The cultural impact of Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show

NOTE: If you are short on time, watch the video and complete this See, Think, Wonder activity: What did you notice? What did the story make you think about? What would you want to learn more about?

SUMMARY

Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show delivered a powerful message and made international headlines. The show was dense with symbolism, including messages of Puerto Rican pride and independence. But it also quickly became a magnet for criticism from President Trump. Amna Nawaz discussed more with Vanessa Diaz for our arts and culture series, CANVAS.

View the transcript of the story.

News alternative: Check out recent segments from the NewsHour, and choose the story you’re most interested in watching. You can make a Google doc copy of discussion questions that work for any of the stories here.

WARM-UP QUESTIONS

1. Who is Bad Bunny, and what is his background?
2. When was the Super Bowl held?
3. What themes and events did Bad Bunny include in the half-time show?
4. Why was Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl half-time show considered historic, according to Vanessa Diaz?
5. How was Turning Point USA’s decision to host their own half-time show part of a similar long-time pattern of seeing Latinos as foreigners, according to Diaz?

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS

• What aspects of Vanessa Diaz’s explanation of the half-time show did you enjoy or find interesting?
• Did you see Bad Bunny’s show as provocative or as an expression of cultural pride and joy? Somewhere in between? Explain.

Media literacy: How could you find out more about Puerto Rico’s history? What do you think it means that Puerto Ricans are American citizens and half the country is bilingual in English and Spanish (23% of the U.S. is bilingual)?

WHAT STUDENTS CAN DO

• Check out this lesson on Bad Bunny, the history of Puerto Rico and Puerto Rican musical influence from our friends at TeachRock.
• Look up previous Super Bowl half-time shows to see what themes or messages were included by the artists. How were the performances received by the public, the media, political officials, etc. at the time? See the Wikipedia page here for a full list of shows or this ESPN page here to get started.
• You may also want to check out Shakira and Jennifer Lopez’s half-time show. Note the positive title of the piece by the Associated Press (AP), WATCH: Jennifer Lopez, Shakira in joyful, exuberant halftime show. The story opens: “NEW YORK — Seizing their opportunity to make a cultural statement, Jennifer Lopez and Shakira infused the Super Bowl halftime show with an exuberance and joy that celebrated their Latina heritage.”

 

 

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