“Bad Bunny wants you to stop ignoring Puerto Rico”
I chose this article by Bethonie Butler, published in the Washington Post, to discuss for this reading journal. When employing the strategy of analyzing headlines from our assigned Ted Talk by Baratunde Thurston, I could recognize that the headline’s subject is “Bad Bunny” and its action is “wants you to stop,” its target being the “you” that is addressed. Additionally, the activity is “ignoring Puerto Rico,” characterizing this piece as one related to sociopolitical awareness. The article is written in an active voice and contains an imperative tone, using a renowned Puerto Rican musical artist as the focus to bring awareness to an environmental disaster. Keeping these observations of the compelling headline in mind, I expect that the article may call attention to Bad Bunny’s vocal activism about the critical environmental issues in Puerto Rico. The article may attempt to make readers directly involved in it by referencing their key role in gaining more awareness and responsibility toward Puerto Rico.
Butler references remarks Bad Bunny has made about Puerto Rico’s crisis since 2018 and how the island is a recurring theme in his work. She delves into his new music video slash documentary for “El Apagón,” which features several clips from Puerto Rican independent journalist Bianca Graulau. In the music video, Butler explains, Graulau sheds light on issues of inequity, gentrification, and displacement in Puerto Rico. Since Butler writes about pop culture for the Washington Post newspaper, her article that references a music video to help bring awareness to an environmental crisis is fitting, highlighting elements of local and global discourse communities. Butler blends the discourses of musical pop culture and news reporting to serve as a representative for these two intertwined areas. In this way, she can target readers who like Bad Bunny’s music to bolster his efforts in activism for Puerto Rico. Butler emphasizes how often Bad Bunny calls attention to Puerto Rico and how we keep disregarding it even while we elevate him in the music industry. Her detailed argument cites key moments from Bad Bunny’s documentary about the critical state of Puerto Rico and his real-life remarks about it. The article helps build a sense of responsibility in American readers who may support Bad Bunny’s music but disregard his statements about the island’s plight.