how do generalizations play into discussions of popular culture? Can we discuss popular culture without them? On another note, do you think the psychological phenomena of the poverty mindset has any effect on what popular culture is consumed in a society with high rates of poverty?
I wonder, do narratives created by shows like Sin Tetras about Colombian society, observably fiction or not, play into a national cultural conscience? What stories do narconovelas tell about Latin American societies, and could there be a dimension of the internalization of these by their audiences?
Are narconovelas challenging or glorifying that drug trade within Latin America?
I wonder what are some similarities/differences between narcocorridos & narconovelas, and why do you think they evoke contradictory feelings in people despite their popularity?
Telenovelas, like Sin Tetas No Hay Paradiso, are unabashedly over the top. Everyone understands that these are for entertainment. Yet, people perceive truth. Not to mention a lot of them advertise “based on a true story”. Where do we draw the line between truth and fiction in media? Is there a line?
Can you think of any dark and grotesque media (e.g. TV shows, movies, YouTube videos, etc) that many Canadians subscribe to that is somewhat adjacent to narconovelas? If so, what is it? If not, why do you think similar types of TV shows don’t exist or aren’t as popular as they are in Colombia?
Besides narcos are there any other popular tv shows that display the drug trade on major platforms?
how do you feel about the transmission of popular culture through either physical copies or online?
What is your experience with mobile media? Looking back, how does the developments and the changes in technology and media forms affected your own personal view on the society, the politics, the economy and your self?
What is your take on limited internet connectivity? Pros? cons?
Like popular culture, how does the internet form communities and connections?
Could the internet itself be considered popular culture?
Is Cuba so detached from the world because there is not a lot of access to the internet/global culture?
Do you think the internet’s impact on culture is mainly for the better or worse?
Do you think internet connectivity in the global south can have largely beneficial or detrimental effects?
