{"id":12186,"date":"2020-10-04T17:31:08","date_gmt":"2020-10-04T15:31:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.auxsons.com\/?post_type=focus&p=12186"},"modified":"2020-10-04T17:40:34","modified_gmt":"2020-10-04T15:40:34","slug":"what-role-does-music-play-in-chiles-social-revolution","status":"publish","type":"focus","link":"https:\/\/www.auxsons.com\/en\/focus\/what-role-does-music-play-in-chiles-social-revolution\/","title":{"rendered":"What role does music play in Chile\u2019s social revolution?"},"content":{"rendered":"

On 18 October 2019, the social revolution exploded onto Chile\u2019s streets. Inequality, a high cost of living, tuition fees, pensions, the management of resources\u2026 Demands across the board called into question the neoliberal model and the constitution inherited from the Pinochet dictatorship (1973-1990). On 25 October 2020, Chileans will vote on changes to this constitution in a referendum. The political battle has been launched, in a context in which Coronavirus has slowed mobilisation and exacerbated social inequalities. <\/strong><\/p>\n

A few weeks before the decisive vote, what role has music played in this movement that has seized upon the arts to bring about its revolution?<\/strong><\/p>\n

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The expression of a \u201ccollective musical memory\u201d<\/b><\/p>\n

The social movement has connected generations of artists, from the 1960s to the present day, creating a \u201ccollective musical memory\u201d, according to David Ponce, a Chilean journalist specialising in popular music. All genres are present, from punk to cumbia, via cueca, rock and pop. <\/span><\/p>\n

The demonstrators have revived great anthems such as \u201cEl derecho de vivir en paz\u201d (1971) by V\u00edctor Jara, a martyr under the dictatorship, picked up on by a collective of guitarists during the demonstration that brought together more than a million people in Santiago on 25 October 2019. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Similarly, the line \u201cthe united people will never be defeated\u201d has been chanted spontaneously here and there. \u201cEl pueblo unido jam\u00e1s ser\u00e1 vencido\u201d (1970, Quilapay\u00fan, Inti-Illimani) retains all its power of action, as evidenced by this memorable performance by Inti-Illimani and the masses gathered on 13 December in the capital.<\/span><\/p>\n

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