Tango: The Art History of Love

Description

Robert Farris Thompson makes a case here for African influence on tango, something that will surely not go down easily with eurocentric porteños. But Bob builds his case slowly, methodically piling up evidence, etymological roots or words, gesture, dance. He points out the taste for innovation—something European dance and music was not known for. He names names and references, and in the end it’s hard to dispute, though no doubt some will try. Other porteños will deny that tango has any Afro roots whatsoever— supposedly there are no blacks to be seen on the present-day streets of Buenos Aires. But as Bob points out, this was not always the case, and the crazy mixture of European, African and gaucho (often Andalusian) influences helped create a form that is still evolving today. TANGO The Art History of Love Contents FOREWORD by David Byrne OVERTURE: GARDEL ON AVENIDA LIBERTADOR TANGO PREFACE: MOVING WITH AN ARM AROUND LIFE 1. Tango in Hollywood 2. Tango as Text 3. The Cultural Preparation 4. Habanera: The Call of the Blood 5. Milonga: The Great Buenos Aires Conversation 6. Dancing on the Edge: The Early Tango Called Canyengue 7. Tango as Music 8. Tango as Dance ENVOI: EL TANGO by Robert Colescott Notes Acknowledgments Index Permissions Acknowledgments A note about the author