Representations of Immigration Through Music

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Art encompasses many different forms, from paintings, writing, drawing, dance, and even music. It is a way of expression for the artist in its various forms. Music, in particular, allows the artist and listener to engage in the work and better understand what the musician wanted to tell. Music provides listeners with an escape from their world and into a world filled with tunes and emotion. There are many different genres and types of music and each can tell a story. Looking at these artists’ music videos, they also represent feelings of the artists. Things in the videos are used specifically to create an affective feeling and response. Music is able to represent different events and discus contested issues in a forum that the artist can explicitly express their ideas on. Immigration, especially illegal immigration, is an issue that receives a great amount of attention in the media, but also attention in music. Many artists take to song to express their thoughts about immigration and its impact on their lives. This paper will examine the differences in affective response to immigration in music and the media. While both are talking about the same topic, music is used to create a different response than the mainstream media can. Music represents a larger narrative about the representation of immigration. The videos for song affect how we think and feel about immigration.

Why has Mexican migration become such a problem? The United States is a nation of immigrants but as time progresses we shift towards an ever-present anti-immigrant sentiment. The course of history has changed from welcoming immigrant groups with open arms to turning them away when they are no longer needed. For Mexican migration, this can be traced back to the...

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...vember 17, 2013, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/29/katherine-figueroa-activism_n_3672205.html

Sadri, Houman and Madelyn Flammia, “Mass Communication,” Intercultural Communication: A New Approach to International Relations and Global Challenges (New York: Continuum International Publishing Group, 2011).

Sheridan, Lynnaire M., I Know It’s Dangerous: Why Mexicans Risk Their Lives to Cross the Border (University of Arizona Press: 2009)

St. Cyr, Peter, “American Dreamers,” Santa Fe Reporter (2013), August 21, 2013, accessed December 1, 2013, http://www.sfreporter.com/santafe/article-7643-american-dreamers.html.

“Frijolero” Google Translate, accessed November 16, 2013, http://www.vdare.com/articles/memo-from-mexico-by-allan-wall-193.

“Ice El Hielo,” Only Lyrics, accessed November 16, 2013, http://www.onlylyrics.com/la-santa-cecilia-lyrics-1111579.php

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