Selena: The Dissertation

Last week we were invited to attend a lecture at the New York Public Library entitled, “How to be Mexican: An Instruction Manual in Music and Song,” given by Mexican writer, Alma Guillermoprieto. It was one of those cultural events that certain retirees find to fill their free time between visits to the grandchildren in Westchester. We sat near the back as about fifty fair skinned folks piled into the lavish lecture hall to listen to Ms. Guillermoprieto explain to them the cultural continuum between Selena Quintanilla’s “Techno Cumbia,” and indigenous, Navajo dancing. The above video gives you some idea of just how far Tejano traveled from the cantinas of South Texas that night.

ALMA GUILLERMOPRIETO: The Romance of It All Three Aspects of Latin America [NYPL]