In the student’s video: “Independence Narratives, Past and Present”, the third story of independence revolving around nationhood caught my attention. The students defined this type of independence as “a separation intended to allow a country to operate without the influence of external governance”. This is a concept I have become familiar with, especially in terms of how Latin American nations perceive the role of the United States within their domestic affairs. The different tensions that this brings about have intrigued me personally, as they are by and large applicable to many post-colonial states throughout the world. For example, during Pablo Escobar’s career, there were many perspectives being pit against each other with regards to extradition and to what extent Columbia should depend on the United States. This same tension is relevant from the 19th century through the Cold War and all the way to the present. I liked how easygoing this video was but I feel as though it could’ve been more in-depth.

Another student video that I watched was “Brazilian Slavery and Abolition”. In this video it was mentioned that if the US confederate states were to lose the civil war, external demand on Brazil to end slavery would also amplify. From this, I couldn’t help but wonder to what extent have external pressures from other nations brought about social change in Latin American countries? I’ve learned a lot about internal revolutions and social shifts within these countries, but perhaps there are some more external factors too that I could learn more about? Either way, I really liked this video. The voice-over is confident, there is plenty of background information given, and the slides are nice and varied.

The third student video I watched was “Power to the People”. I really liked the use of old footage which kept the video fresh. The presenter did a great job of educating me on former president Vargas, Juan Perón, and their use of the media and propaganda to gain support. The use of music and footage flowed well with what the narrator was saying, which gives it a very professional look. The information was also easy to digest and by the end of the video I couldn’t help but want to learn more about Evita Perón. This is definitely one of the videos I liked most.

The fourth and final student video I watched was “A Revolutionary Process: The Cuban Revolution in the 1960s”. I really appreciated how the notes and highlights which were integral about the Cuban revolutionary process were jotted down in the video as it progressed. It makes for a more interactive and easy-to-follow viewing. Although I enjoyed this video, I found that the narration was a bit fast for me to process everything. The textbox which is blocking the left side of the footage at times could have also been integrated less jarringly, as after all, it is hindering some engaging footage.

In the end I enjoyed all 4 videos, but my favorites would certainly be “Power to the People” and “Brazilian Slavery and Abolition”. That being said, “Independence Narratives, Past and Present” gets credit for being so entertaining and confident.