So, what are some surpising elements of the world of music in Latin America and/or music in the Arab-Islamic world? Discuss musical trends and conventions. Recall the lens of the African Diaspora and the impact of globalization in the popularizaion of “Latin” sound. Find interesting and relevant media clips to spark a discussion. Also, discuss what you learned about gender politics and identity as seen through the lens of popular music in these cultures. What stands out to you, and why?

Music in the Arab-Islamic world is often viewed through a lens of the “foreign,” but there are many similarities to Western and “Middle Eastern” music that can be readily seen when approaching musical cultures from a people-first perspective. Note that regardless of political boundaries, people tend to share cultural traditions of all types (food, music, art) in ways that are connected to present place and past history. What stuck out to you in discussions of Chapter 12 that might resonate with this notion? What middle eastern instruments are similar to Western ones, and how are they used in different, culturally-appropriate ways in their own context? Think critically, and where possible provide specific examples!