LibGuides: Spanish Film Festival: Discussion Questions

Discussion Questions:

What do you think was the political role that Rubén Blades played as a singer and songwriter for Panama and Latin America? How did his music fit a political and social role in the region? Pick one of his politically-charged songs and look up the time when it was released. Analyze its lyrics from a historical standpoint. What do you think Rubén was trying to say?
Analyze the moment where Rubén is talking about “Hispania” –– his imagined, unified country of Latin Americans. What is the significance of this speech and of this montage? What do you think it means when he says he doesn’t fully know all of Hispania’s residents?
How is music largely “visual” for Blades? How is music a matter of telling a story? Analyze some of his “Pedro Navaja” lyrics to support your answer, and how Rubén recounts the opening lyrics in the documentary.
What role did the music label Fania play in the rise of Rubén Blades and other Latin American salsa musicians?
Why do you think New York was the epicenter for salsa and Latin jazz?
What is the social and political impact of Rubén’s music? Think about his 1994 presidential campaign.
How is Rubén a storyteller and writer as much as he is a musician? What is the connection between these two forms of artistry? Would you say writing is musical?
How did Rubén Blades become a “narrator” of the Latin American experience? How do his lyrics talk about the collective experience of the Latin American majority, i.e. not the small privileged class?
What is your favorite song that you heard in the documentary? Why? Analyze its lyrics from a sociopolitical standpoint.
One of Rubén’s traditions in live shows is to call out the countries “present” in the audience. Why do you think he does this? Why is this so important to his performance? Listen and look up “Chica Plastica’s” lyrics. Focus on how he calls out every country in the end. How is he conveying a message of unity and what could this mean politically?
How is Rubén Blades the actor and filmmaker different from Rubén Blades the singer-songwriter? How is it different from Rubén Blades the humanitarian, the politician? Think about the multi-faceted aspect of Rubén and how it all feeds into his image
Think about the moment where a woman on the street stops Rubén –– Alexis –– and says to Rubén, “You’re the bridge between the oppositio and the government.” What does she mean by this?
Many other performers, singers, writers and political figures describe Rubén’s music as totally “accessible” and “universal.” What do you think they mean by this? How is this related to his public image?
Analyze the lyrics of “Tiburón.” How has it become an anti-imperialist anthem for Latin America? What does this say about the political impact of Rubén Blades and of music in general?
Think about the moment where Rubén is re-living the “Corso Club” in his room (1:00:05). Why is this significant? What does it say about performers in their old age?

Source: Pragda Ruben Blades Study Guide

Spanish Film Festival: Discussion Questions

Discussion Questions:

Analyze the moment where Rubén is talking about “Hispania” –– his imagined, unified country of Latin Americans. What is the significance of this speech and of this montage? What do you think it means when he says he doesn’t fully know all of Hispania’s residents?

How is music largely “visual” for Blades? How is music a matter of telling a story? Analyze some of his “Pedro Navaja” lyrics to support your answer, and how Rubén recounts the opening lyrics in the documentary.

What role did the music label Fania play in the rise of Rubén Blades and other Latin American salsa musicians?

Why do you think New York was the epicenter for salsa and Latin jazz?

What is the social and political impact of Rubén’s music? Think about his 1994 presidential campaign.

How is Rubén a storyteller and writer as much as he is a musician? What is the connection between these two forms of artistry? Would you say writing is musical?

How did Rubén Blades become a “narrator” of the Latin American experience? How do his lyrics talk about the collective experience of the Latin American majority, i.e. not the small privileged class?

What is your favorite song that you heard in the documentary? Why? Analyze its lyrics from a sociopolitical standpoint.

How is Rubén Blades the actor and filmmaker different from Rubén Blades the singer-songwriter? How is it different from Rubén Blades the humanitarian, the politician? Think about the multi-faceted aspect of Rubén and how it all feeds into his image

Think about the moment where a woman on the street stops Rubén –– Alexis –– and says to Rubén, “You’re the bridge between the oppositio and the government.” What does she mean by this?

Many other performers, singers, writers and political figures describe Rubén’s music as totally “accessible” and “universal.” What do you think they mean by this? How is this related to his public image?

Analyze the lyrics of “Tiburón.” How has it become an anti-imperialist anthem for Latin America? What does this say about the political impact of Rubén Blades and of music in general?

Think about the moment where Rubén is re-living the “Corso Club” in his room (1:00:05). Why is this significant? What does it say about performers in their old age?