Summer 2007
Program Closed – Please consider another Summer 2007 Program
Program Title: Latin American Popular Culture
Academic Departments: Foreign Literature in Translation
Intercultural Location: Cochabamba, Bolivia
Academic Instructor: Alvaro Bernal, Ph.D.
Service-Learning Facilitator: Alana DeLoge
Program Description
This course will give students the chance to critically focus on major forces and events related to Latin American Popular Culture throughout the 20th century. We will examine social and historical contexts in which massive culture manifestations such as music, film, literature, television, and sports have developed in various countries of Latin America. Cultural topics will include Caribbean musical icons, contemporary authors and film makers, soap operas, and soccer. The course provides also an interdisciplinary introduction to Latin American Studies through a series of integrated discussions of issues from the history (particularly intellectual and cultural history) of the region with examination of how those issues are represented in cultural production (literature, cinema, music, the arts).
Program Learning Outcomes
Students who complete readings and participate in this course will:
- Become familiar with representative forces and events related to Latin American Popular Culture
- Increase your knowledge of literary genres and basic techniques used to analyze literature and films
- Expand your awareness of Latin American cultures.
Bolivia
Cochabamba is situated in a valley surrounded by the breath-taking Andes Mountains. The city often boasts of its perfect climate with a daytime seasonal average of 72 F with no humidity. Despite the beautiful scenery and perfect climate, Bolivia is one of the poorest countries in all of the Americas. Cochabamba faces major problems such as shortages of water for farming, poor soil, and lack of industry.
This course in Bolivia offers volunteers the opportunity to experience both the urban and rural aspects of Bolivia. Cochabamba is a bustling city of 400,000 people. In addition to it's beautiful plazas, fountains, and churches, Cochabamba has the largest open air market in all of South America. Possible field trips include visits to the Andes, the rainforest, and Inca ruins.
Our service will be the construction of a school in a rural area just outside of Cochabamba. The group will continue the construction of eight new classrooms. This new schoolhouse will continue to build sustainable structures for the community, which began years ago with the construction of an orphanage for street children that now houses 40 children.
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Academic Details
Academic credits are awarded for this course through West Virginia University. The program will fulfill 6 academic credits in the Department of Foreign Languages:
- Foreign Literature in Translation: Latin American Popular Culture
- 3 undergraduate credits (FLIT 293)
AND
- Service-Learning: Global Service-Learning
- 3 undergraduate credits (SRVL 293)
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Program Timeline
May 21
Online classroom discussions and academic preparatory work
June 6 - 30
Intercultural Service-Learning in Cochabamba, Bolivia
Service, field visits, lectures, documentaries, discussions, and reflections
July 1 - 10
Online classroom discussions and academic completion of program
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Program Tuition >>
Program Application (pdf) >>
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