Introduction

This book is a collection of final papers written for ID1: Latin America Through Sociology and Literature, taught by Professor Esther Hernández-Medina. Divided into three themed parts, the chapters cover a diverse set of themes. Acting as a reflection of the work put in during the semester, the chapters employ both literature analysis as well as sociological frameworks to examine Latin American culture and history from many perspectives.

Part I – Art, Culture, and Entertainment as Mirrors and Resistance examines the way that art, artists, and the stories they tell reflect the realities faced by people in Latin America, as well as how these reflections can be used to resist oppression. Meanwhile, Part II – Problems and Solutions regarding Women’s Physical Autonomy in Latin America  focuses on infringements upon Latin American women’s autonomy and safety and how cultural movements and trends reflect resistance and solutions to these issues. Lastly, Part III – The Past Building the Present: Old and New Challenges in Latin America  looks at various issues in Latin America through a historical lens, focusing on both their origins and their modern ramifications.

This book and each of its chapters is the culmination of the work done over the semester in this ID1 course. It could not have been done without the aid of Profe Esther, and Derek Talbott, our attached class writing partner. We would also like to thank Arisleyda Diloné and Josefina Báez, two wonderful guest lecturers whom we had the privilege of hearing and speaking with, and Ken Cottich and Nazia Islam, Open Publishing & Digital Production Associate and Interdisciplinary Studies Librarian at The Claremont Colleges Library, respectively.