Contemporary Latin American Cinema: Market Economy, Social Injustice, New Technologies

This class studies the relationship between cinema and society in Latin America between 1988 and the present. Latin American cinema in this period has gone to a period of deep crisis to the consolidation of industries and production with significant global recognition and impact. In this, cinema has strong correlations with neoliberalism, the political doctrine tied to free-market reform, democratization and privatization, among other ideas. The class will be based on the study and discussion of key films of the period to develop two themes. First, we will study the way in which cinema has become a cultural practice central to the discussion of the effects of neoliberalism in the region, as well as the opposition to neoliberalism. Topics in this regard will include: the social impact of free market reforms, growing economic and social inequality, the emergence of working class, Black and indigenous communities, the rise and fall of the New Left, the creation of new elites and other related themes. Second, we will study the way in which films are made and distributed and the changes on film production over the past decades. Topics will include the privatization of production and exhibition, the role of home video and streaming, the importance of film festivals and the move from national to translational scenes of production. Prereq: L45 165D or L53 220 or other coursework in Latin American Studies, or Film and Media Studies, desirable but not required. Students without this background are encouraged to contact the instructor.

Course Attributes: AS HUM; AS LCD; FA HUM; AR HUM; EN H

Contemporary Latin American Cinema: Market Economy, Social Injustice, New Technologies

FILM AND MEDIA STUDIES 3826

Section 01