Amazon Queen's outline paper on Urban Cultural Groups

URBAN TRIBES, ART AND POWER

This paper will discuss the appearance, endurance and fading of different cultural and ethnic groups, or “tribes” in the urban scenario. I’m interested in exploring the relationship between some urban groups and art expression such as music, fashion, dance, design and graphic arts to name a few. Also, it will be interesting to know what motivates people to ingress into these groups and what kind of value is perceived as being part of such communities. What types of stories underlie the formation and disappearance of diverse groups such as punks, emos, gothics, tattooed and pierced peoples? How these groups have used different media to communicate their stories, feelings and ideologies? I will also comment on the historical roots of some musical styles which have created a cultural and political movement, such as Hip-Hop, Reggae and the Mangue Beat movement from Brazil.


Below, a video-clip of musician Chico Science (deceased) , one of the forerunners of the "Mangue Beat" musical, cultural and political and movement of northeast Brazil.