Gallatin in Buenos Aires
Culture, Art and Politics in 21st Century Buenos Aires, K55.9400
May 30 - June 19, 2009
Buenos Aires, known as the "Paris of the South," is one of the mythic cities of the world. Containing nearly one-third of Argentina's population, the city has had an inordinate impact not only on Argentina, but on Latin American consciousness and identity. This three-week course traces the evolution of the political theorists, educational reformers, and creative artists whose works have shaped the culture, art, and politics of Buenos Aires and Argentina.
For immigrants arriving in Argentina in the 19th century, the search for opportunity required a narrative that would justify identification with the nation state. A mythology that celebrated the independent—and mestizo—"gauchos" of the pampas was slowly replaced by a philosophy that excluded peoples of color and redefined "whiteness” as a desired objective in repopulating the entire nation. The "Generation of 1880” played an important role in shaping this new identity, and its impact is still felt in Buenos Aires, where the African population has been subsumed by other ethnic groups. Yet the Africanist heritage is apparent in such cultural artifacts as the tango, a dance of African derivation but whose origins are sometimes contested in Argentine discourse.
In the 21st century, the upheavals of the "dirty war," the trauma of the desaparecidos (the disappeared), the Malvinas War, and the economic crisis of 2001 all occasioned not only political but artistic responses. Argentina’s political and economic fortunes have created a unique dialogue between the arts and politics. In Buenos Aires, the national capital, arts inform and influence the national debate to a great extent. We examine this phenomenon and its effect on Argentine society.
Readings will include excerpts from the works of Domingo Faustino Sarmiento, José Enrique Rodó, Robert Ferris Thompson, and George Reid Andrews; fiction by Jorge Luís Borges, Silvina Ocampo, Julio Cortázar, Roberto Arlt, and Adolfo Bioy Casares; such documents as "Nunca Más” and the film The Afro-Argentines.
Double-occupancy housing is conveniently located close to the seminar site and cultural attractions. Field trips encompass the rich resources of the city's museums, historical sites, fútbol games, and ethnic neighborhoods. Sessions with leading Argentine jurists, educators, and artists are an important component of this course. In addition, students will take a short trip to Montevideo, Uruguay.
Faculty:
Michael Dinwiddie, M.F.A., New York
Mark McMeley, Ph.D., Missouri-Columbia
Expenses
Tuition for 4 points: $2800
Program Fee (includes some meals, museum admissions and excursions):
$650
Housing Fee:
Single: $1720
Double: $860
Deposit:
$300 (due approximately two weeks after date of acceptance, nonrefundable)
Application Requirements:
- Application www.nyu.edu/summer/abroad/apply.html
- One-page essay explaining your interest in the program you've selected and what you hope to gain from the study abroad experience
- Letter of recommendation
- Official Transcript
- Interview with the Program director and administrator
All application materials should be submitted to:
Melissa Daniel
Gallatin Office of Faculty Services
715 Broadway, Room 614
New York, NY 10003
Fax: (212) 995-4743
For more information regarding the application process, please contact Melissa Daniel at (212) 998-7316 or melissa.daniel@nyu.edu
| Calendar | |
|---|---|
| Application Deadline | March 2, 2009 |
Arrival Date |
May 30 |
| Classes Begin | June 1 |
| Classes End | June 18 |
| Departure Date | June 19 |
Course Notes:
Open only to undergraduates. Gallatin students please note this course fulfills 4 Interdisciplinary Seminar K-credits.
