Final Reflections

           Reflecting on this class as a whole, I realize how much of an impact it has had on my views of the world. Coming into this class, I feel as if I was sheltered from many of the issues surrounding us. Whether this is due to a lack of interest on my part, or a lack of access to information regarding issues that the United States is involved in, I have learned how little I actually know about Latin America. Through this class, however, I have learned not only about the history, but also about culture, art, language, and literature of Latin America. The most enjoyable experiences of this class for me were the workshops and outside activities we were able to participate in. In speaking with friends from other honors sequences, they are always shocked to hear that we had dance workshops, a drum workshop, and even a field trip to Detroit to see the DIA. Not only were these activities a nice change to our normal class time, but they also helped spread Latin American culture to students who have most likely never been exposed to it before.

            I have also realized that this class has encouraged me to better myself academically. Through writing papers, answering discussion questions, and participating in learning community activities, I have been able to expand and challenge the ways in which I approached questions and problems before. By working in our groups, I have become more open to other’s ideas and have grown an affinity for group activities. The papers and discussions questions have also pushed me to critically think and become more analytical in my responses. Overall, this class has allowed me to gain a better understanding of problems in Latin America, and has taught me about issues in the world that I had no previous knowledge of.  

Week Ten

This week in Professor Stark’s class we discussed the history of Nicaragua and the Somoza and Sandinista periods. One thing I found particularly interesting, and a bit disturbing at the same time, was how large of an influence the United States had in Nicaragua. Obviously, throughout history we hear about United States and their foreign interference, but to me, their foothold in Nicaragua seemed to be pushing the boundaries. The fact that the Reagan administration did everything in their power to try and undermine the Sandinista regime seemed unethical in a sense. The Sandinistas wished to retain foreign relations with the United States, they just didn’t want to be subservient to them. Reagan, however, saw this as a threat to US business and to democracy and as a result began trying to destabilize the government and the economy of Nicaragua. There was also a rumor that Nicaragua was a communist country, but this couldn’t be possible since they were a pluralist society that did not want to follow the Cuban and Soviet models. After learning of the US influence, I realize why we as a country have such rocky relationships with other nations. It seems that in many cases, we have overstepped our bounds, and almost every time it’s for our own benefit. I am curious to see how our foreign policy changes in the future, if at all, with the new Trump administration. Since Obama tried so hard to create positive relations with other countries, I wonder if Trump will do the same in his endeavors as president.  

Response to Megan

Since I live in metro Detroit I have also visited the DIA many times, but was surprised at the lack of information I had about his mural. I was taken aback by the fact that every single detail of the mural had a significance. My favorite part of the murals was that he incorporated the minerals he had painted into the actual paint he used to create his mural. I love the way in which he portrayed Detroit and that he highlighted the car industry and importance of workers in this industry. I also liked that he incorporated himself into the mural as a worker because it shows that he views himself as an "average" man.

Week Nine

            This week in class, in Professor Serrata’s class, we discussed a poem by Pablo Neruda called “The Heights of Macchu Picchu.” This poem had multiple parts, each of which had a separate theme. Overall, the poem was about Neruda and his journey to Macchu Picchu. Before he arrived, he talked about how empty his life felt and that he didn’t seem to know what his purpose was. Yet, once he reached Macchu Picchu, he felt connected to the ruins and felt a newfound identity as Latin American rather than just Chilean. This change in his sense in identity made me wonder how people in other Latin American countries identify themselves. It seems that in a lot of document that we’ve read, people find their Latin American identities and this makes them gain a sense of belonging. I wonder then, why it takes some people so long to feel a sense of connection to all of Latin America as a whole. I thought that a contributing factor could be different political ideologies in different Latin America countries, or perhaps the fact that some people are unable to travel outside of their home countries. In a documentary I watched for our final project called Which Way Home, the children that were travelling to the United States from countries such as Honduras and Guatemala, had never been outside their home country. They seemed surprised at how different other areas of Latin America were when they travelled through them. This makes me question if in order to feel a sense of the “Latin American identity” one has to travel around Latin America, or if it’s and identity they’re born with.

Response to Trenton

I was also surprised to learn about all the successes under Fidel Castro. In previous classes, he was either overlooked or we talked about how he was separating Cuba from the rest of the world. It was interesting to learn that some of his plans and reforms had been successful and after learning this I realized why so many people were in favor of him. Usually when talking about communism, classes fail to acknowledge the benefits it has to its citizens and we only talk about the bad. I found it refreshing to talk about the successes of communism especially in Cuba.

Week Eight

            This past week, we have been talking about the Cuban Revolution. Similarly to the Mexican Revolution, I had not been introduced to the topic before in previous classes. I think this is because the United States has had a rocky relationship with Cuba until recently. That’s not to say we have a good relationship with Cuba now, but it is slowly becoming friendlier and more inviting. Just recently we began talking about Fidel Castro and his rise to power, and I was surprised with how much I didn’t know about Castro and his early life. When talking about Cuba in past classes, obviously Fidel Castro was brought up, but all that was said was that he was a dictator who separated Cuba from the rest of the world. I had no idea that he was an illegitimate child and because of this was insecure about his upbringing.

            In Professor Serrata’s part of the class, we watched a movie called the Motorcycle Diaries. The movie was about a medical student named Ernesto and his friend Albert who take a trip around South America. At the beginning of their journey, they are carefree and enjoy each of their stops. Ernesto soon learns, however, of the poverty that is stricken throughout Latin America. He begins helping others and ends up at a leper colony where he bonds with his patients. At the colony, he makes a speech that foreshadows his influence in politics and the motivation he’ll have in the future. I liked the movie because not only was it entertaining, but it also showed the progression of Ernesto’s passion, eventually leading to his political influence.    

Response to Ian

I agree with your statement, “art can bring people together.” Especially after having analyzed the mural A Dream of a Sunday Afternoon in Alameda Park, it becomes obvious that art promotes unity through a common history. Through these murals and paintings, artists are able to encourage people to look past their differences and to look towards their similarities and shared experiences. I think that music has a similar effect and role in bringing people together as well. People are able to express thoughts and opinions in a calm way through music, and even though they may not be talking about history, they sing about issues and about seeing the world in a better light.

Week Seven

        In class this week, we read a book in Professor Serrata's class called, “The Underdogs.” The book is about a group of men, mostly comprised of peasants and lower class that are fighting in the Mexican Revolution. The main character, Demetrio Macías, begins his journey as a tour of revenge. His house was set on fire by the Federales, and from there on out, the driving factor behind his fighting was to get back at those who wronged him. Most of the other men in his group don't understand the reason they're fighting either-- it seems that they are fighting just to say they did. It isn't until Luis Cervantes, a former federalist and a member of the intellectuals joins their group that they realize they don't have a strong moral behind their fighting. Cervantes calls them out, saying they aren't fighting for revenge, but to get rid of tyranny itself. The book continues with battles and raids, and the reader sees Cervantes and the men transition into people controlled and driven by greed. Cervantes is no longer fighting for a purpose other than his own personal gain. This theme was brought up in one of our discussion questions that asked about the principal irony of “The Underdogs.” The irony is that the men who fight so hard to rid the country of corruption end up adopting it themselves. While answering the question, I thought of the quote from Batman: The Dark Knight. In the movie, Harvey Dent, a hero turned villain, said the famous line "you either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain." Similar to what Azuela is saying in “The Underdogs,” the quote means that power is almost always followed by corruption. This is shown in the book when Cervantes becomes greedy after he becomes part of Macías' men. He finally has a sense of power and a stronghold in the revolution, and as a result, believes himself to be invincible to punishment.