| Resources |
If you want to indulge yourself, I recommend the following materials:
The following sites are geared toward tourism, and will give you wonderful
tours, images, and information for all Latin American countries:
The rest of these links are more "official" with an incredible wealth of information on the politics, economics, etc., of all of Latin America. Unfortunately for many of you, much of the information is in Spanish, but even so, it is well worth the occasional browse!!
I also highly recommend the following sites on Brazil:Jorge Isaacs, by María. This book is a very romanticized view of life in colonial Colombia. Saccharine-sweet and hard to read for some!
The Kingdom of this World, by Alejo Carpentier. This is an excellent historical novel that tells the story of the successful slave revolt in Haiti.
Jacob and Esau, Posthumous Memoirs of Bras Cubas, and Epitaph of a Small Winner by Joaquim María Machado de Assís. Joaquim was truly one of the world's most brilliant novelists, but relatively little known in the U.S. since he was Brazilian and wrote in Portuguese.
Birds without a Nest, by Clorinda Matto de Turner (Peru). Few literary scholars would share Burns' enthusiasm for the literary quality of her work--however, she does depict the plight of the Indians.
El Indio, by Gregorio López y Fuentes (Mexico). This book is getting great reviews in amazon.com--I have not read the translation.
The Villagers: A Novel, by Jorge Icaza, (Huasipungo). A grim portrayal of exploitation of the poor, this novel was once required reading for Peace Corps volunteers.
Rebellion in the Backlands, by Euclides da Cunha (Brazil). This is a brilliant book--a masterpiece of New World literature that describes the government's quelling of the Canudos "rebellion."
The War of the End of the World, by Mario Vargas Llosa (Peru). This is a superb but lengthy novelized account of the Canudos rebellion.
Old Gringo, by Carlos Fuentes. This is a short, interesting novel.
The Death of Artemios Cruz, by Carlos Fuentes. This is a literary masterpiece, but quite complex and difficult.
This list of supplemental videos is a compilation of all the videos you will find throughout the fifteen weeks. I have grouped videos together under various topics which we encounter in the course. Here, you will find some ratings for each video based solely upon the summaries of the films provided by the catalog company.
Some of the following films may be available as local video rentals ("Missing," "The Old Gringo," and "Evita," for example). Some may be obtained from local educational institutions. If you wish to buy one, try http://www.amazon.com and http://www.reel.com. All of these videos are included for rent or purchase from http://www.facets.org.
Rating Scale: Poor, Fair, Good,
Excellent
(These ratings are based solely upon the summaries of the films provided by
the catalog company. For more information see facets.org
.)
Archeological Yucatan: Mexico
This film presents a travel-view of the incredible ruins of Chichen Itza, Tulum,
Uxmal and many other important Mayan sites. It also takes a look at the
city of Merida, Mexico.
ARCHEOLOGICAL DOCUMENTARY
Excellent
Argentina
The beautiful country of Argentina is explored in this documentary film which
examines the dynamic extremes which are found in the Glacier National Park,
the desert landscapes, the rocky coastline, and the tropical rain forest.
The life of the famous gaucho, Argentina’s cowboy, is also examined.
TOPOGRAPHIC/CULTURAL
DOCUMENTARY
Good
Barrocco
A visual and musical portrayal of the birth of Latin American identity through
African, Mayan, Aztec, and Spanish cultures.
MUSICAL/HISTORICAL
Good
Before the Incas
The exploration of Machu Picchu in this film reveals not only the lives of the
Inca people but also brings to light the evidence of even earlier cultures.
The lives of the Incas who conquered, occupied, absorbed and replaced those
who occupied the area before are examined.
HISTORICAL DOCUMENTARY
Good
Belize
The Museum of Modern Art of Latin America presents the general patterns of the
culture of Belize.
CULTURAL DOCUMENTARY
Good
Brazil: Heart of South America
This film presents a video tour of Brazil, which includes sites such as Bahia,
Rio de Janeiro, the Amazon, the Iguazu Falls, and São Paulo.
VIDEO DOCUMENTARY
Good
Cabeza de Vaca
Biography of Núñez Cabeza de Vaca, the sole survivor of a 16th-century
shipwreck off the coast of Florida who becomes part of the Iguase tribe.
HISTORICAL BIOGRAPHY
Excellent
Dateline: San Salvador
Film documentary by Dateline that records the march of 80,000 Salvadorans on
May 1, 1986, in protest of human rights violations.
HISTORICAL DOCUMENTARY
Good
Day of the Dead
This film presents the color and spectacle of the ceremonies and rituals associated
with “The Day of the Dead” in Mexico.
CULTURAL DOCUMENTARY
Excellent
Discovering the Music of Latin America
The role of classical, folk, and pre-Columbian instruments in Latin American
music is presented. The traditions of song and dance that have been initiated
by these instruments are explored as well.
CULTURAL DOCUMENTARY
Good
Dominican Republic, Cradle of the Americas
A documentary presenting the people, culture, and folk life of the Dominican
Republic. This film examines the history of the island which stems from
many influences including that of the pre-Hispanic Arawaks and Taino Indians
and the arrival of Columbus.
HISTORICAL DOCUMENTARY
Excellent
El Compadre Mendoza
The story of a landowner during the Mexican Revolution and his choice of remaining
loyal to Zapata or saving himself.
HISTORICAL DRAMA
Good
El Matador
The life of a young bullfighter, Miguel Espinosa Armillita, is presented via
narration by Ricardo Montalban. Insight into the traditions, culture,
and history of Mexico are provided.
HISTORICAL/CULTURAL
DRAMA
Good
El Norte
An independent American film that became a hit, the powerful story of a brother
and sister who must leave their oppressed country of Guatemala and make the
hazardous journey through Mexico to the U.S., only to find themselves living
as illegal aliens in Los Angeles.
CULTURAL DRAMA
Excellent
Evita
The much-anticipated, Golden Globe-winning film version of the hit musical starring
Antonio Banderas, Jonathan Pryce and Madonna as Evita. Music and lyrics
by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber.
MUSICAL DRAMA
Good
Evita: Her Real Story
This video provides film clips, produced footage, photographs and conversations
with historians and others to present the truth about Evita Peron.
HISTORICAL DOCUMENTARY
Excellent
Evita: The Woman Behind the Myth
This production is an A & E Biography containing rare photographs, films,
and accounts from close aides and bitter enemies of Eva Duarte de Peron.
HISTORICAL DOCUMENTARY
Excellent
Experience Ruta Maya
Drive along unpaved roads to Mayan ruins, scuba dive along a 150-mile reef and
enter a Mayan tomb. This footage transports the viewer back 3,000 years
to explore the culture of the Ruta Maya.
HISTORICAL/CULTURAL
DOCUMENTARY
Good
Festivals and Holidays in Latin America
This production takes a look at the religious and secular celebrations of the
many different cultures of Latin America.
CULTURAL DOCUMENTARY
Good
Guatemala, Land of Color
A look at the cultural and folk life aspects of one of the most colorful countries
in Central America. This documentary travels through the capital city
of Guatemala City, then travels into the jungle and back in time to the Mayan
ruins of Tikal. The last stop is in the ancient city of Antigua.
HISTORICAL DOCUMENTARY
Good
Guelaguetza
This cultural documentary observes the Mexican festival held in early July of
each year in Oaxaca, Mexico. This festival started out as a Zapotec tradition
in the early 16th century and has evolved into a spectacular mix of Zapotec
and Spanish cultural tradition.
HISTORICAL/CULTURAL
DOCUMENTARY
Good
Hispanics of Achievement Video Collection
This is a video set of biographies from a variety of important historical figures
from Central and South America who greatly contributed to their individual countries
and cultures. The biographies include César Chávez, Ferdinand
and Isabella, George Santayana, Hernán Cortés, Joan Baez, Juan
and Evita Perón, Pablo Neruda, Pancho Villa, Roberto Clemente, and Simón
Bolívar.
HISTORICAL BIOGRAPHY
Excellent
Honduras, A World into Itself
A look at the folk life and culture of Honduras, the cradle of the ancient Mayan
Empire.
CULTURAL DOCUMENTARY
Excellent
I the Worst of All
Film adaptation of book by Octavio Paz, Traps of Faith, that portrays
the life of Sor Juana de la Cruz, one of the first Latin American feminists
and an important literary figure in Mexican history.
LITERARY HISTORY
Excellent
Incas Remembered
An hour-long exploration of the Inca civilization.
HISTORICAL DOCUMENTARY
Excellent
The Island of Puerto Rico
The diverse regions and peoples of Puerto Rico are examined in this geographic
look at the island.
CULTURAL DOCUMENTARY
Good
La Antigua-Guatemala: An American Monument
A documentary on Antigua, the colonial capital of Guatemala.
HISTORICAL DOCUMENTARY
Excellent
La Conquista
This film portrays the events leading to Spain’s emergence as a superpower in
the late 15th century– the expulsion of the Moors, the invention of the printing
press, and the discovery of the New World. Two-part series.
HISTORICAL DOCUMENTARY
Excellent
Land of the Conquistadors
This program looks at the historical and social importance of the area of Spain
known as Extremadura, which was home to such Conquistadores as Cortez, Pizarro,
Balboa, and Hernando de Soto.
HISTORICAL DOCUMENTARY
Good
Latin American Historical Personalities
This program introduces the major Hispanic figures of Latin American history.
HISTORICAL DOCUMENTARY
Excellent
Latin American Trails: Guatemala
This documentary illustrates the history and music traditions, architecture,
art and theater of this exotic country where Mayan and other native cultures
have lived for many centuries.
HISTORICAL/CULTURAL
DOCUMENTARY
Good
The Legend of El Dorado
This film explores the myth and reality of the legend of gold in the New World
as viewed through the pre-Columbian treasures of the Bogota Gold Museum.
Pieces from the Sunu, Quimbay, and Musica tribes’ archaeological zones are featured.
HISTORICAL DOCUMENTARY
Good
The Maya Collection
This is a ten-volume collection which examines 35 sites of Mayan architecture.
The series includes Uxmal, Palenque, Chichen Itza, Yaxchilan, Tonina, Tulum,
Tikal, Copan, and Edzna.
HISTORICAL DOCUMENTARY
Excellent
A Mexican Colonial Tour
This travel documentary visits Mexico City, the Zócalo, the Zona Rosa,
the museums of Chapultepec, the cathedral and the Cuahnahuac Museum of Cuernavaca,
and the silver of Taxco.
TRAVEL/HISTORICAL
DOCUMENTARY
Good
Mexican People and Culture
This video presents an overview of the geography and historical development
of modern Mexico and Mexican-Americans, with a look at their origins and cultural
heritage.
CULTURAL/HISTORICAL
DOCUMENTARY
Good
Mexican Pre-Hispanic Cultures
This program makes emphasis of pre-Hispanic civilization, focusing specifically
on Teotihuacán, the Toltecs, the Aztecs, and the Mayas.
HISTORICAL DOCUMENTARY
Excellent
A Mexican Pyramid Tour
This film takes a look at the Pyramid of the Sun and the pyramids at Mitla,
including Monte Alban, Chichen Itza and Tulum. A final stop is made at
the Museum of Anthropology.
HISTORICAL DOCUMENTARY
Excellent
Mexican Youth Today
The concerns and attitudes of young Mexicans towards the fate of their country,
the ecology, their futures, goals and ambitions are presented in this film.
It includes student interviews, commentary from teachers, and images of the
school.
MODERN CULTURAL
DOCUMENTARY
Good
Mexico
This film presents an overview of Mexican culture which explores both indigenous
and Spanish highlights such as: bullfights, charros, the Ballet Folklórico,
historic sites and pre-Columbian ruins.
HISTORICAL/CULTURAL
DOCUMENTARY
Good
Mexico Before Cortez
The pre-Columbian peoples of Mexico are traced through artifacts, manuscripts,
sculpture, and architecture.
HISTORICAL DOCUMENTARY
Good
Mexico on Video
This video explores the richness of Mexico through its pre-Hispanic civilization,
the exuberance of mariachis and charros, the floating gardens at Xochimilco,
bullfights, the Folkloric Ballet, and murals from the Mexican artist Diego Rivera.
HISTORICAL/CULTURAL
DOCUMENTARY
Good
Missing
Jack Lemmon, Sissy Spacek and John Shea star in Costa-Gavras' political thriller
based on the true story of Charles Horman, an American writer who disappears
and is killed during the overthrow of Allende's government in Chile. Lemmon
is the concerned father whose attempts to learn the truth are stonewalled by
bureaucracy and cover-up. English dialog.
HISTORICAL DRAMA
Excellent
Mysteries of Peru
This two-tape video program examines two recurring mysteries of Peru.
Tape 1 discusses the question “Who drew the vast figures seen in the Peruvian
desert at Nazca, and why?" Tape 2 examines the question of “What
happened to the ancient civilization that created Peru’s vast and undeveloped
coastal canals?"
HISTORICAL DOCUMENTARY
Good
Old Gringo
This is a film adaptation of the famous novel by Carlos Fuentes. It is
a tale of romance and revolution set in Mexico during the time of Pancho Villa
and the Mexican Revolution. It stars Jane Fonda, Gregory Peck, and Jimmy
Smits.
HISTORICAL DRAMA
Excellent
Peru: Inca Heritage
The ruins of the proud Inca people form the backdrop for this historical/cultural
video.
HISTORICAL/CULTURAL
DOCUMENTARY
Good
Puerto Rico: History and Culture
This program, in addition to examining the history of Puerto Rico from the 15th
century to the present, provides examples of the wide variety of cultural and
artistic talent in Puerto Rico’s tradition.
HISTORICAL/CULTURAL
DOCUMENTARY
Good
The Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon
A documentary depicting the development of the pre-Columbian civilization of
the people of Teotihuacán and the Pyramids of the Sun and Moon.
HISTORICAL DOCUMENTARY
Good
Return of the Maya
The modern-day descendants of the Maya were forced into exile from contemporary
Guatemala. This program looks at how their settling of the ancient Mayan
city of Edzna, Mexico, is helping to uncover the glory of their heritage.
HISTORICAL/CULTURAL
DOCUMENTARY
Good
Roots of Rhythm
This is a video series of three tapes, hosted by Harry Belafonte to celebrate
the history of Latin music. Over 40 songs are performed by Gloria Estefan,
Dizzy Gillespie, Desi Arnaz, Celia Cruz, King Sunny Ade, Isaac Oviedo, Ruben
Blades and more.
HISTORICAL/CULTURAL
DOCUMENTARY
Good
Sentinels of Silence: The Ruins of Ancient Mexico
This documentary is filmed almost entirely from a helicopter, presenting spectacular
views of seven archaeological sites in Mexico: Teotihuacán, Mitla, Monte Alban,
Tulum, Palenque, Chichen Itza, and Uxmal.
HISTORICAL DOCUMENTARY
Good
The Sights and Sounds of South America
This tape presents the Hispanic colonial capitals and the sounds of Spanish
and indigenous voices with music.
HISTORICAL DOCUMENTARY
Fair
Simón Bolívar
This historical drama presents a key figure of South American history–Simón
Bolívar. He leads various groups of revolutionaries in a series
of fierce battles to proclaim his country’s freedom.
HISTORICAL DRAMA
Good
Stairway to the Mayan Gods
Joseph Campbell is the author of the narration for this journey to the ceremonial
center of the Mayan people of Central America and Mexico.
HISTORICAL DOCUMENTARY
Fair
Stairways to the Gods: On the Trail of the Jaguar
The recurrent symbol of the jaguar is followed through a number of archaeological
sites, beginning and ending at the Temple of the Great Jaguar in Tikal, Guatemala.
The jaguar’s multiple meanings are explained and the light it casts as a symbol
on the peoples of Central America.
HISTORICAL DOCUMENTARY
Fair
The Official Story
The portrayal of the Guerra Sucia or Dirty War of Argentina through the lives
of a middle-class Argentinian couple who suspect that their daughter is one
of the many kidnapped children who disappeared during this time.
HISTORICAL DRAMA
Excellent
This is Mexico
This program is a documentary of the ideological history of Mexico, representing
the ideologies from ancient times to the present. The rich contrast between
the ideologies and cultures of the indigenous people with those brought to Mexico
by Spain are examined.
HISTORICAL/CULTURAL
DOCUMENTARY
Good
Touring Mexico
This documentary journey through the geographical, climatic, and cultural extremes
of Mexico includes visits to Mexico City, the Yucatan, the classic Mayan civilization
of Uxmal, Chichen Itza, the city of Merida, the Olmecs of La Venta, the pyramid
of Tijan, and the mysteries of Monte Alban in Oaxaca. Also featured are
the City of the Gods at Teotihuacán, the colossi of Tula, and the Floating Gardens
of Xochimilco.
HISTORICAL, CULTURAL,
AND GEOGRAPHIC DOCUMENTARY
Good
Tree of Life
In this anthropological documentary, the Voladar ritual as performed by the
Totonac Indians of Huehuetla, Mexico, brings alive the mythic dimensions of
ritual communal celebration. This ritual is perhaps the oldest surviving
dance in the Western Hemisphere, dating as far back as 500 A.D. Flute
and drum music as well as 15th-century Nahuatl poetry are provided as well.
HISTORICAL/CULTURAL
DOCUMENTARY
Good
Vámonos con Pancho Villa
The dramatization of a group of friends who join forces with Pancho Villa.
The disillusionment, stagnation, and corruption which followed the Mexican Revolution
are presented in this pseudo-historic drama.
HISTORICAL DRAMA
Excellent
Video Visits: Argentina, Land of Natural Wonder
This film will allow the viewer to explore Patagonia, Glacier National Park,
the Perito Moreno Glacier, the resort towns of San Martin and Bariloche, the
Arrayanes Forest and the jungles and rainforests of the Misiones Province.
The legacy of the gaucho is presented on this video trip to Argentina.
HISTORICAL/GEOGRAPHICAL
DOCUMENTARY
Fair
Video Visits: Costa Rica, The Land of Pure Life
This topographical documentary explores the ruins of Costa Rica’s pre-Columbian
past, and the Pacific Coast beaches that first attracted Spanish settlers.
HISTORICAL/GEOGRAPHICAL
DOCUMENTARY
Fair
Video Visits: Cuba, Island of Dreams
Similar in scope to Video Visits: Costa Rica, The Land of Pure Life, this topographical
documentary portrays the rugged mountains, beautiful beaches and historic sites
in Havana, Trinidad, and Santiago. Cuba has drawn adventurers including
Christopher Columbus, Ernest Hemingway, and Al Capone.
HISTORICAL/GEOGRAPHICAL
DOCUMENTARY
Fair
Video Visits: Peru, A Golden Treasure
This video journey takes the viewer to the colonial mansions, the beaches, and
the Gold Museum of Lima, the oceanside resort of Las Dunas, “the City of Kings,”
the Nazca mines, and the legacy of the Incas in Cuzco.
HISTORICAL/GEOGRAPHICAL
DOCUMENTARY
Fair
Zócalo— The Heart of Mexico
This video presents a 24-hour shot of the frantic life of Zócalo, Mexico
City’s central plaza, that mirrors the people, their culture, social life, and
attitudes.
GEOGRAPHICAL/CULTURAL
DOCUMENTARY
Fair
Below are resources you might find helpful in your studies.