Folk music, modernity and revolutionary thought - The life of Violeta Parra

***PLEASE LISTEN TO THE END***

In this special episode of the podcast we here a personal update from our guest today Ericka Verba on the ongoing establishment of Trumpist fascism in LA, his use of ICE and the climate of fear.

Join us as we welcome Ericka Verba, Director and Professor of Latin American Studies at California State University, Los Angeles, to delve into her landmark biography Thanks to Life: A Biography of Violeta Parra. Drawing on decades of scholarship, personal encounters, and the cultural currents of the Cold War, Verba brings to light the life, art, and enduring legacy of Chile’s most revolutionary folk icon.

In this episode, we explore:

• A Life in Song and Vision
• How Parra’s self-taught artistry—from her seminal “Gracias a la vida” to her pioneering visual exhibitions at the Louvre—reshaped Latin American culture and protest music.
• Roots of Radicalism
• Verba’s own political awakening through early friendships with Chilean musicians, and how her firsthand experience performing Parra’s repertoire informs her deep archival research.
• The Cultural Cold War
• The role of folk music in social movements on both sides of the Iron Curtain, and how Parra navigated—and challenged—the geopolitical battles of the 1950s and ’60s.
• Gender, Class, and Creativity
• An examination of the gendered and classed dynamics that shaped Parra’s career—and the broader struggles of women artists in twentieth-century Latin America.
• Unearthed Discoveries
• The grants, fieldwork, and archival excavations (from NEH to Fulbright to local cultural affairs) that helped Verba uncover new facets of Parra’s story—including never-before-published letters and performance documents.
• Legacy and Influence
• How Parra’s work inspired generations—from the Nueva Canción movement to contemporary artists like Mercedes Sosa and Joan Baez—and what her message of “life and gratitude” means today.

Whether you’re passionate about musical history, Latin American studies, or the intersections of art and politics, this conversation with Ericka Verba illuminates the remarkable life of a woman whose songs became the soundtrack of resistance. Tune in for a richly textured journey through archives, concert halls, and the heart of cultural revolution.

*****STOP PRESS*****

I only ever talk about history on this podcast but I also have another life, yes, that of aspirant fantasy author and if that's your thing you can get a copy of my debut novel The Blood of Tharta, right here:

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