WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED ABOUT THE SOCIAL REALM OF LIFE IN LATIN AMERICA?
Post your response in two well-developed paragraphs. Include at least two quotes from class sources and one quote from an out-of-class source in your response. Please include your name(s) in the body of the post and be sure to comment on other posts as required by your teacher. In-text citations (internal references) and a works cited (same page and post) should also be included. Mr. Macy’s students should identify one writing standard of focus associated with each posting.
STUDENTS IN CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA: Thanks for joining our conversation! Please feel free to provide any thoughts you have about this theme. We would love to hear about your real-life experiences. Please also feel free to comment on our postings. Postings in any language are welcome!
Katrina Lake
ReplyDeleteMs. Bloom
Period 5
Although during the 19th century, many places around the world were boosting their improving social statuses, many fell short. This is true for Central and South America as well. Mexico has been cited as the “country of inequality” where a “fearful difference in the distribution of fortune, civilization . . . and population” reside (fordham.edu-Humboldt). This source is from Alexander Von Humboldt. He was an outsider from Germany to Mexico whose opinion was highly valued because of his non-Spanish background--his comments are deemed trustworthy. Because of his “outsider” outlook, Humboldt can be deemed a credible source without a bias. He wrote this description during the 1800s to reveal to the world just how miserable the conditions were during this time. This social theme is exemplified in this article when considering the extremely low treatment of the Indians in Mexico. His descriptions of the social atmosphere are correct in backing up what our textbook has to say. The extreme detail put into the “caste systems” of Mexico are supported in this article by the textbook, although this article has more information from a first-hand source.
Another source that confirms the social aspects occurring in Latin America in the 19th century is Argentina by a woman named Maria Eugenia Echenique, an Argentine feminist. Women during this time period were for the most part looked down on as inferior. Their status in society was a small improvement from where it had been, and the were often “. . .reduced only to procreation. . .” with “. . .maternity as the only mission of women on earth. . .”, which had been the view of women in the past (wsu.edu-Echenique). The textbook does not go into as much detail of first-hand experiences and passions of women fighting for their emancipation and aspirations for equality. However, as this passage was written by a female feminist who was eager for equality, the point of view is biased towards women.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteMegan V.
ReplyDeleteMs. Bloom
pr. 1
Picture-Columbia Epifanio Garay-in this picture it shows that women's status in society was still low and that they were treated as if they were rights rather then privileges. Women could not vote or hold public office. They were to work in the house and educate the children. They were still looked down upon by men. "Most ideas about what women should and shouldn't do came from the minds of men's minds" (www.frentesavanzadosdelahistoria.com). This was written by Maria Martinez. Maria Martinez was a feminist writer who wrote about the status of women in the 1840s. This famous female historian wrote many diaries about the social expectations of women in the 1830s. So even though this statement is biased our text book supports this. With in the text book it tells us that "women could not vote, hold political office or testify in court of law"
"Social hierarchy was based on birth," (http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?ParagraphID=nmq) Spaniards born in Iberian peninsula came first followed by the Creoles. After the Creoles came the Mestizos. The social hierarchy listed in this article matches and supports the one in the text book and the point of is trustworthy because it came for accurate history site.
Ap world Per 1: Laura Galloway
ReplyDeleteWomen in Latin America During the Early modern Era were very oppressed. It was very unlikely that women were involved in political matters. They were not allowed to vote and they were supposed to follow rules that kept them proper and formal in the view of the natives. Men saw women as prizes or possession rather than as an actual person, the painting by Chile Alfredo Valenzuela shows a man standing over a women draping her in a veil she is kneeling and he is standing above her representing how men we above women.
When the Europeans conquered Latin America, women were freed in a way because they were able to be a little less proper and some actually joined in on the fighting. “The wars of Independence allowed women an unexpected outlet for the expression of vigorous sentiments that had been tamed by propriety.” (Larvin: Spanish American Women). However, once the Spanish had truly taken over native women were reduced to slaves thereby becoming even more oppressed.
Latin America Social Theme
ReplyDeleteMegan Morrato
The French Revolution shook the foundations of the world. Other societies began following in France’s revolutionary footsteps towards equal opportunities, rights (expression, religion, etc.), democracy, and nationalism. During a time of social turmoil, Latin America was inspired by European revolutions and Enlightenment ideas to overturn their oppressive motherlands. By the mid-1820’s, revolts created many newly-independent Latin American countries. However, without the watchful eye of wealthy, powerful countries, many newly-independent Latin American countries struggled with poverty and disorganization. The civil wars disrupted trade revenue and ruined cities and country sides, sending Latin America into a vicious cycle of debt. Geographic barriers, feuds among leaders, and an imbedded social hierarchy made it nearly impossible for Latin American countries to unite, despite efforts by people such as Simon Bolivar who wrote a Bolivian Constitution (1826) to warn legislators that “tyranny and anarchy form a vast ocean of oppression surrounding a tiny island of freedom” (Source A). Bolivar recognized the difficulty in building a free nation but stressed the importance of unity. However, Latin America was unable to unify and was instead controlled by the Caudillos, mid-19th century dictators who implemented military authoritarianism to overthrow governments and strip the citizens of basic human rights.
While social reform took hold in Latin America, tradition did not disappear. As Antonio Goncalves Dias illustrated in “The Song of Exile”, the beauty of his homeland and “the delights found only there” were irreplaceable (Source B). European powers could take control of the governments, oppress the people, and destroy the independence of countries for years, but no European nation could rob Latin America of its vivid heritage, “fields more full of flowers, . . . and woods more full of life” (Source B). However, because Dias is of Latin American heritage, his point of view his skewed; he marveled in the beauty of the culture while a European may have focused on the benefits of Western innovation. During times of reform, embracing the past and moving towards a successful future are equally important.
Sources:
(Source A) Simon Bolivar’s Writings-The Bolivian Constitution
http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=103542492
(Source B) Antonio Goncalves Dias’ Poem “The Song of Exile”
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-song-of-exile/
Although women in Latin America during the time of the Spanish Revolution were oppressed one lady stood out and spoke about the war and became a famous historian."Maria Montinez wrote a historical opus" which was very unusual during this period of time (Spanish American Women). "It was a world dominated largely by a masculinist logic and masculine constructions" (Spanish American Women). Women weren’t involved in politics or writing like Maria Montinez was. If the women were educated they would stay home and teach their children to become literate and how to learn. During the war some women were allowed to be with the men on the field or be "spies for troops" but some men felt that their masculinity was being down graded with a women beside them in war (Spanish American Women). Women were eventually gaining more and more rights as they fought for citizenship and education helped as a base for their own uprising. Even though women still had few rights they were starting to be educated and started gaining more rights during the war for independence.
ReplyDeleteSource: Asuncion, Larvin. Spanish American Women 1790-1850: The challenge of remembering; Hispanic Research Journal, Vol. 7. 1 March 2006. Web.15 March 2011
http://www.frentesavanzadosdelahistoria.com/pdfs/
spnish_american_women_1790_1850.pdf
Feminist ideas spread from Britain, to Europe, and also to the United States. Women were overall receiving more rights due to excessive amount of writing written by women. "Feminist ideas were fueled by major social, intellectual, political, economic and cultural transformations in Europe and North America" (Social movements of feminists). Women began running off to work instead of staying home to take care of the children. The industrial revolution helped the feminists and women as a whole because as more and more factories were being built women obtained more jobs. Along with the industrial revolution women were inspired to stand up for their rights by the French and American Revolution. One inspiration to all feminists was Mary Wollstonecraft who "argued that the inequalities that marked women’s lives could be erased by equal access to education" (feminist movements). She "advocated the equality of the sexes" and inspired many women to stand up for their rights (feminist movements). Overall the revolutions and the 19th century helped women gain more rights than before and feel a little more confident about themselves.
Source:Hewitt, Nancy. Revised by: Sklar, Kathryn. What British and European Ideas and Social Movements.L'Illustration, Journal Universel, 4-8 July 1848, p. 276.Web.15 March 2011
http://womhist.alexanderstreet.com/awrm/intro.htm
Jennifer B. Bloom 1st period: Social
ReplyDeleteBolivar wrote his “Jamaica Letter” while in exile in the year 1815. He discusses his desire for freedom from Spain’s rule and giving the natives hope for a better future with justice. “We are still in a position lower than slavery”(Bolivar). This statement allows us to see how badly the natives of many Latin American countries were treated by the Europeans. This reiterates the idea in our textbook that the Europeans would always place themselves at the top of the social hierarchy, with mixed races in the middle, and the natives as slaves at the very bottom. He expresses the feelings of the lower class because they are treated the worst and want the most change. The natives feel deprived of freedom and an active tyranny and want to rule themselves. Bolivar is a native and has experienced the effects of the enslavement of the natives so his point of view is very realistic and valid but also a little biased because he does not see it through the European’s eyes; he just sees it through his own.
Bolivar’s “Jamaica Letter” (1815) in the APWH textbook pages 588-589
Francisco Garcia Calderón is a Peruvian diplomat who wrote, Latin America: It’s Rise and Progress, to criticize the U.S. policy and argue that the U.S. exploited Latin America. “Have reduced the people to a new slavery” (Calderón). Here he reemphasized Bolivar’s argument and our textbook’s argument, which both say that the natives were moved to the bottom of the social hierarchy and forced to become slaves. He also writes, “the plebian brutality, the excessive optimism, the violent individualism of the [North American] people” and “the undisciplined force or the violence that ignores moral laws” (Calderón). Both of these statements reveal the brutal violence that the natives experienced as the United States and Europe were colonizing Latin America. Socially, Latin America was corrupt; the colonizers selfishly and immediately positioned themselves at the top and became brutal and controlling against the natives. Calderón’s opinion is a little bias because he is a Peruvian diplomat so he is from Latin America; however, he reveals the cruel realities of this colonization that everyone should see.
From Francisco Garcia Calderón: Latin America: Its Rise and Progress (London: T. F. Unwin, 1913), pp.392-393.
Rebekah R.
ReplyDeletePeriod 1
In Cristobal Rojas’ painting “The Death of Barbula Girardot”, Rojas conveys a war scene and the death of Girardot in Barbula as the title indicates. From Venezuela, Rojas grew up during times of internal war. The painting reveals the social problems and strife caused by wars. This supports what we have learned because the Latin Americans failed to unite the region and social damage resulted. Because Rojas grew up during civil wars, his viewpoint is more anti war, however he is credible because he was in fact there, experiencing it first hand.
Simón de Bolívar, a major political leader in this era, analyzes politics and social structure in Latin America in his “Message to the Congress of Angostura.” Bolivar states that Latin Americans “are not Europeans; [they] are not Indians; [they] are but a mixed species of aborigines and Spaniards.” While Bolivar recognized this, he still attempted to unite Latin America. however, unable to unite the diverse regions due to geographical barriers and social conflicts themselves, his efforts failed and civil wars persisted. Bolivar’s point of view is favored toward unification, but it is credible because he was the person leading many unification efforts.
Link to painting: http://encontrarte.aporrea.org/imagenes/129/cristobal_rojas_01.jpg
Cori G.
ReplyDeleteBloom
Period 1
In the 1800’s a new movement began and that was the feminist movement. This movement emerged in Europe and the United States. However, in Latin America women weren’t experiencing many newfound freedoms like those elsewhere. Women were “seldom seen out of doors…and it [was] their privilege to be waited upon” (Hahner). That is unless they were lower class women. Lower class women enjoyed more freedoms but they were still limited. The only freedom they actually had was being able to take part in the markets. Elite women, however, were even rejected the right to deciding who they marry. Many women were shoved into marriage at the early age of thirteen. Women in general we confined to homes and were only good for household duties. Overall, women were subordinate to men and that was only demonstrated by the fact that they “had to submit to [their] husband’s authority” (Hahner). However, the facts in this book could be bias due to the fact that the author is a woman.
Valenzuela’s painting Merchant’s Pearl clearly depicts the position of women in comparison to men. However, the painting does not portray women to be denied of many rights. The artist actually portrays the woman in an almost graceful manner which distracts from the fact that she must give into the man’s demands, which is part of the artist’s bias. This painting also shows how women were used as sex slaves to satisfy the men. You can see in this painting that the woman has some reluctance but knows that she must satisfy him because the laws don’t advocate for women’s rights. Overall, women were subordinate to men in every aspect of their life and had nothing they could do about it because of all the surrounding pressures.
Valenzuela, Alfredo. Merchant’s Pearl . Chile. 1856-1909.
Hahner, June Edith. Emancipating the Female Sex: The Struggle for Women’s Rights in Brazil, 1850-1940. United States: Duke University Press, 1990. Print.
Social:
ReplyDeleteTrenton Tosetti Bloom 5th Period
Latin America had many problems socially. The biggest was an old one; a small upper class and a huge poor class who was being oppressed by this upper class. However a new sort of class was emerging. The Creoles (Native and European descent), were becoming one of the richest and most powerful class during this time period. They called themselves the Caudillos and they started taking control of many regions. Domingo F. Sarmiento stated in his work Life in the Argentine, “…a caudillo leader, of a country over the cities throughout the land; and by their subjugation in spirit, government, and the civilization…” This quote shows that the Caudillos were stepping and controlling all of the masses right’s and gave them none.
This primary source was really helpful. It showed me how the masses were used by the Caudillos to have a revolution and then oppressed by the very same people that drafted them to fight in a war for freedom. I think it reinforces the information in the text book because it shows that Latin America was a huge mess during the Modern Era. The oppressed became the oppressors and the cycle would just repeat itself. The author is obviously not a fan of the Caudillos so the source will try to demonize them as much as possibly to sway your opinion against them.
Commet: Trenton Tosetti
ReplyDeleteI really like Rebekah's painting as a primary source. It was really unique and it enhanced her paragraphs. I agree with what she said about Simon bolivar. Way to go Rebekah.
Social
ReplyDeleteErik D
The revolutions of Latin America were not just a reform of government; they were social reforms as well. According to the letter by Domingo Sarmiento, the reforms were of “ books, ideas, municipal spirit, courts, laws, statues, educations, all points of contact and union… entered into the revolution with enthusiasm.” All these aspects of social life were thrown into the revolution to be changed to be the peoples, not Europe’s. This letter confirms what is written in our text book, and is biased towards the Latin Americans, telling how they fight for their freedom, rather than the European point of view.
Source: Domingo F. Sarmiento, Life in the Argentine, textbook page 589
Women have usually been treated badly in the history of Human civilization. In colonial Latin America, it was not different. The revolutions that freed Latin America from the oppressive Europeans changed that. “The wars of Independence allowed women an unexpected outlet for the expression of vigorous sentiments that had been tamed by propriety.” Women suddenly had roles in social life because the Europeans were not there to enforce their social status upon them. This gave both elite women and common women the chance to do something in society. Our textbook confirms this, and this article is biased towards Latin Americans, pointing out the European flaws.
Source: Lavrin, Asunción. "Women in Spanish American colonial society." Colonial Latin America. Ed. Leslie Bethell. Cambridge University Press, 1984. Cambridge Histories Online. Cambridge University Press. 16 March 2011 DOI:10.1017/CHOL9780521245166.010
Zita Wendler
ReplyDeleteBloom
Period 1
Although Latin America was undergoing many new developments due to their civil wars and invasions, etc., nothing new, let alone better, became of their treatment of women. "It was a world dominated largely by masculinist logic..." as stated in The Challenge of Remembering by Asuncion Lavrin. When attention was brought towards women in the era, it was for their education and economic potential as workers. This, however, wasn't necessarily for the women's benefit; the Caudillos and other political figures requested this in order to have a more stable life at home for families. By insuring a "more secure and stable" home life, the government would not have to deal with as many impoverished families, especially if a male head of house were absent.
Through all of the turmoil caused by the civil war however, feminism began to take root in Latin America. With the spread of literacy, women became more educated and therefore had a better understanding of politics and how to gain rights and such. The document titled Emergence of Feminism in the Atlantic World stated "Feminists used Enlightenment ideas to emphasize women’s basic humanity and equality with men." With the sudden influx of revolutionary ideas such as Enlightenment thinking, women became empowered to think for themselves and fight for political rights for themselves. These ideas inspired women of this era to fight for a better social standing than they had been under by the caudillos, therefore was significant in the Latin Americans' revolt against invaders.
Erin Dobey
ReplyDeletePeriod 3
Although political and economic factors were important focal points to Latin America, the social aspects were in addition. Many different groups advocated equal rights, one of them being the Creoles of Latin America. Simon Bolivar, a Creole officer, stated in "the Message to the Congress of Angostura," in 1819, that they had "been placed in a state lower than slavery" (Message to the Congress of Angostura)while the Europeans were simply inserting them at the top of the social hierarchy, while mixed races were placed in the middle. The Creoles were "not Europeans or Indians; [they] [were] but a mixed species of aborigines and Spaniards" (Message to the Congress of Angostura) demonstrating how the social theme of this area was one of dissatisfaction. This reinforces ideas in our textbook because of how they emphasize this period was filled with social turmoil. However this does only represent the view of the natives, lacking the view of the Europeans who probably felt it was necessary to be a part of the aristocratic class.
Women were another group that were deprived of basic rights and promoted equality as well as the right to vote for quite some time. Although they were still subordinate to men, they encountered an "expansion of literacy" that "created greater and more equal access to knowledge among middle-class and working class-people" (Social Movements of Feminists). Even though they were progressing in their ranks, women were still objectified, as demonstrated in Alfredo Venezuela of Chile's painting (Merchant Pearl). This piece of artwork, which was painted in the second half of the 1800's, exemplifies how women were seen as inferior to men, a quality that would carry on for years to come. However this portrait doesn't show the progress women were taking to gain access to education and more rights, reinforcing only some of the information from our textbook. It also demonstrates a biased view because it is from a male's perspective, distorting the beneficial factors that women gained socially.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteAlthough in the 19th century new ideas came along to improve citizen’s social status, women gained little ground. Women had very few rights “to express themselves in writing or politics” (frentesavanzado). Once they got married, they could not work and were expected to be wives and mothers. Some women ignored this assumption and went into the military or political life. One women named Maria Martinez de Nisser wrote a book in 1840 describing her life. “She was an educated married women who recreated the experience of the women living during the wars of independence” (frentesavanzado). Her fighting in the Civil War in Antioquia is a perfect example to show that women still did break out of the boundaries society gave them. This information is supported in our textbook. The text book shares more information on women’s exact restraints and freedom while the article just tells stories of women who broke out of the boundaries. This article was written by Arizona State University so there is not a strong point of view, the article’s purpose is to provide information on women in Latin America. However, the story described was written by Maria Martinez de Nisser, who had a strong point of view towards women’s equality and rights.
ReplyDeleteAlso in Latin America, there were three distinct divisions. It was “composed of three classes of men; whites, Indians, and castes” (faculty.chass #34). The main amount of wealth and property fell into the hands of the whites, even though they only made up 1/10 of the population. The Indians and the castes labor for the people who have a better social status. This source was written by Alexander Von Humboldt, who explored New Spain in 1803. In this article, his point of view is leading more towards the mistreatment of Indians and castes. He describes the tasks and discrimination that were placed on the Indians and castes. This article agrees with the information found in our textbook, but is more descriptive and informative. Also, our textbook is not a primary source so information from the article has a more distinct point of view.
Hjalte Durocher
ReplyDeleteBloom Pd. 1
Latin America in the early nineteenth century was like an unraveling cloth, its lopsided sections delineated along faded lines of color. “Mexico is the country of inequality,” wrote the German Alexander von Humboldt upon his visit there circa 1800: “no where does there exist such a fearful difference in the distribution of fortune, civilization, cultivation of the soil, and population” as in Mexico. As a foreigner in Spanish territory, von Humboldt provides a point of view that is less biased towards the Spanish colonies than many others. People of European origin, occupying the top rungs of the society, were “divided into whites born in Europe, and descendants of Europeans born in the Spanish colonies of America …. The government, suspicious of the Creoles, bestow[ed] the great places exclusively on the natives of Old Spain.” Typically, the people of blurred ethnicity made up the bulk of the population and enjoyed few social benefits or rights. Natives and, in states such as Brazil where slavery was still prevalent, black Africans were hardly considered “rational beings” and were all but socially marginalized.
However, as Latin America progressed onwards into the later decades of the nineteenth century, enlightenment ideals began to dismantle the color boundaries. “It is a farce to call any being virtuous whose virtues do not result from the exercise of its own reason. This was Rousseau's opinion respecting men: I extend it to women,” said Mary Wollstonecraft in her 1792 book “Vindication of the Rights of Woman.” A very early feminist, Wollstonecraft was already embodying enlightenment principles in her arguments as they was just sweeping across Europe and the United States. These same principles towards which Wollstonecraft and later intellectuals become heavily biased towards, had devastating effects resulting in violent revolution and political division as they percolated into Latin society later on.
http://womhist.alexanderstreet.com/awrm/doc1.htm
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1800humboldt-mexico.html
“Women had little incentive to express themselves in writing and even less to participate in events of a political nature. Thus, the writing of historical accounts by women was a most unlikely endeavour.” Although every culture and civilization had moments of oppression of women, I think it is truely unfortunate men feel the necessity to overpower women. Women provide different outlooks and perspectives on situations which are not always bad. Maria Martinez Nisser was one of the few women strong and brave enough to stand up against the crowd. She was a very inspirational historical author and inspired many women to join the fight against the oppression of women. Women in Latin America were treated harshly without any respect. Men looked down to them as if they were property or animal, unable to make their own decisions. Eventually women gained the right to have an education which started the reform for more rights, freedom and respect to women.
ReplyDeleteIn the artwork and paintings displayed in Mrs. Bloom's powerpoint, all of the women are shown as weak, dependent women. The naked women on her knees in front of the man is clearly suggesting women are used for not much more besides pleasure and small duties. The men are shown as powerful, dominent and authoritative. The men display not respect towards women and I think its unfortunate men feel the necessity to obtain all the power.
Works Cited:
Mrs. Bloom's art powerpoint
Lavrin, Asuncion. "Spanish American Women, 1790-1850: The Challenge of Remembering." Arizona State University. Hispanic Research Journal, Mar. 2006. Web. 16 Mar. 2011.
Emilia T
ReplyDeleteperiod 1
Before attempts at revolution, Latin America had many social issues that were introduced by colonization. Included in these would be an uneven social hierarchy and discrimination based on gender and race. One of the most dominant issues was that of women’s equality, based in a society “dominated largely by a masculinity logic and masculine constructions" (Larvin). However, due to the revolutionary battles and the War for Independence, women were able to prove themselves in battle and caring for injured. This began the changing of ideas and the evolvement of independence resulted in changes for the oppressed gender; including a “less rigid approach to gender relations and the beginnings of the elaboration of a new code of republican conduct” (Larvin).
The other main social issue addressed by Simon Bolivar was that of slavery and the desire to grant “absolute freedom for the slaves who have groaned under the Spanish
yoke during the three previous centuries” (Bolivar). His argument that “the Republic needs the services of all her children” inspired the Decree for the Emancipation of the Slaves, in hopes to gain the support of the oppressed majority in his fight for sovereignty. Without the support of the oppressed people, a revolution would be fruitless.
Asuncion, Larvin. Spanish American Women 1790-1850: The challenge of remembering; Hispanic Research Journal, Vol. 7. 1 March 2006. Web.16 March 2011
http://www.frentesavanzadosdelahistoria.com/pdfs/
spnish_american_women_1790_1850.pdf
Simon Bolivar’s Writings-Decree for the Emancipation of the Slaves http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=103542492
Taylor R. and Konnor P.
ReplyDeleteMr. Macy - Period 6
The social realm of life in Latin America is based off their creative imagination and outside influences in the literature world. In both stories Gabriel Marquez demonstrates great examples of his influences through other literary texts from Kafka and those of Dante Alighieri. In Eva is Inside Her Cat, Marquez points out little hints from ordinary life as referred to in this, “Everything was hostile to her within the four walls of her room,” (Marquez). This small statement is an example of modernism. Franz Kafka could be considered and actually might have had an influence of Gabriel. In Kafka’s’ writing of The Metamorphosis, he talks about descriptive settings and times. One example of this would be the whole passage about the clock, ticking and ticking throughout the book. Kafka writes, “He looked over at the alarm clock ticking away by the chest of drawers,” (Kafka). These very simple and covert sentences make up the details in ordinary life and help the reader depict the setting.
Dante also proved to have a very influential role on Marquez’s works. In Eva is Inside Her Cat, he talks about how once Eva thinks that her insomnia and disease has gone away she realizes she has been transferred into a different world or impenetrable fog. He states that she could possibly be in limbo through this quote, “Her anguish grew from her concentration as she saw herself sunken in that thick impenetrable fog; could she be in Limbo?” (Marquez). Limbo, as well as foggy depictions, was ideas that Dante created in his Inferno. As it is shown, these influences upon Marquez have lead to the creation of what is now called “Magical Realism” which is a style of writing formally known to Latin America.
Writing Standard: Topic Development 28
Works Cited
Kafka, Franz, and A. L. Lloyd. Metamorphosis. [New York]: Vanguard, 1946. Print.
Eva is Inside Her Cat by Gabriel Marquez
Kelsey Gallegos
ReplyDeleteMrs. Bloom
Period 3
Latin America during this century was very socially unstable. Most of Latin America had a very defined patriarch and confined women to their homes. Women were expected to stay home and work with the kids everyday. Some women did have the courage to stand up for rights, but their efforts were futile. At this time in Latin America women had not obtained the right to vote and did not have the right to hold public office. They did make tremendous strides towards education at this time, becoming teachers and some even went to school but much of the curriculum was focused on reinstating long-established roles in society. Gonzalez Vigil, Fernandez de lizard, and Rodriquez pero write, ““Educated women would make their homes centre’s of rational happiness and comfort for their husbands and children. ” Women however, were not the only ones in Latin America that were mistreated. The Indians were treated just as unfairly. Jose Marti wrote, “These men born in America who are ashamed of the mother that raised them because she wears an Indian apron..”Although, the society was growing and evolving the old discrimination did not die easily. Some Indians did reach political leadership, but most did not have the opportunities to go that far.
Through the struggle for independence came a lot of problems within the society. Despite the growing economy too many of Latin American residents were struggling through poverty. There were many problems with the educational system. In Brazil, the old ways of slavery were still being practiced due to the outsiders need for Latin American goods. The population at this time also increased dramatically.
Emilee Greager
ReplyDeleteBloom
Period 1
Latin America during this time period was struggling with many problems including the emancipation of women. This social aspect is important in the history of Latin America and for instilling the overall success of a country. Female suppression was common and overlooked until the uprisings spurred by Enlightenment ideals and rebellions. Women were objectified and men were imagined as eternally superior, as conveyed in Valenzuela’s painting “Merchant’s Pearl”. The man is standing above the woman, illustrating physical superiority and the title of the painting exemplifies her as an object; “pearl”. A famous phrase of this era was “A girl who knows a lot, is a mixed up girl, to be a good mother, one should know little or nothing,” (Hahner 13) This statement proves how entirely sexist the population was, yet the revolts and influences of the Enlightenment encouraged female liberation.
After Latin America was freed from the oppression of Europe, the oppression of women eased off as well. Women now attempted to restore a “moral and physical liberty” (Hahner 37) and finally achieved it. Education opportunities for woman were growing and tasks outside the household were increasing as well. Within Latin America, society benefited from the emancipation from Europe.
Valenzuela, Alfredo. Merchant’s Pearl . Chile. 1856-1909.
Hahner, June Edith. Emancipating the Female Sex: The Struggle for Women’s Rights in Brazil, 1850-1940. United States: Duke University Press, 1990. Print.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteMolly H.
ReplyDeleteBloom
Period 3
Most women in Latin America had little freedom however, feminine writing emerged. The article, "Spanish American Women, 1790-1850: The Challenge of Remembering" highlights Maria Martinez. She wrote a historical account of a civil war. It is interesting that "women had little incentive to express themselves in writing and even less to participatein events of political nature" says Asuncion Lavrin. Women had find a way to come out in society in a small, yet powerful way. The point of view in the article gives us the feeling that they support increase of status of women even in a masculine world.
Besides writing, women essentially were oppressed. The article from L'Illustration relates the Enlightenment to account for feminist movements. The era of "Romanticism generated new ideas and values" resulting in more feminism. Avocates of feminism including Mary Wollstonecraft was one of the many that emerged during the evolution of feminism.
During the 1800's, Latin America found itself in a successful economic status. However, due to social unrest caused by tyrannical European leaders, its economic state would change forever. As more and more revolutions were taking place all around the globe, the oppressed Latin Americans believed their time for revolt had come. After successful revolts all across the continent, the newly freed nations had little to no knowledge of what economic step to take next. Most trade with Europe had been cut off and manufacturing in South America was very weak. "The society of the agricultural districts is also much. subdivided and dispersed" (Sarmiento) The post-lack of political presence and continued social unrest did little for the economic system at hand. With so many problems and such little representation, economic failure was bound to happen.
ReplyDeleteIn times of great economic downturn, slavery was commonly being debated. Because of the trade of slaves and the amount of production slaves produce, does slavery turn a better profit than abolishment? Or does the increase in jobs that would occur after the end of slavery create a wider cycle of money, which would pass through all parts of society and not just the rich? The classic conservative vs. liberal debate arises again, and due to the Enlightenment ideas that were the impetus for revolution in the first place, the liberals would win. Because of the severity of slavery and the lack of conservative leaders, the abolition of slavery occured much quicker in some Latin American countries than the United States. "On the plantations there is no law but the absolute will of the master, which is rudely delegated to the overseer, usually a trusted slave. And since there is no better wedge than a chunk of the wood itself, the overseer surpasses his master's intentions when enforcing his orders, making extraordinary demands upon the workers in the tedious service in the fields" (F. A. Brandao, Junior).
John Remington
ReplyDeletePeriod 3
There were many problems with the fruitfully changing society of Latin America during the revolutionary period it went through. The classes were divided far too drastically by the distribution of wealth. This led to much social unrest of the lower class, allowing for the idea of a revolution to begin. The social hierarchy was racist, Europeans (and the closest to them) at the top, and the bulk of the population (usually of unidentifiable ethnicity) at the bottom. The bottom was given very little social and political benefits. The land owners and Borgoesi became politicians, leading to horrifyingly skewed political leaders that practiced nepotism heavily.
The Enlightenment and its ideas changed and started many things in Latin America. Women were not respected and were subordinate. The ideas of the Enlightenment slowly sparked feminist ideas and actions. Mary Wollstonecraft was one of the first feminists (1792) and writes that a woman's first wish “should be to make herself respectable, and not to rely for all her happiness on a being subject to like infirmities with herself”. The Enlightenment also changed the whole opinion of religion. People began to agree less on a single religion, and started practicing many different types of religion. The Enlightenment also had an impact on slavery, and slavery was eventually stopped by abolitionists in all parts of Latin America. After seeing European art styles, many Latin Americans adopted realism. Fransico Goya being one of them. His painting “The Blind Guitarist” shows how much change the art of Latin America went to from the old Neoclassical paintings. Political opinions divided people in a social sense as well. The liberals believed in a more federalist government, where as conservatives believed in a more centralist government. Wars disrupted both the trade and the countryside.
Works Cited:
Wollstonecraft, Mary. A Vindication of the Rights of Women; 1792. http://womhist.alexanderstreet.com/awrm/doc1.htm Web. 16 March 2011.
Goya, Francisco. Blind Guitarist; 1778. Flickr, Spanish and Latin American Art, 18 March 2009. Web. 16 March 2011.
In Africa the continent was divided into countries by the Europeans with no regards to the traditional lands and rivalries of the people; however, in Latin America the landmass was divided up into general groupings of peoples following relatively traditional boundaries. This probably provides a justification for how the governments of these areas become republics. Revolutions, “…[originated] with, or [were] supported by, the soldiery,” (Hassaurek) therefore the people who led the militaries to victory (typically these people fell into political power after victory) were trusted by the soldiers after the war was over to lead the country to a prosperous future.
ReplyDeleteAlthough the idea for the republics was great in theory, Simon Bolivar exposed its weaknesses in his “Jamaica Letter.” The letter states that the Latin American countries, if they continue on their current path will do nothing economically but, “[cultivate]…the fields of indigo, grain, coffee, sugar cane, cacao, the jungles…” (Bolivar). This path would be detrimental to the economies of Latin America as these are all raw products and raw products are not worth as much as finished goods to consumers. This happens and the economies of Latin America plummet once the support of Europe is gone.
Bolivar, Simon. "Confronting the Hispanic Heritage: From Independence to Consolidation (‘Jamaica Letter’." World Civilizations: The Global Experience. 6th ed. Upper Saddle River: Pearson, 2011. 588-89. Print. AP.
Hassaurek, F. "F. Hassaurek: How to Conduct a Latin-American Revolution, 1865." FORDHAM.EDU. July 1998. Web. 17 Mar. 2011. .
Kevin S. Bloom, 5th period
ReplyDeleteBefore independence, Latin American’s social status was similar to that of slaves or Russian serfs. Under European rule, the natives had little opportunities for positions of power. Simon Bolivar’s “Jamaican Letter” describes the status of Americans as “no better than that of serfs destined to labor, or at best [we] have no more status than that of mere consumers.” He later goes on to say that his existence under Spanish rule was “So negative…nothing comparable [to] other civilized society.” His point of view is negative towards Europeans, suggesting that the natives revolt. His point of view is negative towards Europeans, suggesting that the natives revolt. As far as our textbook goes, Bolivar’s depiction of social life is accurate (although biased).
Social life in Argentina was similar to that of the rest of the Americas. Domingo Sarmiento’s Life in the Argentine depicts civilization in the Argentine Republic: “two differing kinds of civilization…one being Spanish, European, and cultivated, the other barbarous, American and almost wholly of native growth.” Although Sarmiento’s point of view is admirable towards European culture, he demonstrates the social life of the natives—barbarous. To be barbarous one is often associated being uncivilized and in favor of revolt. As a result of European dominance and lack of rights, natives often turned “barbarous” and revolted.
Amanda D.
ReplyDeletePeriod 1
John, you provide tons of information in your 2 paragraphs. I feel I learned so much including how different races and women were treated in Latin America before and after the Europeans came in. I also liked how you mentioned the Enlightenment impacts, not only on religion but on feminist ideas and the abolition of slavery.
On the topic of Women in Latin America, I appreciated what Laura G had to say about oppression. Her comment that the men were controling in order to make the women "proper and formal in the eyes of the natives." This was an interesting view point; that they really were only proper and formal in the eyes of the natives. Not necessarily any outsiders. I had never thought of it this way. This is a great point! Awesome work!
ReplyDeleteMaddie Sherman
ReplyDeleteBloom- Period 1
Zita, I felt that you did a very good job with backing up your views on Feminism and supporting your logics with the right resources. I also liked how you added the meaning and impact the caudillos. I felt that caudillos made a huge impact in Latin America and you supported it very well. With the adding of caudillos you also intertwined, indirectly some terms used in the book. I also liked how you included information that the Industrial Revolution empowered some women, for example, in Latin America. Nice writing! =)
John N.
ReplyDeleteBloom P. 6
Response John R.
John, you make some extremely well thought out points in your essay about how the social structure of Latin America is skewed, as was their leadership. However I feel that you could have explained more about how much unrest was caused by this structure. Overall, pretty great.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteCori, I like how you used a painting as your primary source; it was creative, different and gave others a new perspective. I like how you could interpret the painting to reveal that women were subordinate of men in more ways than one and that the style of the painting depicts the artist’s biasness.
ReplyDeleteRebekah R.
ReplyDeleteResponse to Kelsey
Kelsey, I thought that you covered the advances of women very well. The advancements in education were very important in furthering the status of women in Latin America. You mentioned it briefly, but didn't really talk specifically about the fact that while there were advances in education and some women were advocates for themselves, most women remained tied to the house. While some women did gain advances in society, they were a minority. Most women stayed home and continued to tolerate their lowered status in Latin American society. I thought that your reference to Marti was very interesting. I didn't really take into consideration the lack of respect for women, not only in society, but also in the homes. The fact that men were ashamed of their mothers obviously makes sense for the society at the time, but I hadn't thought about that specifically before.
Seth Taylor Period 1 Bloom
ReplyDeleteResponse to John Remington
John, great job explaining why the social structure in Latin America was very oppressive and unfair. You’re right when you say that the social system was racist. Wealth didn’t play a role unless you were European. Latin Americans were unjustly at the bottom and this is most definitely why they revolted. I also like that that you mentioned the Enlightenment and its many effects upon the region. Religion and women’s roles are two very prominent issues that resulted from his movement. Art and intellectual life were also greatly changed as well. Great job with your sources as well, I enjoy seeing sources I did not use.
Erik D.
ReplyDeleteHjalte, I agree that Latin America was an “unraveling cloth” during this era, as European influence reached its peak. I also agree that the enlightenment ideas played a strong role in the revolutions and political reforms of the 1800’s. Good paragraphs.
Cori Graves
ReplyDeletePeriod 1
Response to Amanda
Manda,
I like that instead of talking about how women didn't have any rights you portrayed the positive side of their roles and achievements. For example, Maria Martinez de Nisser who was very active in women's rights and also participated in the Civil War.
Michal T.
ReplyDeleteMacy
Period 6
According to Wikipedia, “the population of Latin America comprises a variety of ancestries, ethnic groups, and races, making the region one of the most diverse in the world” (Wikipedia). All these different ethnicities live together in peace, making Latin America an attractive place for new immigrants – Eva in Eva Is Inside Her Cat mentions “her Czechoslovakian friend who had a dog’s name” (Eva Is Inside Her Cat). In addition, the Latin American society has been influenced by a long history of Western intervention, as described in the Monroe Doctrine: “It is impossible that the allied powers should extend their political system to any portion of either continent” (The Monroe Doctrine) – as they had done before.
The story Eva is Inside Her Cat shows that Latin Americans also appreciate beauty: “She almost began to feel nostalgia for her beauty” (Eva Is Inside Her Cat). Apart from that, Latin America has a long tradition of Christianity, especially Catholicism. Eva says that “she would have been better off ugly, so that she could sleep peacefully like any other Christian” (Eva Is Inside Her Cat), instead of saying “any other Colombian” or “woman”, which implies that Latin Americans put their Christian identity before their nationality or at least at the same level of importance. Wikipedia confirms this, stating that “about 71% of the Latin American population consider themselves Catholic” (Wikipedia). From other posts on this page, it might seem that women in Latin America are subordinated to men, but the stories Eva Is Inside Her Cat and Eyes of a Blue Dog contradict this, since their main protagonists are women.
Works Cited
“Latin Americans”. Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. March 24, 2011.
Marquez, Gabriel Garcia. Eva Is Inside Her cat. Print.
Monroe, James. The Monroe Doctrine. Print.
Katrina Lake
ReplyDeleteBloom-Period 5
Response to Brendan W.
I really appreciate the connections you made to another society (Africa) and the similarities and differences they faced. You connected the differences of the conquering of these societies and made extremely clear these differences. You also used a lot of quotes to further your argument. Good work!
Molly H.
ReplyDeletePeriod 3
Bekah, first of all, I'm glad you did a painting. It's interesting to hear someone else's opinion on what they see and interpret. Also I'm glad you mentioned Rojas' point of view. I agree that he is a credible source. He would a much more reliable source than even just a historical account. He is most likely biast though in his arguments.
Jay Henderson
ReplyDeletePeriod 5
In Response to Kevin S.’s Post
It is rare that two societies from similar times are related, especially when they are halfway across the globe. It is fortunate for Latin America that their revolts were more successful than Russia’s.
I agree, too often the revolutionaries are depicted as barbarians or uncivilized. The negative ideas behind the West’s self righteous “burden” towards less civilized cultures is shown here, when many of the revolts were met with violence.
Brianne Hart
ReplyDeletePeriod 1
Response to Kelsey G
Kelsey, first I like how your first sentence is straight to the point and doesn't leave the reader questioning what you're going to talk about but on that same note it would have been beneficical to go more in depth in that sentence about how society in general was unstable compared to women during this time. I do like the details you describe about the way women were treated and the rights they earned but like Bekah said it would have added more to your post if you would have talked more about the advances women were making instead of just breifly touching it, the advances they were making were pretty significant as well. Overall, I think your post was well done and very concise.
Melanie Locke
ReplyDeletePeriod 1
Response to Kelsey Gallegos:
Kelsey you did an excellent job of showing what life was like for women at the time. The quotes you used help prove your point and were very well integrated into your paragraphs. I agree with your comment about women making strides with education, even though it reinforced former ideas of society, as you stated.
K.C. Sherman
ReplyDeletePeriod 6
Jennifer B: Your two paragraphs were very thorough in explaining oppression of the Native Americans by the Europeans. The quote that you used from Simon Bolivar’s Jamaica Letter was a perfect depiction of how poorly the natives were treated and the low level at which they stood in society, even compared to slaves. However, I think that Bolivar expressed his feelings for the lower class not only because they were treated the worst, but also because he is a native himself and knows how it feels to be treated with such cruelty. I thought you also did a good job of relating the documents you used to our textbooks and included the point of view of each author. Overall, a great blog!
Emilee G.
ReplyDeleteBloom
Period 1
John Remington, I liked you're paragraphs, they were insightful and informative. I thought it was really efficient to include "The Blind Guitarist" and the change in art due to the renaissance and it's influential ideas.
Laura Galloway
ReplyDeletePeriod 1: Bloom
Reply post to Katrina L.
Katrina, i thought your post was very well put together. you said where you got all your information which made it very credible. I agree with everything in your post. It is true that Latin America faced a lot of inequality at that time (and still do today) and it is also true that women during that time period saw little change to their social status and in their rights/ duties. thanks for the insiteful posting :)
Anna B.
ReplyDeletePer.1
Response to John.
I agree with your comments about Enlightenment. It seems to me as though Enlightenment was very different between Europe and Latin America. In Europe it led to fights for liberation and brought about great intellectual change. Enlightenment in Latin America was brought about by missionaries and western generals which led to mostly negative affects, like those on women and discrepancies in religion.
Konnor Propst
ReplyDeleteReply to Michal
Social
I thought your blog was very insightful and to the point which was very good. I liked how you incorporated how In Eva is Inside Her Cat she has a Czechoslovakian friend and how at this time Latin America was looked at as a hot spot for immigrants. It is also interesting how you incorporated ideas about Western Intervention and what we learned in AP World to write your “English” blog. Using ideas from other classes is a very good way to use your prior knowledge and you did a very good job of it here.
@Katrina Lake: Your post was very insightful into how social status and the treatment of women evolved through this period. I felt like I actually understood more after reading it. The use of your documents highlighted your ideas as well. I also found it nice how you explained the points of view of your sources and gave some background so that I, the reader, was completely enveloped in the concept and content of your post. This will also help on the test as this is part of the TEAMGAPA. Overall, great job.
ReplyDeleteErin Dobey
ReplyDeletePeriod 3
Response to Kelsey G:
I think your response was very though out on how society in the Latin American colonies remained very patriarchal and the social structure very rigid. However, I think it would be beneficial to account for all the advocations for womens rights, there were. Women were progessing greatly in status by finally taking a stance in demanding the right to vote, equal rights, and taking interest in education. Your focus on the negative aspects of the social structure on society though, is insightful.
Kelsey Gallegos
ReplyDeletePeriod 3
Cori, I like how you showed us how life was different for elite women and lower-class women. It was also beneficial that you contrasted women’s rights in Latin America and Europe. Overall I thought your paragraphs were very well put together.
In Latin America, there were three distinct divisions. It was “composed of three classes of men; whites, Indians, and castes. The main amount of wealth and property fell into the hands of the whites, even though they only made up 1/10 of the population. The Indians and the castes labor for the people who have a better social status. This source was written by Alexander Von Humboldt, who explored New Spain in 1803. In this article, his point of view is leading more towards the mistreatment of Indians and castes. He describes the tasks and discrimination that were placed on the Indians and castes. This article agrees with the information found in our textbook, but is more descriptive and informative. Also, our textbook is not a primary source so information from the article has a more distinct point of view.
ReplyDeleteLatin America had lots problems socially. The biggest was an old one; a small upper class and a huge lower(poorer)class who were being oppressed by this upper class. However a new class was emerging. The Creoles (Native and European descent), were becoming one of the weathyist and most powerful class during this time period. They called themselves the Caudillos and they started taking control of many regions. Domingo F. Sarmiento stated in his work Life in the Argentine, “…a caudillo leader, of a country over the cities throughout the land; and by their subjugation in spirit, government, and the civilization…” This quote shows that the Caudillos were stepping and controlling all of the masses right’s and gave them none. i feel this shows how latin america has unstable social classes dude to faulty government.
ReplyDeleteresponce to Josh Cucchi-
ReplyDeletei feel you had a good responce and i like how you refferenced the text book we use in class. i also feel that you researched the topic to go more indepth on your answer.
Sammie Keitlen - Mr. Macy
ReplyDeletePeriod 6
Literary View of Society In Latin America
Marquez’s short stories and other Latin America poems express that society in Latin America is very lopsided. Latin America is essentially divided into two social classes: the wealthy and the impoverished. At one side of the spectrum is the wealthy. In Eva is Inside Her Cat, Eva is a wealthy girl that battles with the way she looks. At one point Eva realizes that, “above all her virtues what was in command was the vanity of a metaphysical woman,” (Marquez 7). Unlike most Latinos, Eva’s biggest problem is dealing with her appearance.
Most Latin Americans compose the poor social class. The critical essay, “Declining Poverty in Latin America?” states that “Among the poorest countries as a group, moderate and extreme poverty each fell by only 1% from 49% to 48% and from 26% to 25%...” (Birch). The poor social class in these countries makes up 73% of the total population. Unlike Eva, this majority has to deal with harsh realities. In the poem, “Little Stones at My Window”, Benedetti states, “Joy throws little stones at my window/ it wants to let me know that it is waiting/ for me,” (Benedetti). The narrator in this poem tries to stay hopeful even though his life is dreary now. Marquez and Benedetti give the reader a glimpse of two extreme social classes in Latin America.
Works Cited
Benedetti, Mario. “Little Stones at My Window.” www.poemhunter.com. 24 March 2011. Poem.
Birch, Melissa, and Helwege, Ann. “Declining Poverty in Latin America?” ase.tufts.edu September 2007. March 24 2011. Critical Essay.
Marquez, Gabriel. Eva is Inside Her Cat. New York: Harper & Row Publishers Inc. 1984. Print.
Colbin and I wrote about similar topics. The way money is distributed in Latin America is a huge problem. The upper class is exploting the lower class. However, I didn't realize that there was a new class emerging. That is very significant because this shows that Latin America is moving to the next stage in the demographic transition. Latin America is progressing into a developed continent.
ReplyDeleteJosh Conroy
ReplyDeletePeriod 6 Macy
Response to Trent Tosetti
Trent I agree that Latin America was used for there raw materials and were put through political and social oppression when the west came over to take over there land. You did a really good job of explaining the social realm of Latin America in this post. It gave me a better understanding of the social ideals that went on in the Latin American affairs. I thought all of your quotes were very helpful as well.
Colton Heidenfelder
ReplyDeleteJake Spicer
Socially, Latin America is extremely unstable. There is still a lot of unrest and neighboring countries still fight. Because of the terrible political situation in these countries, many people take a bunch of different sides and fight over who is right. This causes small villages to break apart and fight one another. Castro once quoted, “We need to obtain support of sister peoples, strengthening ties between other countries of Latin America.” This is important because this shows that socially, Latin America is in poor shape and at odds with each other. They must strengthen their bonds and help each other to stop the fighting.
“The most striking aspect of the prolonged and deepening world recession/depression is the relative and absolute passivity of the working and middle class in the face of massive job losses, big cuts in wages, health care and pension payments and mounting housing foreclosures.” This is saying that the recession and depression of Latin America have an extreme lasting impact and it affects everyone. It affects it in a very negative manner and the only people who aren’t in crisis are the very wealthy people and that is a very small percent of the population.
http://dissidentvoice.org/2009/08/latin-american-social-movements-in-times-of-economic-crises/
Castro, Fidel Speech part 1
Alex Dlin
ReplyDeleteSocially, Latin America has been ruled by outsiders and the rights of the people have not been great. With multiple invaders and outside rule, the government hasn’t been keeping tabs on all of their people and that has resulted in a lot of riots. As the World Civilizations AP edition book explains, the Portuguese royal family, in hiding from the French, fled to Brazil and ruled the country for a while. This has affected the government and sparked a multiple revolutions throughout the rest of Latin America. As Fidel Castro said in his 1959 speech, “American masses are witnessing a political-social-economic revolution which is rooting out historic ills and transforming country through revolutionary program.” Castro is saying that with his new leadership, instead of an outside rule, he will make things better. In another part of his speech, he states, “Principal problems confronting Latin American countries are similar…exploitation and intervention of foreign interests…” In this speech, he is saying that bad foreign relations are the cause of all the social chaos.
World Civilizations AP edition
Castro, Fidel speech part 2 1959
Castro, Fidel speech part 1 1959
Colton and Jake,
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with your statement, and i think that if they did stop fighting, the social problems throughout Latin America would definitely improve.
Steele Dalton and Jake Souther
ReplyDeleteMacy Period 6
The social status in Latin America was never stable. In a critical essay by Jack Shreve about One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, he mentions a family from Latin America “in the village of their creation…which goes from utopia to ruins and is finally swallowed up by the jungle.”(Shreve). This explains how at times in Latin America’s history, the social status is that of a “utopia”, eventually leading into “ruins”.
In Marquez’s story Eva Is Inside Her Cat, the character is “tired of being the center of attention”(Marquez). The social situation is very tense, even to the point where people resent it, want no part of it, and wish to stay away from it.
Marquez,Garcia. Eva is Inside Her Cat
Shreve, Jack
Claire Martin
ReplyDeleteFidel Castro says that "the most striking aspect of the prolonged and deepening world recession/depression is the relative and absolute passivity of the working and middle class in the face of massive job losses" which is detrimental to the way the world works and how it functions. Castro referes to the state of his country and the way it has declined socialy and economicly. The Latin American countries haven't joined together to form a better country but now they should; for their own benefits. He implies that the way people have been behaving needs to change and that starts through supporting him.
By several accounts Latin American countries are not the richest people in the world. In fact the places they live are considered be "slums, shantytowns, illegal settlements, ghetto or segregated areas" (UN), these names, in America, are given to the parts of town that don't contain three to five star anything. Although this has finally improved it has become "a combination of three other socioeconomic dimensions" and a "signigicant reduction in income inequalities"(UN).
Castro, Fidel speech part 2 1959
United Nations Expert Group Meeting on Population Distribution, Urbanization, Internal Migration and Development, PDF file. Web
Dylan Stup per.6
ReplyDeleteTo Michal:
Michal, I really like how you used Eva is inside her cat to strengthen you point on Latin America's diversity. I also liked how you used religion in your paragraphs.
Claire Martin
ReplyDeleteResponse to Michael T.
The incorperation of "Eva inside in her cat" is a very different approach to social aspects of Latin America then what I took. Although the way it is described is a very good way to look at the aspects of social ideas in Latin America. Comparing the piece that to me is more focused on magical realism gave me new ideas about the story and its meaning.
Megan V
ReplyDeletepr.1
Bloom
Response to Katrina L.
Your blog was exactly what social life was like. You supported your views with facts and you met all the requirements of what was expected. Your blog was very useful about learning the social ways of Latin America. It is very clear that you understand the material and but a lot of effort into this. I agree with your statements of the way women were treated and what their role was in sociality.
Maddie,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your post about women's oppression. I think this was a huge problem and it's unfortunate women were unappriciated for so long. However I enjoyed reading about the evolution of women and how they began to gain more rights through their impressive literature. Also, although the industrial revolution was harsh on women in factories and made them work through disastrous and terrible conditions, I would agree that overall the industrial revolution gave women a huge step closer towards equality.
Coleton Joos
ReplyDeleteMacy
Per: 5
When the Europeans began to express interest in Latin American countries there were new problems that the Europeans had to address. A new government, with new representatives, a new way to get money (economy), and a big one was the social status of the people living their. If the immigrants moving into the new colonies from Europe weren't the “top dog” why would they want to move their? They new this to be true and made it so the white, born in Europe settlers would hold the top possession in the social ‘ladder”. For the Spanish settlers they were called the peninsulares or gachupines. Next in line were the people that were born in Latin America to Europen parents called criollos. The criollos had some power but rarely held possessions of power. But they did own slaves and were able to become landowners. The criollos accounted for 95% of the white population of the Spanish colonized countries, this means if you make the voyage over to the Americas from Europe than you will be highly regarded in the social department. The people that were born in Latin America or of mixed heritage or mestizos made up the next social level. The mestizos were said to be equal to the other two classes based on the Laws of the Indies but the criollos made sure they were always one step ahead of them, making certain schools that didn't include the mestizos. The forth level consisted of the Native Americans, and they had it tough, the higher class people didn’t look at the Natives as humans and worked them very hard in the fields even though the enslavement of the the Natives was illegal. The lowest level of the social class was the African slaves they were treated very poorly and most died from being over worked or from diseases. This caused shortages in labor. This social structure was very corrupt because the new comers (Europeans) were controlling over peoples families that have lived there for ever (Native Americans).
http://intensecogitation.info/2010/05/28/social-structure-of-colonial-latin-america-history-notes/