Please use categories or tags when writing your blog posts. Use categories to indicate the week (Week 3 or Week 10 etc.), and tags for key concepts or topics covered.
Week 8 | Hasta la Victoria Siempre
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Every week Alexander Dawson reveals important clues of Latin America history that can help us understand the various context of the crisis we are living nowadays. During week 8 readings two themes (problems) caught my attention: the struggles to regain land and liberties and the fear of immigrants in the early 1900s. It’s interesting howContinue reading "Week 8 | Hasta la Victoria Siempre" read full post >>
Week Eight: To Roosevelt.
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This week I wanted to really analyze "To Roosevelt" as many of its references seemed rich although I couldn't understand them all. The first two lines seem to mean that the United States only responds to certain forms of political discourse; countries ... read full post >>
Week Eight: To Roosevelt.
Posted by: feedwordpress
This week I wanted to really analyze "To Roosevelt" as many of its references seemed rich although I couldn't understand them all. The first two lines seem to mean that the United States only responds to certain forms of political discourse; countries that share similar religious and political values are allowed into the political arena. Darío points out that much of the American identity is rooted in old colonial figures like George Washington, as Mexico often participates in a similar worship of dead political figures. This necro nationalism permeates both country's identities. Nebuchadnezzar is both a biblical reference but also a greater homage to hegemonic powers. The Babylonian king had expansive control and influence over the area; similar to the way that the United States' influence reached the entire world. Darío reprimands to the United States as too quick to use violence because they believe the "future is wherever your bullet strikes." This ideology is similar today, where the U.S. often uses brute force in the quest to spread democracy.
The "cult of Mammon" describes the sin of gluttony. Together with the cult of Hercules, the United States is painted as a gluttonous and strong country, perpetually conflicted with the ideals of Liberty which the country was founded upon. The poet indicates that Latin America has a different relationship to land; the difference between the United States and Latin America is the stars, light, fragrance, and fire. There is an insinuation that the United States' indigenous history has experienced heavy erasure as no names are remembered in comparison to Cuautéhmoc and Moctezuma. Instead, Americans have "Saxon eyes," or germanic roots indicating the lack of personal relationship and identity to Northern America. He finishes the poems with lions in stark contrast to the tigers that the United States metaphorically kills. Latin America is painted as more in touch with emotion, dreams, land, and religion. The land is alive, given human physical characteristics like a backbone. The land too has agency, responding to the actions of the United States. By ending with God, morality is the final blow to the U.S. While the United States is largely religious, they are not unified by one religion. The tone of the poem is romantic, and while seeks to position Latin America as culturally unique, mobilizes largely biblical metaphors, an interesting irony.
I really enjoyed the poem. As an American, I agree with a lot of the arguments that United States action is often violent and in the name of something bigger. More fundamentally, I find the writing quite beautiful.
read full post >>
The "cult of Mammon" describes the sin of gluttony. Together with the cult of Hercules, the United States is painted as a gluttonous and strong country, perpetually conflicted with the ideals of Liberty which the country was founded upon. The poet indicates that Latin America has a different relationship to land; the difference between the United States and Latin America is the stars, light, fragrance, and fire. There is an insinuation that the United States' indigenous history has experienced heavy erasure as no names are remembered in comparison to Cuautéhmoc and Moctezuma. Instead, Americans have "Saxon eyes," or germanic roots indicating the lack of personal relationship and identity to Northern America. He finishes the poems with lions in stark contrast to the tigers that the United States metaphorically kills. Latin America is painted as more in touch with emotion, dreams, land, and religion. The land is alive, given human physical characteristics like a backbone. The land too has agency, responding to the actions of the United States. By ending with God, morality is the final blow to the U.S. While the United States is largely religious, they are not unified by one religion. The tone of the poem is romantic, and while seeks to position Latin America as culturally unique, mobilizes largely biblical metaphors, an interesting irony.
I really enjoyed the poem. As an American, I agree with a lot of the arguments that United States action is often violent and in the name of something bigger. More fundamentally, I find the writing quite beautiful.
“El mundo es ancho y ajeno” 2da parte
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Leer la segunda parte de “El mundo es ancho y ajeno” me sirvió para consolidar la distancia idiosincratica entre los que ven a Rumi como una hacienda y los indígenas que ven a Rumi como una comunidad que se moviliza y se sedimenta a través de ellos. Un claro ejemplo de diferencia indisincratica relacionado […] read full post >>
“El mundo es ancho y ajeno” 2da parte
Posted by: feedwordpress
Leer la segunda parte de “El mundo es ancho y ajeno” me sirvió para consolidar la distancia idiosincratica entre los que ven a Rumi como una hacienda y los indígenas que ven a Rumi como una comunidad que se moviliza y se sedimenta a través de ellos. Un claro ejemplo de diferencia indisincratica relacionado […] read full post >>
Week Seven: The Export Boom as Modernity
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What I found particularly interesting this week was this concept of ‘modernity’, and how it is defined and used not only in the context of Latin America, but also in general. ‘Modernity’ evokes images of progress. However, what is progress … Continue reading read full post >>
Week Seven: The Export Boom as Modernity
Posted by: feedwordpress
What I found particularly interesting this week was this concept of ‘modernity’, and how it is defined and used not only in the context of Latin America, but also in general. ‘Modernity’ evokes images of progress. However, what is progress … Continue reading read full post >>
Modernizing Mexico
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While watching this weeks video I found myself interested by the suggestions that the appearance of modernity and true modernization are two very different things. I think when most of us imagine a modern society we do think of outward … Continue reading read full post >>
Modernizing Mexico
Posted by: feedwordpress
While watching this weeks video I found myself interested by the suggestions that the appearance of modernity and true modernization are two very different things. I think when most of us imagine a modern society we do think of outward … Continue reading read full post >>
Order and Progress
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I found this weeks topic very thought provoking. I feel as though the closer we get in terms of time... read full post >>
