Schedule of Events
Latin American Culture Research Presentations
Swenson Center for Social and Behavioral Sciences 103
The Latin American Cultures and Literatures session includes the presentations of the research completed by undergraduate students in Spanish 405, Latin American Culture and Civilization course. The presentations will be in Spanish. All are welcome!
Student Abstracts
“The Glorification of Drugs, Violence, and Narcos”: Narcocultura and Narcocorridos
This paper is about the Narco culture and more specifically, about narcocorridos, a ballad in a traditional Mexican musical style, whose lyrics recount the exploits of drug traffickers. In the last twenty years, a large part of Mexico’s society has been influenced by the cartels and the violence that comes with it. The influence of these cartels can be seen from the violence in the streets to the music related to the narco culture. This research is done by using scholarly articles and documentaries. Studies on this topic show the glorification of the drug trafficking world. Previous studies, along with my research will show how this Narco culture is a way of life for some Mexican people.
Student(s):
Jesse Cerdas
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Eva Ramirez
Hidden in Plain Sight: Human Sex Trafficking in Mexico
Human sex trafficking is a global issue that has only recently begun to receive the attention that it deserves. The problem with this modern form of slavery is that there is no concrete data regarding the number of victims and people involved. This is because victims are often too scared to seek the help they need to get out of the industry, and because many governments do not have proper laws and programs in place to help victims and to incarcerate traffickers. This is the case for Mexico, which is considered a destination and transportation country for human sex trafficking. The essay “Hidden in Plain Sight: Human Sex Trafficking in Mexico” uses facts and statistical data from government reports, academic studies, and interviews with researchers, victims, and specialists, to gather information and examine the effects that the illegal industry has on both a domestic and international level. The essay uses this information to explain why trying to solve the issue of human sex trafficking should be one of the Mexican government’s top priorities.
Student(s):
Madison Douglas
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Eva Ramirez
Latin America and the Depletion of Rainforests
Given that a little more than half of the rainforests in the world are found in Latin America, it is important to know the causes and the effects that deforestation has today and will have in the future. The purpose of this essay is to inform and educate on the issue of deforestation because it is an act that everyone unconsciously contributes to. Utilizing scholarly sources and other environmental sources, this paper will shed like on the issue occurring in Latin America and the ways the process can be halted. Rainforests are essential for the planet because without them animals, the economy, the land, and even humans will suffer the consequences. Even though nearly 20% of rainforests have depleted as a direct cause of deforestation, with education and lifestyle changes, there is still hope for what remains.
Student(s):
Paulina Nunez
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Eva Ramirez
Censorship in Latin America
The purpose of this research is to show how Censorship in Latin America has been violating the right to a free press throughout the years. The government filters content that the media is allowed to access and share. Also, if a journalist displays the government negatively- they are threatened and often executed. The amount of restrictions and journalists’ deaths has fluctuated throughout the years, due to who has been in charge in politics. The methods I used include scholarly journals and interviews.
Student(s):
Jacqueline Rodriguez
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Eva Ramirez
Nazi Influence in Argentina: Uncovering a Hidden Past
Argentina is home to one of the largest German populations outside of Germany; Buenos Aires, Argentina’s capital city, was largely developed by a German community. German culture and heritage has also shaped Argentina’s past, causing tension during both World Wars and influencing the government’s decision to remain neutral. After World War II, the number of German refugees increased dramatically in Argentina, including the amount of war criminals seeking to escape justice in Europe. The purpose of this paper is to understand the historical relevance of the relationship between Argentina and Germany, to explore the influence of Nazi presence in Argentina, and to discover how that presence has changed or affected Argentine society and heritage. Newspaper articles, academic journals, scholarly books, dissertations, and personal testimonies from Argentina were all used to gather information. This research concludes that Argentina’s past has been dramatically shaped by its relationship with Germany and that its current society remains marked by a Nazi history.
Student(s):
Corby Soiland
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Eva Ramirez
Dying for the Environment: Environmentalism in Latin America
The purpose of this research paper is to analyze environmentalism in Latin America. As humanity continues to damage the environment, it is everyone’s responsibility to take action, as planet-related issues know no borders, languages, or cultural differences. Upon beginning research, it was found that many call Latin America the most dangerous place to be an environmental activist, especially an indigenous one. In order to understand that claim, this study focused on Latin America’s natural wealth, policies in place to protect it, factors that make environmental activism a dangerous occupation, and recent consequences for activists. Scholarly articles and journals, newspaper articles, academic books, and political documents were used. This paper concludes that economic interests and lack of policy enforcement make protecting the environment a deadly job, and the willingness of indigenous people to protect their land put them at the forefront of the fight and suggests that future research be conducted regarding the role of race in the issue of environmentalism.
Student(s):
Carlee Wood
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Eva Ramirez