The Mexican Identity and Music: Audioscapes and The Transnational Death Metal Band Brujeria

Authors

Michael D. Mena, University of Texas-Pan American

Date of Award

12-2011

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Music (MM)

First Advisor

Dr. Cathy Ragland

Second Advisor

Dr. Margaret Dorsey

Third Advisor

Dr. Kurt Martinez

Abstract

The California-based Mexican-American “activist” metal band Brujeria, uses a powerful, yet conflicting, blend of nihilism, anarchism, and racism with a dose of hyper-patriotism in its attempt to convey the voice of oppressed Mexicans on both sides of the border. While it is uncertain whether or not Brujeria is intentionally political, their live performances and song lyrics are highly critical of both the U.S. and Mexico regarding immigration policy, border-crossing, and other issues which have resonated among an international audience. In this paper I explore the conflicting notions of space, performativity, binationality and U.S. Mexico relations within the context of Brujeria messages. While using Brujeria as the focus of my work, I also explain what I call the notion of “Audioscapes.” In simple terms: it deals with the cognitive processes which create perceptions of music from mind to mind, state to state, and space to space.

Comments

Copyright 2011 Michael D. Mena. All Rights Reserved.

https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/mexican-identity-music-audioscapes-transnational/docview/922998864/se-2

Granting Institution

University of Texas-Pan American