Introduction Less than half of Americans know that the people of Puerto Rico are legal citizens of the United States (Venator-Santiago). This predominantly has to do with the gray areas that have been established through contradictory and confusing legislation imposed upon the commonwealth regarding its residents’ status throughout time, hence aiding in the creation of a national identity that’s not trenchantly defined, neither in the eyes of its inhabitants nor of those of the mainland. Puerto Rico used to be a Spanish colony, and it wasn’t until the end of the Spanish-American War in 1898 that the island was handed to the U.S. On the authority of Charles Venator-Santiago (2017), coordinator of the Puerto Rican Citizenship Archives
Another line the from opening song, “born under a bad sign”, summarizes how in some aspects Tony seemed predestined to become a leading mafia member. The lack of choice in joining the mafia makes Tony more of a tragic character than an evil
Certain stereotypes brought biases towards Puerto Ricans and he uses existing footage from the film, West Side Story to subvert the representations and he did it in a way so that viewers can dig deep into the meaning of social discrimination towards Puerto Ricans. Many Latino artists realized that television and film renders groups and communities with little access to the means of realization and understanding who they really are. Maldonado took this into account and uses a digital video, and film to expose the social and political factors of neglect towards Puerto
Henceforth, the North Americans influenced the Cuban-Puerto Rican musical styles towards the development of the Salsa. The state of control of the US, saw Puerto Rico benefit from the influence of Afro-Latin America musical aspects through extensive distribution and promotion of their music. Therefore, by investigating the cultural and social aspects of Afro-Latin Musical styles and their impact on Puerto Ricans, Africans and North Americans, it is possible to determine the basis of Salsa
The plot in West Side Story is similar to that of Romeo and Juliet, the theme of love and hate and the use of dramatic irony make these two stories a tragedy. The
The musical West Side Story is without a doubt one of the most popular and memorable musicals ever to be created. The makers of the musical include composer Leonard Bernstein, lyricist Stephen Sondheim and librettist Arthur Laurents. This musical is often analyzed for being based off of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, however there are other underlying themes that should be acknowledged as well. In particular there is a constant stream of racism seen throughout the play. From Lieutenant Schrank’s aggressively offensive remarks, to Anita’s flip-flopping mindset, and even in Tony and Maria’s love for one another, racism is a perpetual theme throughout the musical.
Thus with a kiss I die.” (V.iii.95-120) Romeo picks up on the fact that Juliet is warm and that she still has color in her cheeks, which suggests she isn’t decesed but only sleeping. However, he is so angsty and care free that he notices these things and kills himself anyway, not even attempting to wake his sleeping love. While West Side Story doesn’t contain suicide, the theme of impulsivity is found through Tony, when he runs into the street begging for Gino to show himself, believing Gino has shot and killed Maria. Tony knows that Gino is searching for him and wants to harm him but runs out into the street anyway. He finds Maria alive but Gino shoots and kills him.
West Side Story was the first show to portray that musicals could be based on painful stories. Painful stories that “force people to confront their most dangerous internalized philosophies” (Weakland). Without the production of West Side Story, other shows like Urinetown and Assassins probably wouldn’t have been produced. Because of Jerome Robbins and West Side Story, musicals could show the ugly side of human nature and plots could be
Rudolfo Anaya clearly points that out in his novel Bless Me, Ultima with the main protagonist Tony. From this, Anaya reveals that childhood is filled with disorientation and awareness with the main protagonist Tony, experiencing death. All of these deaths helped Tony grow more and looking back at the death of Lupito, Narciso, and Florence, they were events that confused him or made him more aware of life. Anaya shows people that childhood is filled with many moments that everyone cannot pinpoint exactly. With Tony, he certainly wants to forget his childhood, but he also keeps it in order to remind himself of what made him Tony.
The narrator was confused on why everyone was obsessed with Sonny’s music. The narrator realizes that Sonny helped others get free from suffering with his music, which is why everyone wanted to hear him play, and worshiped him (47). At the end of the first set of songs Sonny is sitting on stage drinking from the “Cup of trembling” (48). Basicly, Baldwin biblical allusion is saying that Sonny is drinking from a cup full of suffering and pain, but he is doing it with control, making him not really suffer. Sonny learned how to control the suffering with his music inturn freeing others.