Week 16

Babel

I chose to watch the movie “Babel” which was made in 2006. The story of Babel takes place in many different countries, with many different people, but somehow their stories are all connected. In Morocco there is a goat farming family with two young boys who tend to the animals everyday. The father bought them a gun to protect the herd from predators, but the boys immaturely play with it and test its strength. Accidently, a bullet hits a tour bus and strikes an American woman (Susan) who fights for her life to survive while United States diplomats struggle to help her in a legally fitting way. Her husband (Richard) fights to help her and also to make sure his children are okay back home in the United States.

The children are being taken care of by their illegal immigrant nanny (Amelia) from Mexico. The nanny loves and cares for these children as if they were her own, but she was not expecting to have to care for the children for such a long period of time. Amelia was supposed to be relieved of the children by Susan’s sister because Amelia’s son was getting married in Mexico, but because of the shooting, the sister was not coming. Amelia was forced to take the children with her to Mexico for the evening while her nephew (Santiago) drove them back and forth. The wedding was splendid, but Amelia insisted on returning that evening because she wanted to children to be at home. She allowed Santiago to drive them, even though he was drunk, and when they tried to cross the border, their situation was too suspicious for border control so they were going to be detained. Because Santiago was drunk, he freaked out and took off into the United States desert. He drove off road for a while and dumped the children and Amelia on the side of the road. By morning, the three searched for help until it became so excruciatingly hot that Amelia told the children to lay in the shade while she searched for help. Upon finding help, she was arrested for the previous night’s misunderstandings and when she convinced the police to go find the children, they could not. Eventually they found them, but Amelia was deported back to Mexico.

In Japan was the story of Chieko who is a deaf school girl who is angry over the death of her mother. She is angry and destructive and living alone with her father who has been questioned in the death of her mother. When detectives come again for her father, she only assumes it’s regarding her mother’s death. Soon she founds out that they are questioning the fact that a gun registered in his name was involved in the shooting of a United States woman who is traveling in Morocco. All of a sudden, the four storylines are intertwined and there is a sense of unity evident.

Week 15

Part I

1. Alysia: felt that the town of Macondo and the Buendia family were both built on principles. As the town’s events affected the family, the family’s events affected the town. Strangely, this reminds me of how celebrities’ actions can affect people in a town they live in or visit.

2. Andrew: felt that a major occurring theme in “100 Years of Solitude” is that history is bound to repeat itself. It is made a point through Freire’s idea, that dialogue and education can make a change. However, with the Buendia family who was limited in both aspects, change did not happen.

3. Bryanna: believes there is a peaceful way to stop oppression and resolve conflict and that is through meaningful dialogue. This makes me think of how most problems and disagreements could be resolved by having a conversation that is open and constructive. Long standing oppression and conflict are a waste of time and energy.

4. Cory: thinks that one person alone can only change so much. This makes me think of environmental conservation efforts where smalls changes that an individual makes is not much, but if a group or society as a whole brings all their individual accomplishments together, then there is potential for great change.

5. Francisco: says that Latin Americans have been unable to carve out their own individual uniqueness, thereby destined to repeat their mistakes. I think this is true for any individual who does not address their mishaps and make adjustments to improve themselves. I feel self confidence makes people secure with themselves to be able to admit their mistakes and learn from them.

6. Jes: mentions how the people of Macondo become oppressed by other people’s influences. I feel this is true in any population because of how people want to fit in and be popular. Many individuals I know have become so oppressed in their life because they have lost their sense of self because they blend in with the rest of the herd.

7. Kristopher: tells of how Macondo loses its innocence when it comes into contact with other populations and towns. This makes me think of the way different populations of our ancestors came together, with different languages, customs, and appearances. Social interaction is important, but a strong and self assured foundation is needed to maintain independence.

8. Mandi: mentions how at the same time, oppression can be brought on by solitude. The Buendia family was completely isolated for many years which was their initial oppression. Then the influences and occurrences in the city and with the government cause even more oppression.

9. Martin: discussed the Buendia family’s initial struggles with their first contact with the outside world. As with most major changes in life, the primary reaction usually involves shock and struggle. The outside world brings many changes to Macondo and the family adjusts the best way they know how.

10. Paul: tells how there is a sense of the family’s destiny for greatness. Despite all their differences, the family tries to maintain their unity and independence from a changing world around them. I think a lot of families can relate to this, but manage to do so without all the oppression and conflict.

Part II

1. Alexandra: says that “Like Water for Chocolate” shows how two people’s love for one another transcends any societal boundaries.

2. Annacy: says that “Like Water for Chocolate” is the 1992 film based on the 1989 novel.

3. Debbie: says that “Like Water for Chocolate” has the theme of oppression throughout the movie.

4. Jamie: The storyline of “Like Water for Chocolate” begins in Rio Grande, Mexico in 1895.

5. Jennifer: says people throughout the world can relate to their family “oppressing” their beliefs.

6. Jessica: thinks that most people in the world can relate to the predicaments of forbidden love or oppression by a parent.

7. Kevin: thinks “Like Water for Chocolate” was a similar movie to the previous two watched for the class.

8. Mary: describes how Tita expresses her pain and feelings through cooking.

9. Ramona: believes that Freire would have commended Tita on rising above the oppression in her life.

10. Silvia: felt that the women of the era were oppressed by tradition.

Week 14

100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

100 Years of Solitude, written by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, traces the story of the Buendia family for over one hundred years and seven generations. The patriarch of the family, Jose Arcadio Buendia Macondo, founded the town they lived in and named it Macondo. The time span of the novel covers the family’s rise and fall throughout the nineteenth century.

The town of Macondo is like the founder Jose Arcadio Buendia; they are isolated, discontent, and hostile. Macondo and the Buendia family have been isolated for years which have stemmed seclusion and incest. The isolation of Macondo is eventually interrupted when the town comes into contact with neighboring towns and their people. The interaction with others opens a stream of violence, hostility, and discontent within the town limits. A civil war breaks out and many of Macondo’s government officials are murdered. This weakness gives way to an American plantain company that invades the town and begins exploiting the land and the people. Ultimately the people of Macondo became fed up with the plantation company and they instituted a strike. The Army steps in to maintain control during this time, but that led to more fighting and deaths. At this point a heavy rain and storm hits Macondo and the town floods. Again, Macondo becomes desolate and isolated.

The entire story parallels Paulo Freire’s ideas in Pedagogy of the Oppressed. The city of Macondo and the entire population, more specifically the Buendia family, never really had their freedom. They were always oppressed in their solitude which kept them very limited in life. The people of Macondo never seemed to join together and fight the oppression effectively. This seemed to be that the Buendia family was held back by their past experiences. Freire stated that the fate of our culture lies in our hands and that we must end oppression through progressive action. Even when the people of Macondo tried to progressively act they were oppressed through violence and destruction to their home. This was seen with the uprising to the plantain company that resulted in violence, the flood that destroyed their town, and the Civil War that devastated the lands. Freire also said that oppression repeats itself and throughout the century of the story, the Buendias were repeatedly oppressed. The progressive decline of the family and city led to a completely oppressed environment because of the geographical and psychological solitude that was experienced.

Jose Arcadio Buendia influenced the growth and development of his family members and neighbors. His sons inherited his impulsiveness, physical strengths, focus, and intensity. One’s influence on others is often underestimated and Freire’s Pedagogy of the Oppressed influence on society was underestimated as well.

Week 12

“Camila”

“Camila” was a very interesting movie about a young girl from Argentina who was raised in upper class society. Camila was very bright, passionate, and outspoken and knew she wanted more in life than to marry a rich man who she didn’t love. She wanted to be proud of her husband, to desire him, and experience pleasure with him. Camila was instructed to abolish her dirty thoughts and was seeking the guidance of the church to help her overcome her sins. A new priest named Ladislao started at her church and he soon was assisting her in her confessions. Through being completely honest and comfortable with Ladislao, they both began to fall for each other even though they knew it was wrong. They went through the torture of doing what they could to be together, then getting too close and feeling too wrong that they pushed each other away.

Eventually Ladislao and Camila ran away together so that they could be happy and love one another. They started a school, raised animals, and shared in intensely passionate moments that only two people truly in love could share. In the meantime, Camila’s family and Ladislao’s church back home were furious and embarrassed by what the two had done. Shame had been brought on to their loved ones and a warrant was issued to find Camila and Ladislao and return them for punishment. Eventually Ladislao was recognized by another priest and the government was informed. Ladislao and Camila were given the opportunity to escape by one of their new friends, but they chose to surrender. They were brought back to their village where they received no trial and no family or friends came to their rescue. Quickly, the two were propped up and blindfolded in a firing range and they were executed for their treason.

The lack of justice in this situation was sad and disheartening. People do what they’re told when they are unable to stand up to what they know to be wrong.

Classmates

1. Alexandra said that "Love in the Time of Cholera" perfectly illustrates the oppression that Freire stood so boldly against.

2. Annacy said that "Love in the Time of Cholera" transcends many borders.

3. Bryanna said that the story that transcends borders in that the desire for love to conquer all and be eternal is in all cultures around the world.

4. Francisco said that the story demonstrates Freire’s theory, “liberation is thus childbirth, and a painful one.”

5. Jennifer thinks the movie is all about forbidden love.

6. Jessica says the story transcends borders mostly because it can make almost anyone anywhere relate.

7. Mandi says the story brings to light Freire's idea of oppression.

8. Paul says the story has universal messages and archetypes.

9. Ramona loved the setting in Cartegena, Columbia.

10. Sara said Freire believed it was wrong to divide people by status and class.

“Love in the Time of Cholera” is based on the love story that spanned over five decades between Florentino and Fermina. Florentino sees Fermina one day as he is delivering a telegram to her home and immediately falls in love with her. Over the next few years they write letters back and forth and eventually Florentino asks Fermina to marry him. She accepts, but then her father finds out and takes her away to the country to keep her from Florentino. Her father wants her to marry a prestigious man and Florentino simply works for a telegraph company. After many years and celibacy on both sides, Fermina returns to the city she left and runs into Florentino at the market. She tells him that their relationship was only in their imagination and that she could no longer marry him.

Fermina gets ill and a doctor named Juvenal Urbino comes to her because it is presumed that she has cholera. He determines that she only has an intestinal problem, but there brief encounter sparks an interest in her. Juvenal begins to call on Fermina and this time her father is very encouraging. Fermina and Juvenal wed and embark on a two year honeymoon to Europe. At this point Florentino’s mother informs him that Fermina has wed and that he needs to move on. Florentino finally breaks his vow of losing his virginity to only Fermina when he is kind of attacked while on a boat. Then a woman who loses her home in the war comes and stays with him and they have sex. From there Florentino begins to keep track of all his sexual encounters with women and using sex to fill the void that Fermina has left behind.

Throughout the years Florentino and Fermina run into each other or hear about the changes in each others lives. Fermina has many children and Florentino remains a bachelor, but receives a prestigious job thanks to his uncle in the ferryboat business. Florentino pledges to go to Fermina once her husband dies, but he begins to get worried that she may die before her husband.

Finally Juvenal passes away in an unfortunate fall from a ladder and Florentino takes the opportunity to tell Fermina that he has remained in love with her for over fifty years. She initially objects to him telling her that and is very angry with him, but by his persistence and patience, Fermina is slowly worn down. The two take a boat trip and finally kiss, then finally make love. It was the first time Florentino had made love and Fermina also wondered if it was the first for her as well. The two were still, were finally in love and happy together.

Classmates

1. Alexandra said that the Bracero Program was a series of laws and diplomatic agreements for the importation of temporary contract laborers from Mexico to the United States.

2. Alysia found out that Nicaraguan sign language was spontaneously created by deaf children in schools in Western Nicaragua in the 1970's and 1980's.

3. Bryanna learned that signing in Mayan villages is not taught formally, but through many generations of deaf people there is a way in which tribes will teach their deaf as a community.

4. Francisco learned that Cesar Chavez that he was a field worker who became a union organizer.

5. Jamie found out that in Mayan villages all of the deaf males were married and that the deaf women usually were still single.

6. Jessica found out that Dulce Maria's poem about King Tut is described as erotic, where she has the ability to imagine a physical love relationship between her and King Tut.

7. Kristen found out that the most well known writers associated with Boom era are Julio Cortazar, Carlso Fuentes, Mario Vargas Llosa, and Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

8. Mandi has taken 4 semesters of American Sign Language at SRJC.


9. Martin learned that Cesar Chavez died in his sleep on April 23, 1993 near Yuma, Arizona and his body was taken to La Paz, Mexico and laid to rest in front of his office.

10. Silvia found out that Cesar Chavez urged Latinos to vote and traveled as an activist to support the rights of workers.

Week 8

The Latin American Boom was a literary movement of the 1960s and 1970s when the work of Latin American novelists was widely circulated. The movement was influenced by the European and North American Modernism, but also by the Latin American Vanguardia movement. The work of the writers was political and experimental and the movement became famous because of the advocacy of political and social action in their work. Through translation, travel, and exile, the literature reached markets and audiences beyond Latin America.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_American_Boom

MAYAN SIGN LANGUAGE

I chose the topic of Mayan Sign Language because I have found myself fascinated with Mayan culture and I wanted to learn more about it.

1. Mayan sign language is similar to sign language used near Guatemala, but not related to Mexican sign language. It is used in areas of Mexico and Guatemala by Mayan communities with unusually high numbers of deaf people.

2. Both deaf and hearing Mayans use Mayan sign language so the deaf individuals are well incorporated into the community. People who use Mayan sign language and a verbal language are considered bilingual.

3. The main Mayan sign language is called Yucatec Mayan sign language because it is used in the Yucatan region. There is one other Mayan sign language known as Highland Maya sign language which is used in the highlands of Guatemala. This language is more complex and is used by impoverished servants who are forbidden to speak aloud in the presence of their Masters. This language is locally known as Meemul Ch'aab'al and Meemul Tziij in the K'iche' language.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayan_sign_languages

Classmates:
1. Alysia learned about Simon Bolivar because he was one of the most influential in gaining independence for Venezuela.

2. Andrew learned that Native Americans had a previously established type of slavery prior to the slavery they experienced from the Spanish.

3. Bryanna found out that Father Hidalgo was a Creole priest who was born in Penjamo, Guanajuato in 1753.

4. Cory researched Simon Bolivar who was an incredible leader, politician, and general as he drove the Spanish out of northern South America.

5. Debbie learned that the Lady of Guadalupe is of significant importance to Mexican Catholics and her shrine for the Lady of Guadalupe was one of the most visited shrines in the world.

6. Francisco learned that September 16, 1810 marks the end of a Spanish dominance in Mexico.

7. Jordan learned that San Martin was born to an aristocratic family in Argentina, but was sent to Spain to complete his education.

8. Kristen learned that on December 12, 1531, the Virgin of Guadalupe appeared in front of Juan Diego connecting the gap between the Aztecs and the Spanish conquerors.

9. Mandi found out that the Trans-Atlantic slave trade took place between 1650-1860 and approximately 15 million African slaves were shipped to the West Indies, parts of Central America and South America.

10. Sara learned that Simon Bolívar described himself in his many letters as a "liberal" who believed in a "free market".

Week 7

Independence Era

The independence era of Latin America was from 1806-1825. When Spain’s empire in the New World crumbled, Latin America gained their independence from Spain. Initially, Spain was trying to rule Latin America in areas of politics, religion, education, and law. When Spain lost control of Latin America, each independent country was able to establish their own sovereignty with freedom to practice whatever religion they chose. With the removal of Spain from power, Latin America needed to rely on Great Britain, France, and the United States because of financial investments and industrialization. Latin American countries looked towards these Catholic European models, particularly France, as their cultural model to reshape their society.

Sources:
http://latinamericanhistory.about.com/od/latinamericaindependence/The_History_of_Latin_America_the_Independence_Era_18071825.htm
http://www.fsmitha.com/h3/h39la.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Latin_America

Fray Bartolome
I chose Fray Bartolome because I didn’t know who he was at all. Upon performing a quick search to see who he was, I was fascinated by the courage he had to fight against slavery of the natives of his country, and then against slavery completely.

1. Bartolome accompanied Columbus on his second voyage and brought back an Indian boy who he left to be his son’s servant. He also made an abstract and copy of the diary Christopher Columbus kept of his voyages.

2. Bartolome opposed the cruel and harsh punishment of the Native Americans and worked to cease the use of them as slaves. He did not suggest the use of African slaves, but he supporting the introduction of them as slaves in the Americas. After witnessing their maltreatment as well, Bartolome regretted initial support and eventually openly opposed slavery completely.

3. Bartolome was born in Seville, Spain sometime in the 1484. In 1502 he traveled to the Caribbean island of Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic) where he witnessed the brutalities against the Native population.


Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bartolom%C3%A9_de_las_Casas
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03397a.htm

Classmates

1. Alexandra is interested in music from different places all around the world.

2. Annacy learned that Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand were known as the Catholic King and Queen of Spain.

3. Cory chose missions because he feels that he has a responsibility to better understand these unique structures that rest right here in my backyard.

4. Jamie learned that Central Mexico’s population was 19 million before the Spaniards arrived, and then it dropped to an estimated 2 million.

5. Jessica learned that the first mission built in California was the mission of San Diego de Alcala, founded in July 16, 1769 by Junipero Serra.

6. Kevin found out that the Aztecs built the Tlatelolco in the early 1300 with the nearby capital of the Aztecs empire Tenochtitlan, which is now the heart of Mexico City, which the Spanish founded after they conquered the Aztecs in 1521.

7. Mandi found out that Junipero Serra walked over 200 miles to Mexico City where he worked at his first mission in the new world.

8. Mary said that there are 21 missions total along the Camino Real, or Royal Highway of California.

9. Paul learned that Hernan Cortez spent seven years establishing peace among the Indians of Mexico and developing mines and farmlands.

10. Robert found out that genetic studies on the skeletal remains of natives peoples suggest that very few died as a result of violence, but probably by disease.