Latin American Boom

Hugues Demeude was born in 1969 and has published works in French. From his website it is evident that his expertise is on heritage and biodiversity, though he has written various travel books about Jordan, Israel, France, Portugal, and Peru among other destinations.The selection we read for class today is an excerpt from his book “The Animated Alphabet”, published in 1997. Demeude begins the chapter with a history of alphabetic writing and then of decorated letters, more specifically, the…

In The Way, the director, Emilio Estevez, represents many cultural aspects of Spain. Some of these elements are similar to American culture such as geography and hostels and some are different like paradors and social situations. In The Way, Tom goes to Spain to recover the body of his son who died while traveling El Camino de Santiago and decides to take the pilgrimage himself. The United States does not have any major pilgrimages. However, it does have many marathons which are sometimes run…

Laws of 1542 that ordered that Indians no longer be enslaved. His writings became the basis for the Black Legend, the image of Spain as a cruel empire. This document has related to American history in discrete ways. Previously, America has treated Native Americans hideously. The United States forcibly removed Native Americans to reservation, removing freedom from…

Miguel Cabrera became one of the most known painters during the 18th century. Cabrera had many important patrons ranging from the archbishop of Mexico City and the miner Jose de la Borda in Taxco. Cabrera is known for a series of Casta paintings. The Casta paintings were depictions of the mixed races in New Spain, current Mexico. De Mestizo y india, coyote is a painting Cabrera did in 1763 (Figure1). In the painting, the colors are very vivid and smooth. There is a man which is the Mestizo and…

The La Vida Local was the article I chose to read about. This story explained how a family escapes Manhattan Costa Rica and discovers the joy of simple ways. The family usually goes to the popular destinations where you have the servants and the pools. Basically getting treated like a celebrity. This time was different for them but they ended up really enjoying their time. They had gotten more out of this trip then they have with any other family vacation they’ve been on. They said they would do…

Poverty in Haiti The Revolution of Haiti, was known as the largest and most successful slave rebellion in the Western Hemisphere. In 1971 through 1803 Haiti, had succeeded in ending slavery and French control over the colony. However, Haitian Revolution was more complex because at the moment it was several revolution going on. In 1789, French Revolution would come to represent a new concept of human rights. Many people may not know that in the 18th century Saint Dominique, what is now known as…

American geographer Jared Diamond theorized that “guns, germs, and steel” were the major factors that contributed to the Spanish conquest of the Americas. Diamond explains “guns, germs and steel” were European advancements that resulted from their geography. His theory received a tremendous amount of attention and popularity from other scientists and historians, which also brought an abundant controversy. There are a lot of scholars who agree with Diamond’s theory, but concurrently, scientists…

While violence, instability and natural disasters have long been frequent occurrences in Haiti, Haiti is also Danticat’s homeland. It is a place of love and inspiration for Danticat, but she struggles with political dilemma she finds herself in as an American citizen born of Haiti. Dandicat gives the reader an intimate sense of Haiti’s fight for freedom through the creation of an everlasting portrait of the two father figures in her life; her dad and uncle. Danticat’s memoir functions as a way…

Gabriel García Márquez satirizes the role that both religious and political leaders play in Latin society in his novella, Chronicle of a Death Foretold, which situates itself in a developing Colombian society. These authorities were seen as sources of inspiration, knowledge, and the light to guide in the darkest of times. However, in the wake of La Violencia and the structural & institutional conflicts that followed, Márquez identified these leaders as sources of corruption and failure.…

Climate Haiti has an advantage when it comes to climate. Haiti has a climate that is good for farming because it is tropical meaning it is warm year round. The average temperature up in Haiti’s mountains is 66℉ and the average temperature of the air at sea level is 81℉. Haiti is an island, so they have another advantage because they have water bordering them from all different sides. In that water there is food like fish and other animals. Because Haiti borders water, it is easy to plant…