Catalina Maria Johnson to explore 'Latin Hip Hop as a New Poetry' Feb. 10

  • Beat Latino radio show host Catalina Maria Johnson will make a case for hip-hop as the new poetry with a focus on Latinos in the U.S. and the Americas.

    Beat Latino radio show host Catalina Maria Johnson will make a case for hip-hop as the new poetry with a focus on Latinos in the U.S. and the Americas. Courtesy of Carolina Sanchez

 
 
Updated 1/18/2022 3:59 PM

On Thursday, Feb. 10, the West Chicago Public Library will host Catalina Maria Johnson, Ph.D., an Illinois Humanities Road Scholar, journalist, and Beat Latino radio show host and producer, for "Latin Hip Hop as a New Poetry," a musical, informative, and interactive program.

Latin hip-hop artists are advancing the poetic traditions of their countries in unique ways.

 

Ana Tijoux from Chile was raised on protest songs and Pablo Neruda; Residente from Calle 13, Puerto Rico spits out rhymes as carefully crafted as any poet's; Niña Dioz from Mexico reads dictionaries to find the precise words to fit her ideas and rhymes; Xiutehzcatl from Boulder, Colorado rhymes in three languages: Spanish, English, and Nahuatlan ancient indigenous language.

Nevertheless, academia and poetic circles have surprisingly not embraced and celebrated these artists as poets.

This program, with video and lyric examples, will make a case for hip-hop as the new poetry with a focus on Latinos in the U.S. and the Americas.

The presentation, paired with slides and a rich set of musical videos, is lively, light and fun, and focused on participation, discussion, and musical enjoyment.

The program will be 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Zoom.

You can register for this free program using the West Chicago Public Library's online event calendar at wcpld.info or by calling Adult Services at (630) 231-1552.

If you have any questions, contact Sara Lock at ask@wcpld.info.

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