JOURNAL ARTICLE

Performing Culture and Problematizing Identity through "Anything for Selena".

  • Published In: Journal of Radio & Audio Media, 2023, v. 30, n. 1. P. 28 1 of 3

  • Database: Communication Source 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Vilceanu, M. Olguta; Soto-Vásquez, Arthur D 3 of 3

Abstract

This article analyzes the NPR/WBUR podcast *Anything for Selena* to explore themes of parasociality, posthumous celebrity branding, and diasporic Latina/o/x identity through the cultural legacy of Selena Quintanilla Pérez, a Mexican-American music icon. Using an inductive, qualitative close reading, the study highlights how the podcast mediates grief, identity, and cultural performance by engaging bilingual and multicultural Latina/o/x audiences, particularly "billennials" (bilingual Latina/o/x millennials). The podcast situates Selena's posthumous brand as a platform for aspirational identity, negotiating language, race, and gender while illustrating how parasocial grieving and digital media extend her cultural relevance into the 2020s. Ultimately, the podcast exemplifies how Selena's legacy functions as both a symbol of Latinidad and a site for ethical consumption and identity affirmation among contemporary Latina/o/x communities.

Additional Information

  • Source:Journal of Radio & Audio Media. 2023/05, Vol. 30, Issue 1, p28
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:History
  • Publication Date:2023
  • ISSN:1937-6529
  • DOI:10.1080/19376529.2022.2142231
  • Accession Number:164494109
  • Copyright Statement:Copyright of Journal of Radio & Audio Media is the property of Broadcast Education Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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