Resistance in Rhythm: Bad Bunny's Halftime Performance

Streaming Media

Publication Date

2026

Presentation Length

60 minutes

College

College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences

Department

Foreign Languages, Department of

Student Level

Undergraduate

Faculty Mentor

Natalia Pelaz

Presentation Type

Talk/Oral

Summary

Students from SPA 3600, Caribbean Studies, will present about Bad Bunny´s Superbowl half-time show. During the semester, we have studied the history of Puerto Rico, from pre-colonial time to present, paying special attention to colonial and neocolonial discourses and practices: aniquilation of native population, the implementation of the plantation system and slavery, the annexation by the US, and current neocolonial dynamics between the US and Puerto Rico within the political framework of the Associated Territory designation.

Bad Bunny’s last album, DeBí TiRAR MáS FOToS (2025) is deeply political with songs evolving around neocolonization, gentrification and migration. It can be considered a love letter to Puerto Rico and a cry for resistance filled with joy. His Superbowl half-time show contained some of these songs along with a highly symbolical narrative of Puerto Rican history. Students will analyze the music, lyrics and performance to offer a deeper understanding of the show and Puerto Rican history.

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