2013 Festival of Scholars
Latin American Literature & Culture
| Date: | Tuesday, April 24 |
| Time: | 10:00am - 12:00pm |
| Location: | Humanities 118 |
Description: |
Cosmogonies of Pre-Columbian Mesoamericans; History of the Yaqui tribe from Mexico and Arizona; Politics and politicians in Latin America; Women's rights in Latin America; Women in the Cristero struggle in Mexico. Views in reporting; online Mexican newspapers. |
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Student Abstracts at this Session
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Student(s): Jacquelinne Avena Faculty Mentor: Dr. Eva Ramirez |
Day of the Dead CelebrationsThis research deals with the celebration of the day of the dead in Latin America. Not every country in Latin America commemorates the day of the dead in the same manner, and sometimes the festivities are different within the same country. The cultural event may have different manifestations depending on the population involved and its geographical location. This study focuses on the religious syncretism of the rituals involved in the celebration, a combination of ancient indigenous practices and Christian Catholic traditions. The research on the religious syncretism that exists in the day of the dead celebration is done through the analysis of a corpus of data from scholarly texts available in the CLU library as well as the Internet. |
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Student(s): Maria Castrejon Faculty Mentor: Dr. Eva Ramirez |
Comparacion de PeriodicosThis research focuses on the differences between two major newspapers reporting in the city of Guadalajara, Jalisco, in Mexico. The goal is to attain a better understanding of how news are presented depending on each newspaper and its political and regional realms. Daily news are affected by how the editors of each newspaper feel about their political parties and how it impacts its readers. The analysis of some of the same news as presented in each one of the newspapers chosen for this study may result in a better understanding of why and how the stories are presented the way they are. Having a clear understanding of what readers are exposed to will also lead to a general conclusion of how citizens retain and determine their values as members of the community. The impact news have amongst citizens affects political decisions and the way policies are made and understood. |
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Student(s): Diana Fielding Faculty Mentor: Dr. Eva Ramirez |
Ancient Civilizations of Latin AmericaThis research project focuses on the different representations of the various deities within the ancient Mayan, Aztec, and Inca cultures.The study takes into account information about the great ruins of Teotihuacan, Tulum, Chichen Itza, Palenque, Uxmal, and Machu Picchu, among others. It compares the religious beliefs of these three ancient cultures based on what we have learned from remaining structures and scriptures. This study links modern Latin America to a past nearly destroyed by the Spanish conquistadores who misinterpreted their temples and hieroglyphics as elements of demonic cultures. It reconnects us with the great civilizations that once dominated the lands of Latin America so that we can better understand the history of their modern descendants. |
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Student(s): Kalie Hennigan Faculty Mentor: Dr. Eva Ramirez |
Los Yaquis InmortalesThis research focuses on the importance of the awareness of the many sides involved in the account of historical events. Specifically, this presentaion will concentrate on the history of an indigenous tribe, the Yaquis, from Sonora, México and how their culture and experiences have contributed to the culture and history of México. An entire culture can become immortal through their history, however when that history is told by one side only, it is incomplete and inaccurate. The methodology of this work involved research through articles and books that discuss culture and history. In addition, I also drew from my own family’s stories and personal experiences. The results of this study will prove to be enlightening in offering another point of view about some well known historical events. |
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Student(s): Diana Lopez Faculty Mentor: Dr. Eva Ramirez |
Women's Rights in Latin AmericaThis research focuses on the established laws in Mexico and countries in South America, particularly the laws regarding divorce, abortion, and voting in Argentina, Chile, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela and Ecuador. Throughout Latin America, the laws regarding women’s rights have come into place at different time periods, and with different results when it comes to their practices. The impact that these laws have had on women in Latin America affects their daily lives and actions, but this is not always positive. The presentation includes a brief summary of the different movements and periods in which the laws came into place, as well as the benefits and consequences that resulted from the passing of these laws. |
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Student(s): Francisco Medina Faculty Mentor: Dr. Eva Ramirez |
Latin American Leaders and Policies TodayFrom the time of their independence from Spain and Portugal, the Latin American countries have undergone dramatic changes in their political position. Mexico, for example, has, for the second time, a president from the PAN, a political party from the right. This essay examines how the left shapes the political landscape in Latin America today. Sometimes, when the political views of a particular Latin American President affect a country and its inhabitants, they also affect their neighbors. Even more, in some cases, even other countries that are farther away are affected by the ideology of their political leaders, as it is the case of the friendly alliance between Cuba and Bolivia. The study will focus on the changes that have taken place in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Mexico, Venezuela, and how those changes in politics are affecting other countries. |
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Student(s): Ana Elia Perez Faculty Mentor: Dr. Eva Ramirez |
Women's Role During the Cristero WarAn important part of history for Mexico is the very famous Mexican Revolution. It was a blood bath that lasted many years. Once the revolution was over the state limited the church of many powers. It could no longer own land nor could it be recognized politically. This caused friction between the State and the Catholics and once the revolution was over the Cristero Rebellion began. The rebellion lasted from 1926 to 1929 and the soldiers called themselves Cristeros. The Feminine Brigades of Saint Joan of Arc was a secret Catholic women’s society. These women joined together to provide food, shelter, and nursing to the wounded Cristero rebels. The role of this Catholic women’s society, as well as that of other women who are not even mentioned in the texts related to the Cristero revolt, seems to be overlooked, however, women were very important during the Cristero Rebellion. |
