Oliver Stone's South of the Border may not be everyone's cup of coffee, but it does beg the question: why does South America make so little impact in the minds of so many citizens of the USA? And what impact there is, why is it mostly negative? Language barrier? Cultural divide? Accepted bias? Need to villify "the Other" to justify "the Familiar"?
In teaching Latin American Studies in Metro Detroit, I did a pre-test to see what the typical seventeen or eighteen year old knew about Latin America (a broader construct than South America). It came down to drugs, food, music, dance and dictators -- a good snapshot of what they'd soaked up by osmosis from parents and TV. I'd like to think learning anything from this class was enriching, but who knows?
I look forward to seeing South of the Border with an open mind. How about you? In the last year -- even if you live in the region -- what has been your "take" on South America or Latin America? Where would you like to visit or live there?
Today's Rune: Partnership.
4 comments:
We better start paying attention to countries like Brazil.
ASK THE SAME QUESTIONS ABOUT CANADA. WE NORTH AMERICANS KNOW SO LITTLE ABOUT MOST COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD.
I would LOVE to go to various places in South & Central America...Peru (Nazca lines, etc.,) Costa Rica (birding capital of the world,) boating on the Amazon...
a lot has to do with our snobby attitude towards the rest of the world -- most kids know practically nothing about geography - especially latin america
i bet they know more about lindsay lohan
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