Trio Los Panchos/Sin Ti

Que es la vida? 

I loved reading "La vida es un sueno," by Ry Cooder and seeing Arturo Manzano's character develop from a high self-esteem guy to someone who seemed confused and conflicted with his identity.

 I cannot lie, initially I was a bit upset as to how Mariachi and Mariachi music was depicted. Street beggers, how are we street beggers? Nevertheless, I continued reading, hoping things would get better, and they did. 

What intrigued me the most was how Manzano's self-esteem came crashing to the ground along with Sergeant Morales's self-esteem. Initially, Manzano pronounced himself as a high-end, distinguished musician. However, as the story progressed he realized that the world he knew no longer existed. He became aware of what "true" high-end musicians were and the luxuries others indulged in. Many times he left his requinto and stopped performing because he couldn't bare to pick up that instrument and face the reality of his life. 

The ending intrigued me the most. When Manzano and Morales drank outside of Manzano's house at 3am. Manzano provided Morales all the information he needed to finish the case, but at that point, nothing mattered. Just like Manzano saw what "high-end" musicians were, but again it didn't matter because it wasn't his reality. 

In my drawing, I picture Manzano suck in a tunnle, contemplating his life. His instrument on the side, waiting to be played, but not having the courage to face up to the reality. Light exists at the end of the tunnel. The challenge is whether he will like/accept that new reality.

What I wonder after having read all this is how Manzano perceives Mariachi music now that he realized that well, trio players and mariachi musicians are not that different from one another. 

Trova Yucateca

Ojos Tristes

Trovador, or in my case should I say trovadora. This style of music is one that I was not familiar with prior to this class. Can't say that it's particularly my favorite music style, but I've grown to appreciate it. It's very different from the ranchera music style which I'm very much accustom to. 

As I listened to different songs and read about how the song Peregrina came about, I realized the just a Story mentioned in class, the woman always played a very passive role. Always sung to, admired, passive beings.

I wanted to depict what it would be like for the woman to be the one serenading, the one standing outside of the house waiting, waiting to see if there would be a response. A response that might or might not come. Having done many serenades, always on behalf of others and not myself, I can say that it's a very nerve wrenching experience for those dedicating the serenade. A lot of uncertainty that the person won't respond as expected and that all efforts will go down the drain. However, until I do my own personal serenade, cannot fully confirm the feelings felt. Until then, I will continue with these assumptions.