalisco) are examined. Emphasis is placed on the ways in which these folk dances reflect the history and cultural attitudes of the Mexican people and, particularly, on the influence of Spanish culture and history on Mexican folk dances. For the dances of each of these areas,…

In an attempt to assess and provide an understanding of many aspects of Puerto Rican culture in the United States and in Puerto Rico, this document contains a detailed critical treatment of Antonio S. Pedreira's "Insularismo: Ensayos de interpretacion puertorriquena." Described as being the single most influential study of Puerto Rican…

This study was designed in an attempt to solve what appeared to be a serious problem--the spanish speaking students confusion about their cultural identity. (Author/AM)

This paper documents the racial and cultural diversity of the Southwestern United States, with emphasis on the persistence of Spanish language and culture. A historical review reveals the human realities underlying the confluence of Spanish and English in this region of the country. Four prevalent misconceptions of the effects of bilingualism are…

Traces the history of women playwrights' contributions to the dramatic art in Spain from the 1940s to the 1980s. Discusses the progression from conformity to the establishment's expectations, to revision of form and content to better reflect the female perspective. Provides examples of plays that depict this progression. (JS)

These Reports deal with the American English, Texan Spanish, and Navajo languages and cultures. "English in Bilingual Education" by Elizabeth Ott describes the history of education in the Southwest and examines the concept and many forms of bilingualism. An example of a possible bilingual instructional program is given. "The Spanish…