What is an American?

What does mean to be an European, an Asian, or an African? You probably would say it means that someone was born on a country inside a specific continent. Therefore, someone born on Spain is an European, just like an Angolan is an African.

So, if Shakira was born in Colombia, is she an American? Are you an American? 

Is there anything different on this map? Most people would say this representation of Earth, our planet, is upside-down. But how is that possible if in the space there is no up or down?

When you read a text, you start from the top-left going to right-bottom. If you analyze a common map, in this perspective, what is the first country to see?

All these questions are important to analyze the cultural hegemony of some countries over others, that affect, in many ways, our lives. Multiculturalism is the term used to describe societies where various ethnic groups collaborate and dialog with one another without having to sacrifice their identities.

Production

Most part of times, we just listen to songs when we are trying to have fun. And in Portuguese people usually say “gosto não se discute”, but it is important to know what you are listening to and what it is about. So, after our activity in class using the song Hips don’t lie, you are going to choose a song from the list below then write a commentary about it with, at least, 100 characters. In order to do your commentary, try to answer these questions (1) who is singing? (2) when would it be better to listen to this song? (3) why do you like this music? (4) where is this artist from? (5) what kind of musical rhythm is this? Remember that a commentary is an opportunity to express what you think and how you feel about a song.

Our playlist (choose one song and write your commentary)

01. Skyfall - Adele (2012)

02. A little dream of me - Mama Cass Elliot (1968)

03. Death of a bachelor - Panic! at the disco (2015)

04. Is that for me - Anitta e Alesso (2017)

05. Sweet dreams - Eurythmics (1983)

06. Let's dance - David Bowie (1983)

07. Imitation of life - R.E.M. (2001)
08. La vie en rose - Louis Armstrong (1950)

09. Uptown funk - Bruno Mars (2014)

10. Rude - cover Von Smith (2014)

11. I believe in a thing called love - cover Mayka Sykes (2015)

12. They don't care about us - Michael Jackson (1996)

13. Harder, better, faster, stronger - Daft Punk (2001)

14. Somewhere only we know - Lily Allen (2013)

15. Gonna get over you - Sara Bareilles (2011)

16. Naughty boy - Sam Smith (2013)
17. How far I'll go - Disney (2016)
18. Baby, I'm yours - Arctic Monkeys (2006)
19. Here comes the sun - The Beatles (1969)
20. Let it go - Disney (2014)