Traditional Music/Dance/Cultural Practices as Resistance Expression

Definition

This refers to the use of cultural elements such as music, dance, and traditional practices by oppressed groups to resist or protest against their oppression.

Analogy

Think of it like a secret language. Just like kids might create a secret code to communicate without adults understanding, oppressed groups used their cultural expressions as a form of coded resistance that their oppressors couldn't fully understand.

Related terms

Cultural Resistance: The practice of using aspects of culture such as traditions, symbols, language, and music to oppose and challenge political domination.

Slave Songs: These were songs created by African slaves in America. They often contained hidden messages about escape plans or expressed feelings about their conditions.

Capoeira: A Brazilian martial art that combines elements of dance, acrobatics, and music. It was developed by enslaved Africans in Brazil as a way to resist their oppressors while appearing to be simply dancing.