If you haven't seen Fandango, you must. It's a movie, produced in the 1970s, staring Kevin Costner. Apart from the title, this movie is not specifically about a latin american dance/musical tradition at all. It is a 'coming of age' adventure story. After graduation, five college budies embark on a journey to have a little fun before they die, literally, since three of them are due to report to millitary duty on Monday - at the close of the weekend and their adventure. Yes, they "find themselves" and learn little nuggets of life lessons, although it's not presented in an offensively cheesy way. So where am I going with this, and what does this have to do with ethnomusicology?
Well, I can't tell you because it would spoil the film. But suffice it to say that Fandango, from the mouth of m-w.com, is (1) a Spanish, or Spanish-American dance between a man and a woman to the music of guitars or castanets, or (2) tomfoolery. Based on that definition, I urge you to see the movie so we can discuss it's ethnomusicological significance and other things. I recommend buying fried or pickled okra and the champagne of beers as a movie snack.
Posted by hourenk at March 8, 2005 02:35 PM