Center for Latin American Studies (CLAS) at the University of Pittsburgh
UPCOMING EVENTS
Latin American Performance and Politics Series "Occupy the Imagination: Tales of Seduction and Resistance"
A film by Rodrigo Dorfman (Chilean filmmaker)
Thursday, October 9, 2014
6:30 p.m. (the screening will be followed by a discussion with the filmmaker)
Public Health Auditorium G23
For more information contact: Diana Shemenski at dms180@pitt.edu
Free and open to the public!
Sponsored by the Center for Latin America Studies, Department of Anthropology, Department of Communication, Department of Hispanic Language and Literature, Department of History of Art and Architecture, Department of Political Science, Department of Theatre Arts, Film Studies Program, Graduate Program for Cultural Studies, and the Humanities Center at the University of Pittsburgh.
Colloquium: Adulterated Realisms—Narrative Deformations in the Dictator-Novel of the South Atlantic
by
Magalí Armillas-Tiseyra (2014-2015 Early Career Fellow, Humanities Center, University of Pittsburgh)
Responses by Dan Balderston (Department of Hispanic Languages and Literatures) and John Walsh (Department of French and Italian).
Thursday, October 9, 2014
12:30 p.m.
602 Cathedral of Learning
For more information contact: Magalí Armillas-Tiseyra at magaliat@pitt.edu
Borges, Poeta Intelectual
by
Mireya Camurati (Professor Emerita, University at Buffalo)
Thursday, October 10, 2014
4:00 p.m.
501 Cathedral of Learning
(Part of the Department of Hispanic Languages and Literatures 50th Anniversary Celebration—for updates please visit: http://www.hispanic.pitt.edu/ )
The Revelance of Revolution: In Cuba in the 21st Century
by
Dr. Ernesto Domínguez López (History and Political Science Professor, University of Havana)
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
3911 Posvar Hall
12:00 p.m.-1:30 p.m.
For more information contact: Luz Amanda Hank at lavst12@pitt.edu
Dr. Domínguez López's lecture will address how Cuba – a country often accused of being frozen in time – has actually embraced innovation at home, particularly since the end of the Cold War. Whether developing sustainable agriculture, funding biomedical breakthroughs, embracing tourism, strengthening medical care in developing countries, or maintaining its social safety net despite numerous economic challenges, Cuba has continued to pursue an independent course in revolutionary ways. Not all may agree with Cuba's path, as Dr. Domínguez López acknowledges, and official U.S.-Cuban relations remain poor. Yet, he envisions areas in which our two countries can work together for positive change, particularly once the U.S. embargo of over fifty years is finally lifted.
Ernesto Domínguez López teaches history and political science at the University of Havana, where he specializes in U.S.-Cuban relations, Cuban foreign affairs, and U.S. politics. This is his second visit to the United States; in 2012, he was a guest scholar at Emory University, Georgia State University, and the Carter Center in Atlanta.
Pizza provided.
Sponsored by the Center for Latin American Studies, Department of Africana Studies, and Department of Political Science at the University of Pittsburgh
Guernica: The Making of a Painting
by
Mike Gonzalez (Professor Emeritus, University of Glasgow)
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
1:00 p.m.
Humanities Center
Room 602—Cathedral of Learning
(Part of the Department of Hispanic Languages and Literatures 50th Anniversary Celebration—for updates please visit: http://www.hispanic.pitt.edu/ )
Mike González is co-author of The Gathering of Voices (Verso, 1992), an important book on Latin American poetry, and author of books on Hugo Chávez, Karl Marx, Che Guevara and numerous others. He is also the co-editor of the Routledge Encyclopedia of Contemporary Latin American and Caribbean Cultures and Encyclopedia of Contemporary Latin American and Caribbean Literature.
Symposium on the Latin American "Pink Tide": Its Achievements, Its Failures, Its Legacy and the Ensuing Critiques
November 14, 2014 (9:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.)
and
November 15, 2014 (10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.)
Location: TBA
(Part of the Department of Hispanic Languages and Literatures 50th Anniversary Celebration—for updates please visit: http://www.hispanic.pitt.edu/ )
Participants:
Margarita López Maya. Venezuela. Center for Development Studies (CENDES), Universidad Central de Venezuela. Wilson Center Fellow (2013), Tinker Foundation Fellow, Columbia University (2005), and Andrés Bello Fellow, Oxford University (2000-2011).
Ricardo Forster. Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Head of the Office of Strategic Planning for National and Latin American Thought, recently created by President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner. Author of La anomalía argentina (Random House, 2010).
Mike Gonzalez. U.K. University of Glasgow. British historian and literary critic. Columnist for The Guardian. Author of Hugo Chavez: Socialist for the 21st Century (Pluto Press, 2014).
Pablo Stefanoni. Bolivia/Argentina. Independent economist and journalist, editor of Nueva Sociedad, one of the most important journals of social studies and policy from a left of center position in Latin America. Co-author, with Hervé do Alto, of La revolución de Evo Morales (2006).
Sergio Villalobos. Chile/U.S. University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. Author of Soboranías en suspenso. Imaginación y violencia en América Latina (2013).
John Beverley. U.S. University of Pittsburgh. Founder of the Latin American Subaltern Studies Group. Leading figure in U.S. Latin American Studies and postcolonial theory. His most recent book is Latinamericanism After 9/11.
Anibal Pérez Liñán. U.S. University of Pittsburgh. Author of Presidential Impeachment and the New Political Instability in Latin America (Cambridge University Press, 2007).
Paraguay y la Integración Asimétrica Latinoamericana
by
Luis A. Fretes (Past Ambassador of Paraguay to Portugal [2009-2014])
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Noon
4130 Posvar Hall
Luis A. Fretes Carreras is a past Ambassador of Paraguay to Portugal (2009-2014). He is a professor of Law and Political Science and was the Director of the Center for Public Policy at the Universidad Católica de Asunción. He teaches courses in Contemporary Political Science, Democratization, International Politics, and Latin American Studies. He is also associate professor at the Center for International Studies of Lisbon (CEI-ISCTE).
Presentation will be in Spanish.
Lunch will be provided.
For more information contact: Luz Amanda Hank at lavst12@pitt.edu
Sponsored by the Center for Latin American Studies and Department of Political Science at the University of Pittsburgh.
Conference: Cuba in Comparative Perspective
November 6 - November 8
Location: 3911 Posvar Hall
For more information contact: Diana Shemenski at dms180@pitt.edu
The Center for Latin American Studies (CLAS) at Pitt is hosting an international cross-disciplinary conference on "Cuba in Comparative Perspective," Nov 6-8, 2014. The conference will address a broad range of themes, ranging from reforms in economies and social welfare policies to Cuba's influence on leftist politics around the world, and their cultural changes and international influences. Thus, while some speakers will focus on Cuba specifically, others will focus on Eastern Europe, Latin American, or Asia. The program flyer is attached, and more information (including a list of speakers) is available at the website listed below.
http://www.ucis.pitt.edu/clas/cuba_conference
Sponsored by the Center for Latin American Studies, Global Studies Center (Global Academic Partnership), Graduate School Public and International Affairs, Department Hispanic Languages and Literature, Department of Political Science, and Center for International Studies at the University of Pittsburgh, in collaboration with the Cuba Study Group, Inc.
English Language Institute at the University of Pittsburgh
Latin American Studies Association—Award—Premios
LASA/OXFAM AMERICA
PREMIO MARTIN DISKIN DISSERTATION AWARD
Fecha límite: 15 de octubre de 2014
El premio Martin Diskin es posible gracias a la generosidad de Oxfam America, LASA y los miembros de LASA. Este premio se otorga en cada Congreso Internacional de LASA a académicos junior destacados por su compromiso con la creativa combinación de activismo y erudición que mantuvo el Profesor Diskin a lo largo de su carrera. El premio se otorgará a un estudiante avanzado o a un graduado reciente de Doctorado (Ph.D.). Todos los candidatos avanzados del Doctorado deben demostrar que terminarán su tesis antes del Congreso Internacional de LASA. LASA denomina graduados recientes de Doctorado sólo a aquellas personas que recibieron sus títulos después del último Congreso de LASA previo al congreso en el que se recibe el premio. LASA acepta tesis escritas en inglés, en español y en portugués. El Comité de Premiación aplicará tres criterios en sus evaluaciones: 1) Las credenciales académicas generales, según el curriculum vitae del candidato; 2) La calidad de la redacción, la investigación y el análisis de la tesis, evaluada a partir del resumen de contenidos y del capítulo presentado a modo de ejemplo; 3) La carta de recomendación del consejero principal. La definición de activismo académico deberá ser abierta y pluralista, a fin de que cada comité de selección realice su propio debate e interpretación.
Los postulantes deberán presentar un curriculum vitae actual; un resumen de la tesis de 250 palabras; el índice o tabla de contenidos; un capítulo de ejemplo, que sirva para demostrar su aproximación al activismo académico y una carta de recomendación del consejero principal del candidato que haga hincapié de manera explícita en las aptitudes del candidato para obtener el premio Martin Diskin.
El material de solicitud deberá enviarse en forma electrónica a <milagros@pitt.edu> y recibirse antes del 15 de octubre de 2014. El ganador del premio Martin Diskin recibirá una remuneración de USD 1.000. LASA invita a difundir ampliamente entre colegas y estudiantes esta convocatoria a nominaciones.
El comité de selección 2015 está formado por: Alberto Aldo Marchesi, Universidad de la República; Sara Z. Poggio, University of Maryland/Baltimore County; Stuart A. Day, University of Kansas; Susan Eckstein, OXFAM America.
http://lasa.international.pitt.edu/eng/awards/diskin_dissertation.asp
The Martin Diskin Dissertation Award is made possible through the generosity of Oxfam America, LASA, and LASA members. This award is offered at each LASA International Congress to an outstanding junior scholar who embodies Professor Diskin's commitment to the creative combination of activism and scholarship.
The award will be presented to an advanced doctoral student or recent Ph.D. All advanced Ph.D. candidates must demonstrate that they will complete their dissertation prior to the LASA International Congress. LASA limits recent Ph.D. recipients to those individuals who received their degrees after the LASA Congress prior to the one at which the award is to be received. LASA welcomes dissertations written in English, Spanish, or Portuguese.
The Award Committee will evaluate three criteria: (1) overall scholarly credentials, based upon the candidate's curriculum vitae; (2) the quality of the dissertation writing, research, and analysis as determined by the dissertation outline and sample chapter submitted; (3) the primary advisor's letter of recommendation. The definition of activist scholarship shall remain broad and pluralist, to be discussed and interpreted by each selection committee.
Applicants should submit a current curriculum vitae; a dissertation abstract of 250 words; the dissertation outline or table of contents; one sample chapter, which exemplifies the author's approach to activist scholarship; and a letter of recommendation from the candidate's primary advisor which focuses explicitly on the candidate's qualifications for the Martin Diskin Dissertation Award.
All application materials must be submitted electronically to <milagros@pitt.edu> and received by October 15, 2014. The Martin Diskin Dissertation Award recipient will receive a $1,000 stipend. LASA encourages wide distribution of this call for nominations to colleagues and students.
The 2015 selection committee consists of Alberto Aldo Marchesi, Universidad de la República; Sara Z. Poggio, University of Maryland/Baltimore County; Stuart A. Day, University of Kansas; and Susan Eckstein, OXFAM America.
BRASA announces the 2014-2015 Brazilian Initiation Scholarship
The Brazilian Initiation Scholarship (BIS) is a key component of BRASA's agenda to expand Brazilian Studies in the United States. BRASA invites applications from graduate and undergraduate students for a one-time $1,500 travel scholarship to do exploratory research in Brazil. This scholarship targets aspiring Brazilianists with relatively little or no experience in Brazil. It seeks to contribute to the student's initial trip (for a period from six weeks to three months), to heighten the student's interest in Brazil, and deepen his/her commitment to Brazilian studies in the United States. Students are encouraged to combine this scholarship with other grants or awards.
Eligibility: Proposals for the BIS will be reviewed according to the following criteria:
Highest priority will be given to applicants who are outstanding college seniors, recent college graduates applying to graduate programs in Brazilian studies or in Latin American studies with the intent of focusing on Brazil, or new graduate students already focusing on Brazil.
Students from all disciplines in the humanities and social sciences are eligible. In exceptional cases, applications from the natural sciences will be given consideration (for example, someone in environmental sciences who is writing a dissertation on the Amazon or pollution in São Paulo and who plans to continue research on Brazil).
Preference will be given to those applicants who have little or no in-country experience in Brazil. A student requesting funding to undertake an exploratory research trip should present evidence at the time of the application that he/she has achieved at least an intermediate level of competence in the Portuguese language sufficient to carry out the proposed research.
Successful applicants may combine BIS with other grants, scholarships, or awards, as long as he/she specifies clearly how the funds are going to be spent (for example, the BRASA scholarship might be used to cover travel costs, while a grant from another source could be used for living expenses, etc.). Applicants are required to be BRASA members at the time of submission.
Application Process: A complete application will include the following documents:
- The application cover page; http://www.brasa.org/
- Proof of BRASA membership,
- A two-page prospectus - which include your research agenda (double spaced, 12-point font);
- A two-page bibliography on the subject of study (list of references)
- A budget specifying how the $1500 will be spent;
- A two-page résumé or CV;
- Electronic copies of undergraduate and graduate transcripts;
- Evidence of Portuguese proficiency on intermediate level - (This can be demonstrated by a transcript or a letter from a university instructor of Portuguese);
- A letter of intent to study Brazil in graduate school, in the case of undergraduates or recent college graduates,
- Two letters of recommendation from professors;
NOTE:
- All documents must be submitted to brasa-illinois@illinois.edu. In the subject line of the email, please include the applicant full name and the sentence "BIS Application" (e.g. Mary Smith - BIS Application).
- Professors can email the letters of recommendation directly to BRASA at brasa-illinois@illinois.edu. In the subject line of the email, please include the applicant full name and the sentence "BIS 2014 Application" (e.g. Mary Smith - BIS Application).
- Partial applications or applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered.
Evaluation Criteria and Selection Process:
In order to be considered for the scholarship, the two-page prospectus should:
(1) Clearly and coherently outline the project's engagement with Brazil;
(2) Demonstrate as precisely as possible the feasibility of the proposed exploratory research project and how it will contribute to the student's academic development;
(3) Briefly discuss the role the work undertaken in Brazil will play in shaping the applicant's future course of academic study (for instance, it could be the seed project for a larger grant application, provide the basis of a paper prepared for presentation at a BRASA conference, or serve as the foundation for future research on Brazil).
Report: Upon completion of the research experience in Brazil, recipients are required to file a two-page, double-spaced report with the BRASA Executive Director summarizing their activities and identifying relevant academic outcomes. In addition, a statement accounting for the expenditure of funds must be sent to the BRASA Executive Director. Following completion of studies in Brazil, BRASA strongly encourages recipients to participate in a subsequent BRASA congress in order to report on their activities.
Deadline for application: November 15, 2014.
Awards will be announced by February 1st, 2015.
To submit a proposal and for all other correspondence regarding this award, contact, the BRASA Research assistants at brasa-illinois@illinois.edu
For Students:
Pitt Spanish Club
We are trying to move everyone over to the new Facebook group, which starting October 1 will be the only group we will be continue to update. We hope that everyone who is interested in keeping up to date with the Spanish activities will make their way over there. We'll try to give reminders as October 1 draws closer, so that everyone has a chance to add themselves.
To join the new group, go to: https://www.facebook.com/groups/632443356870926/
Brazil Nuts Portuguese Club: Bate Papo
Wednesday, September 10 (every Wednesday)
4:00 p.m.—5:00 p.m.
Fourth Floor William Pitt Union
https://www.facebook.com/groups/6726286884/
Description Bate-Papo is the Brazil Nuts' answer to the Spanish Club's weekly conversation tables, where students can practice their Portuguese and native speakers can enjoy a linguistic oasis of their mother tongue. Our weekly e-mail messages include possible themes for conversation. We don't always stay on topic! What we want most is for everyone to talk their hearts out, so stop by!
STUDY AT ABROAD—PITT PROGRAM
Hello students,
Interested in an alternative Spring Break program? Spend your week off on the sandy shores of the Dominican Republic all while studying 17th century buccaneering and the "golden age" of piracy in the 18th century. This 1-credit course explores the role of piracy in shaping the history of the DR and the Caribbean more broadly. You will consider what piracy meant to the individuals who practiced it, and the ways in which Caribbean piracy shaped and was shaped by the society from which it emerged. What did pirates stand to gain, and what did they stand to lose? What kind of threat did pirates represent? Why, and to whom? This historical perspective will facilitate your discussions of how piracy is remembered on the island today and how the image of the pirate is represented in popular culture. You will spend your week exploring three areas of the Dominican Republic: Santo Domingo, where you will take a tour of the city; Samaná where you will visit Los Haitises National Park, take a boat to Isla de los Pájaros (Island of the Birds) and explore two different caves; and finally, Montecristi, where you will take a guided boat tour with divers who have recovered items off a sunken Spanish ship.
Applications are due November 21, 2014. For more information on this program, please visit www.abroad.pitt.edu/piratesofthecaribbean or contact the Program Manager, Megan Horan, at mrh66@pitt.edu.
Megan Horan
Program Manager
Study Abroad Office
802 William Pitt Union
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
P: 412-648-2156 Emergency: 412-973-4688
Center for Latin American Studies (CLAS)
University Center for International Studies
University of Pittsburgh
4200 Wesley W. Posvar Hall
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
Office: 412-648-7392
Fax: 412-648-2199
clas@pitt.edu
