Barcelona in the Media
Barcelona is an iconic European city that is a destination for many, including, young adults, retired couples, families and backpackers. Being able to call this place home, even if only for a few months, was quite a treat. I got to experience the language, food and lifestyle firsthand.
Some of the most famous foods of Barcelona: paella, croquetas, sangria and patatas bravas.
One of the most interesting takeaways from this lecture is that “the name of the city itself has been used to create a certain image/brand” (Besoli, 2020). The first part, ‘bar’ signifies the fun party scene, with great clubs and constant presence of alcohol. ‘Cel’ represents the sun, with its warm weather and bright light. Lastly, ‘ona’ symbolizes the Mediterranean sea and lifestyle, especially the beach weather.
BAR CEL ONA
BAR - Celebrating Carnaval in Sitges.
CEL - A magical sunset in Barceloneta.
ONA - A view of the coast from the W Hotel.
The media knows how iconic Barcelona is and showcases it. Besoli found that “The image of Barcelona in the media is commonly associated with a few recurrent ideas, according to some studies: Mediterranean lifestyle, “History, heritage, arts, culture and architecture,” Cosmopolitism, Football and sports” (2020). With all of these great aspects, the media portrays Barcelona in different ways depending on the audience it is trying to reach.
Taking in the carefree lifestyle of Barcelona with some bubbles at Arc de Triomf.
Some great examples of this have occurred in the music industry. First is the song Barcelona by Ed Sheeran. Here, he discusses the wine and dancing, which nearly everyone does. He also brings up the sunlight and moonlight multiple times, as well as the Mediterranean. These all obviously fit right in with the name breakdown. He even references the DJ, bringing in the nightlife for younger listeners. Lastly, he names Sagrada Familia and Las Ramblas, two destinations that Barcelona is famous for having (Sheeran, 2017).
Another example is ‘Loca’ by Shakira. This music video opens with her right by the sea in Barcelona, surrounded by many different fans, both male and female. All of the fans are young adults, which fit into the music genre and Barcelona’s nightlife. This also ties into the carefree nature of the Mediterranean. At one point, she dances with a street performer, which hints at the mass tourism issue that Barcelona is currently facing (Shakira, 2010).
Sources
Besoli, A. (2020, Apr 21). University of Barcelona lecture. Retrieved April 26, 2020, from lecture notes.
Sheeran, E. (2017). Barcelona. On Divide [record]. Location: Atlantic.
Shakira. (2010). Loca. On Sale el Sol [record]. Location: Epic.