By studying Brazilian films released between 1976 and 2005, Gordon examines how the films both define the national community and influence viewer understandings of "Brazilianness." Though the films he examines span decades, they all communicate their revised version of Brazilian national identity through a cinematic strategy with a dual aim: to upset ingrained ways of thinking about Brazil and to persuade those who watch the films to accept a new way of understanding their national community. 

In this talk, Dr. Richards will examine the conflicts as well as the multicultural policies that have developed in response to indigenous claims in Chile. She will argue that racism is paradoxically reinscribed by policies that on their face seem to be about diversity and acceptance of difference. Richards will bring attention to how the process of generating consent for the state’s construction of indigenous subjects in the context of neoliberalism is not only imposed from above, but also informed by competing worldviews at the local level. 

Sponsored by: Sociology Department and co-sponsored by the International Studies and Latin American Studies Programs.

His talk focuses on specialty coffee markets and Maya farmers in Guatemala. The best coffees these days are selling for astronomical prices and even though farmers are not getting rich, they are benefitting from the market boom and have high hopes for coffee.