SPA 8650 Seminar in Latin American cultures: 

Michelle Wibbelsman
 

This course explores indigenous cultures throughout the Andes and Amazonia in historical, geographical, social and political context. We begin with a general overview of Latin America and a collage of images of indigenous peoples in this part of the world accompanied by reflections in their own words about their realities, struggles, celebrations and cultural expression. From pre-Columbian to contemporary contexts we will consider processes of continuity and change in the region and focus on topics including indigenous cosmovision, expressive culture, syncretism, hegemony, cultural reification, ethnogenesis, identity politics, ethnic resistance and revitalization, religion, transnationalism, globalization, migration, diaspora, cosmopolitanism, cultural continuity and social transformation.

Day/time: Th 12:45-3:30 Hagerty 255


 

SPA 8194/4194 GROUP STUDIES COURSE TAUGHT IN SPANISH

This service learning course is designed to 1) introduce students to key cultural concepts and epistemologies of indigenous Latin America and 2) to equip students as collaborators in K-12 learning communities with activities-based pedagogies that emphasize applied and immediate engagement with Andean and Amazonian regional expression and aesthetics. This course underscores linguistic and cultural diversity in Latin America with particular attention to lesser taught languages (including Andean Spanish, Quechua, Kichwa, and Portuguese) and cultures of the Andes and Amazonia. By way of collaboration with K-12 teachers, students will also develop professionalization skills in communication, cultural translation and project design.

 

 

 

Spanish 7780.22 

Andean Music Ensemble
Michele Wibbelsman

In this one credit hour course (which meets once per week for 2 hrs.) we will learn to play and perform music from Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Chile and Argentina. We will explore various genres including the Peruvian huayno, the Ecuadorian sanjuanito, the Bolivian saya and tinku, plus Bolivian sikuriadas (panpipes ensemble tunes) and tarkeadas (wooden flute ensemble tunes). We will all have a chance to experience playing a variety of instruments including zampoñas or sikuris (Andean panpipes), tarkas (Bolivian festival flutes), quenas/kenas (notched mouthpiece flutes), charangos (Andean syncretic string instruments), guitars, bombo (Andean bass drum), and chakchas (Goat hooves rattles). We will study techniques and methods for playing these instruments; work on singing in Spanish, Quechua and Aymara; explore Andean musical and performance aesthetics; and learn about the cultural background and social significance of the songs. 

Day/Time: Th 10:20 AM - 12:25 PM MLK Auditorium Hale Hall

 

 

 

 

History of Latin America through Film (HIST 2125) 
Stephanie Smith