Critical Review #8

"Mexican Ballads in the Modern Age"
Wald

Wald's main argument in this reading is that the corrido is a way for Mexicans to keep their culture and history alive, as he said it was a way"to transmit the news and cultural information that is of interest to its audience." The story telling characteristic of a corrido is something that has not changed over time despite changes in the sounds of the music.

This reading is relevant to what we are learning in class because it analyzes a subculture, its audience, and the connection between the two. In this case, the Mexican folk genre appeals mostly to mexicans, especially through its lyrics about mexican life.

Discussion Question:
I'm just a bit curious about this, I know it's a very vague question, but what is most important in corridos, the lyrics or "the music itself?"