Are smartphone and the Internet making reading books obsolete?
In many ways I am old-fashioned, and I buy and read books. As with many other people who read, I have a few piles of books bought but unread. Yet.
A book I recently finished reading, finally, is "Tango Nuevo" by Carolyn Merritt.
This book was written by an anthropologist who dances Argentine Tango herself, visited Buenos Aires, and interviewed a number of Tango dancers and instructors. It's nowhere near a dry, academic work. On the contrary, it is full of living dancer's raw opinions and feelings. I could relate immediately to many of the comments (and questioned some, too).
This book successfully captures many aspects of Tango culture.
Here I pick a few aspects you can find in the book (in my own words). Tango enthusiasts may be familiar with them already and may know what I am talking about.
"There is no 'Nuevo'...'nothing is new'-type of view for the dance"
"Some people are nostalgic, and Tango can feed the nostalgia"
"Young and pretty wins in milonga"
"Some shun same sex dancing"
"'Leader (even crappy one) is somehow better than follower'-type Chauvinistic culture"
"Good dancers matter...elitist approach"
"Social tango dance in milonga vs stage Tango"
"Traditionalist and purist vs 'kids'"
"Bad old dancers"
"It's hard to make business out of Tango in Buenos Aires"
"Tango is a major tourist attraction and an industry in Argentina"
"Tango addicts and the 'dealers'"
As an anthropological work, this book should serve well for a snapshot of fleeting Tango culture, taken around early 2000's and published in 2012.
Although some aspects are not necessarily pleasant, or are rather even disturbing, for me it was enjoyable read overall. I highly recommend this book for anyone who is interested in the culture surrounding Argentine Tango.
