After civilization

After Civilization: The Theory and Practice of Introducing Latin American Culture

Sophia McClennen

What’s Cultural Studies?

An interdisciplinary method

That has a critical perspective on:-the notion of the literary canon-the concept of absolute truth-systems of cultural value.

It focuses on culture, especially popular culture, as a way to understand society.

How does this apply to a course on Latin American Culture?

Introduction to Latin American Culture

Revise our own notion of culture

Be critical regarding dominant notions of culture and belief in Latin America at different times

Be sensitive to power relations and how they affect the production of knowledge

“Destabilizing the concept of a true source of history allows classroom discussion of the perplexities involved in defining a culture.” (9)

This course proposes “areas of inquiry”.

We will engage critically with problems of representation, particularly in the media and in popular culture

“[…] in a course on foreign civilization taught at a United States university, a critical awareness of questions of cultural hegemony seems essential.” (7)

Sophia McClennen suggests that we should

“foster international conciousness instead of perpetuating an exotic notion of difference and a Western-oriented notion of value and culture.” (7)

Does this mean ‘facts’ don’t matter?

“… understanding details and facts is important because the information provides us with a more informed critical stance.” (11)

Cultural literacy: to understand and appreciate the conditions of production and reception of culture (texts, films, music) in their contexts.

We need to understand the historical relations between

cultures

-between Spain and the populations of Latin America

-between the indigenous culture and the Spanish culture

-between Spanish speaking and English speaking peoples in the US

-between the US and Latin America

“The study of civilization is also the study of the acts of barbarity carried out in the name of civilization […]”

(13)