Beyond Self-Exoticism: How to Situate Latin America in a Global History of Music
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2025
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Abstract
“Beyond Self-Exoticism” is a new, up-to-date version of a widely quoted article by José Manuel Izquierdo König, originally published in Spanish in 2016. The core of the argument is that emphasizing perceived “difference” or hybridity as a marker of relevance for Latin American music and music research inadvertently reinforces Eurocentrism. The chapter, thus, critically interrogates the positioning of Latin American music and research within global music histories, challenging the prevailing academic tendency towards “self-exoticism.” Focused on nineteenth-century Latin American music, Izquierdo König re-centers the agency of Latin American composers and acknowledges their unique material and aesthetic conditions. The author ultimately argues for a decolonized music history that moves beyond prescriptive frameworks, fostering a truly global understanding of musical traditions on their own terms.
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Cross-cultural Studies, Global and International Culture, History of Music, Latin American History, Latino Culture, Latin American Culture