La música popular en la novela Carnaval de Sodoma de Pedro Antonio Valdez

Abstract

This work analyzes primarily the role of popular music in the novel Carnaval de Sodoma by Pedro Antonio Valdez. It focuses particularly on the function of this type of music as it reflects gender relationships. The first chapter discusses diverse interpretations on the concept of popular music, the general characteristics of popular musical rhythms in the novel and the theoretical ideas of the carnival as presented by Mikhail Bakhtin. These theoretical positions underlie the analysis of the lyrics in the popular music songs in the novel in the context of a carnivalesque world that questions gender relationships. The second chapter presents a study of the lyrics of three songs: “Él me mintió” by Amanda Miguel, “Secretaria” by Mocedades y “Olvídame y pega la vuelta” by Pimpinela. The lyrics of these songs and the context in which they appear within the novel allows for the identification of roles and stereotypes assigned to women and how they respond to these roles and stereotypes. These songs present a momentary reversal of the patriarchal order strengthened by the carnivalesque. Likewise, in the third chapter, tango, bachata and bolero lyrics of songs presented in the novel permits an analysis of the perception of men over women. Tango song “Esta noche me emborracho” by Carlos Gardel, bachatas “Voy pa’llá” and “El hombre de tu vida” by Anthony Santos and Joe Veras, respectively, and bolero “Luz de luna” by José José allow, on the one hand, for men’s complaint on the irruption of the patriarchal order in society, and on the other hand, the demand that it be reestablished.