Pop and folklore go to cinema. Notes on “Ramón Ayala” by Marcos López

Abstract

In this essay, we analyze the premiere film of Marcos López, known for his work as an artistic photographer and referent of Latin American pop aesthetics since late 90’s. We study the documentary film Ramón Ayala (2013). The film focuses on the musician of the same name (born in Misiones), associated with the folklore from the Argentine Mesopotamia and the Movimiento Nuevo Cancionero, and shows him and his work through a pop perspective. We observe which tensions and cultural dialogues are expressed in the film, as a result of pop aesthetics and musical traditions interchange. We are particularly interested in the urban, rural and natural spaces representations within the framework of a broader research (Masters in Cultural Studies of the National University of Rosario) about contemporary pop expressions (music, images, creative practices, cyberculture).