Ending on a happy note – week 13
As we’ve discussed in class, it’s important to not always “end on a heavy note.” Though it has proven difficult in the context of our classroom discussions in LAST 100, there are, in fact, many positive vibrant dynamic events people movements happening in Latin America. To focus entirely on the negative conflict-riddenness or violent aspects of Latin America is to only tell one story about such a vast and diverse continent and its peoples. Further, this single story of damage threatens to make invisible the actual lives of Latin Americans, who have their own celebrations, festivals and everyday happinesses.
In reflecting on this course, it is important to keep this in mind. Oftentimes, the narratives of Latin America have been dictated by western media and western power figures, downtrodding on the agency of Latin Americans to define themselves autonomously and in their own way. I would challenge students of LAST 100 to engage in local media and artists to delve deeper into the Latin American identity, while engaging in efforts to decolonize the image of Latin America as it is projected to the world.
Hi Jacob! Thank you for writing such a positive review on Latin America! I agree with you that after everything we have learned over the past four months, it is sometimes hard to remember that Latin America is more than just a region fraught with trauma; it is a place where people keep fighting and always find ways to make life a little lighter. I really wish the world could see that someday.
I completely agree with your point about it is important not to only focus on the negative aspects of Latin America. Furthermore, it is important to keep in mind the role of the West in not only dictating the narrative through mainstream media, but also its part in creating the narrative through its direct influence within Latin American affairs, often doing more harm than good.