The Conundra of Vision: Reflexivity in Latin American Visual Culture

Description

Supported by CRASSH Centre of Latin American Studies
Trinity College

This is an innovative interdisciplinary symposium on visual culture in Latin America (to cover photography, art, cinema etc) and its intersections with anthropology, journalism and other disciplines. The aim of the event is to explore manifestations of reflexivity in context and to consider the composite and combinatory forms it has often assumed. The aim is to approach 'reflexivity' as a strategy rather than a formal device and to revise assumptions as to its period or genre specificity. The international range of speakers (from Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, United States and Great Britain) will cover subjects from the colonial period and nineteenth century to the twentieth century up to the present day. The notion of reflexivity as involving a creative colloquy with other discourses provides a point of entry into the little-studied subject of interdisciplinarity in Latin American visual culture. The objective is to explore the links between reflexivity and interdisciplinarity in particular aspects of Latin American culture, as well as to generate dialogue and debate between those working in the fields of art history, cultural studies, film studies, anthropology, photography and comparative literature. In addition to the talks by invited speakers, there will also be presentations of visual culture books and periodicals and an exhibition of photographs.

We look forward to welcoming all those with an interest in visual culture and genuine debate.

We are pleased to be welcoming film maker, writer and poet Victor Gaviria to the symposium. His visit will coincide with the British premiere of his film Sumas y Restas (Addictions and Subtractions) at the Cambridge Arts Picturehouse Cinema as part of the Contemporary Latin American Cinema Season.

Speakers include: Néstor García Canclini, Jesús Martín Barbero, Thomas Cummins, Laura Podalsky, Karen Cordero-Reiman, Esther Acevedo, Luis Rebaza-Soraluz and Florencia Bazzano-Nelson.

Talks will be in either Spanish or English – please note that the language of the first title given in the programme below denotes the language the paper will be given in. It is hoped that translations will be provided where possible.

Conveners:

Erica Segre (Newton Trust Lecturer in Hispanic Studies, Department of Spanish and Portuguese, University of Cambridge)
with assistance from Geoffrey Kantaris (Senior Lecturer, Department of Spanish and Portuguese, University of Cambridge)

The image, Mexican artist Guillermo Meza (1941).

This conference is complemented by a season of Latin American films at the Arts Picturehouse, Cambridge.