Nuestras Casas de Carton

This work is a visual poem and sound piece inspired by the bitter words of the song Casas de Carton ( Houses of Cardboard), written by Ali Primera, and sung by social activist Francisco Herrera. Utilising appropriated video and a layering of sounds, this artwork examines the American Dream of a safe home, seen in the context of our worst nightmares.

Translated Lyrics:

How sad to hear the rain
On the roofs made of cardboard
How sad it is, the way my people live
In houses made of cardboard

Here comes the worker
Practically dragging each step
Carrying the weight of suffering.
Look how much hes suffering,
Look at the weight of such suffering.

Up there, he leaves his pregnant woman.
Down there is the city.
And he loses himself in his maze.
Today is the same as yesterday,
A life without a tomorrow

How sad to hear the rain
On the roofs made of cardboard
How sad it is, the way my people live
In houses made of cardboard.

Children, the same color of my countrys earth,
With their same scars,
Millionaires of worms,
And because of that;
How sad it is, the way the children live
In the houses made of cardboard.
How happily live the dogs
In the house of the employer.

You wont believe it,
But there are schools for dogs
Where they get an education,
so they wont bite the newspapers
But the employer! For years, many years
Hes been biting the worker.

How sad to hear the rain
On the houses made of cardboard
How far away, does hope pass by
The roofs made of cardboard

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Experimental Film
• Video Art
• Ali Primero
• Francisco Herrera
• anti-war
• Aphganistan
• 9-11