Simbolic division and social evaluation: an analyse of the song lyrics “Latinoamérica”

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to study the meanings of the song lyrics “Latinoamérica”, by the Puerto Rican band Calle 13. The theoretical approach was developed based on the studies of Wacquant (2004) about the concept of ghetto, by Rama (2015) about the simbolic and geographic division around the “cidade das letras” and the studies about the social evaluation, with Medviedev (2012) and Volochínov (2013). Our analysis results in three ways: the first, there is the emergency of an identity of a continent in conflict with an oppressive alterity, the speaker mixes bodily with the continent; the second way is introduced in the movement of our analysis as a direct confrontation to the interlocutor; and the third way of our analysis leads to the construction of a collective identity. Finally, “Latinoamérica” sings its ode to resistance as a guarantee of a future of Latin American communion and joint struggle.