Newsletter No. 10 - 04/05/2012
05.04.2012
Dear members of the International Research Training Group ‘Between Spaces’ and those interested in the IRTG,
With this, the tenth issue of the IRTG ‘Between Spaces’ Newsletter, we would like to inform you about our news and current events.
News from the Coordination Office
We would like to thank Saranda Frommold, who has been working for the IRTG for more than a year and whose contract expired in March, for her very good work, commitment and engagement. Saranda is currently finishing her studies and will work from May 2012 on as our coordinator in Mexico. We are very happy that Saranda accepted the new post in Mexico and we are looking forward for a good and successful cooperation.
Our previous coordinator in Mexico, Sherin Abu-Chouka, who has now been working there for one and a half years, will return to Berlin to strike out on new paths, on which we would like to wish her all the best. We would like to thank Sherin for the good work and commitment.
As Saranda will leave, we are pleased to welcome Franziska Goth de León as the new student assistant in our Coordination Office. Franziska is studying for a Masters in Interdisciplinary Latin America Studies at the Institute for Latin American Studies of Freie Universität Berlin. We would like to welcome Franziska to our team and we look forward to working with her.
Office hours of the Coordination Office in the coming months:
Room 207 (Julia) Tues 3 – 5 pm, except April 10
Room 222 (Ingrid) Tues 3 – 5 pm
New scholarship holders
We are very pleased to welcome the following new members of our Research Training Group:
Fernando Artavia
Fernando Artavia has been awarded a short-term scholarship to finish his PhD in Political Studies. He works on “Intelecuales neoliberales en Costa Rica: Análisis de su discurso, prácticas, organizaciones y redes”.
We would like to cordially welcome our new member of the IRTG and look forward to working with him!
Visiting scholars
March 31 - April 15, 2012, Liliana Weinberg (UNAM, IRTG Mexico)
May – June, 2012 Adrian Waldmann (Santa Cruz, Bolivia)
Mexican scholarship holders
Finally the following Mexican scholarship holders will visit Berlin as part of their Conacyt scholarship:
Rosana Meireles Magalhaes
Rosana Meireles Magalhaes works on travel reports of Latin American intellectuals to Cuba and Nicaragua.
A warm welcome to all of them. We are looking forward to meeting them at Berlin and to working with them!
Important: Last call to take part in the Long Night of the Sciences!
Again this year the Institute for Latin America Studies of Freie Universität Berlin will take part in the Long Night of the Sciences. The Long Night will take place on June 2, and this year the Institute has taken the IRTG’s motto as its own: ‘Latin America – Between Spaces’. We therefore call upon all those associated with the IRTG and interested in cooperating in the event to take part. All suitable contributions are welcome: pictures, films, lectures, performances, suggestions, ideas, music ….
Send suggestions, ideas and wishes as soon as possible to entre-espacios@lai.fu-berlin.de
Reports on events of recent months
Stefan Rinke (IRTG Berlin): Publication of his book „Lateinamerika und die USA: Eine Geschichte zwischen Räumen – von der Kolonialzeit bis heute“ (Latin America and the USA: A History between Spaces – from Colonial Times until Today)
Considering the American continent people tend to the perception of the USA as a superpower with its Latin American backyard. Usually it is forgotten that the USA used to be the Wild West whereas South and Central America were based on ancient civilizations and the treasuries of Spain and Portugal. Stefan Rinke in his book presents a history of linkage and conflict between spaces of the two Americas. The relations between those two parts of the Americas formed the histories of both greater areas decisively until today, although especially since the end of the 19th century it is possible to detect an enormous and progressive agglomeration which at the same time intensified tendencies to polarity. This exciting and complex history of around 500 years is presented by its author clearly and compressed, with a clear focus on the 19th and 20th centuries.
January 27, 2012, Workshop: Claudio Lomnitz (Columbia University), ‘On the Origin of the Mexican Race’
On January 27 we were pleased to participate in a workshop with Claudio Lomnitz of Columbia University. His lecture dealt with the question of how the idea of a particular Mexican race was born, focusing on how Mexicans turned into a racial type between the end of the XIX and the beginning of the XX century.
Subsequently, both doctoral students and post-doctoral fellows presented their ongoing research projects in a very motivating atmosphere. The selection of Claudio Lomnitz as the discussant of this event could not have been more precise. As an anthropologist also interested in history, he delivered concise and thoughtful suggestions about a wide range of topics. The outcome was a stimulating interdisciplinary space where we were all enhanced by the discussion of diverse research projects.
(Cecilia Tossounian, IRTG Berlin)
February 9, 2012, Workshop: Bernd Hausberger (IRTG Mexico), ‘Viva Villa!: La creación de una memoria histórica global’
Bernd Hausberger, professor of History at the Colegio de México and member of the IRTG in Mexico, presented a historically highly interesting film on the Mexican Revolution, Viva Villa! (1934). The objective of the workshop was to show how new media could create global awareness of certain historical events. The following discussion focused on the question of how the film Viva Villa! and its reception formed and changed the memory of the Mexican Revolution (1910-20) around the world. It was especially interesting to realize that the social, political and cultural background of the recipients had a strong effect on the perception of the film.
(Thilo Papacek, IRTG Berlin)
February 20, 2012, Inter-institutional Colloquium at CIESAS
During this colloquium Lorenza Villa Lever presented chapter 1 and 2, “Cómo juzgar la globalización” and “Exclusión e inclusion” of the book Primero la gente. Una mirada desde la ética del desarrollo a los principales problemas del mundo globalizado, written by Bernardo Kliksberg and Amartia Sen. Furthermore, Alberto Aziz Nassif presented chapter 6, “La política informacional y la crisis de la democracia” of the second volume of La era de la información, written by Manuel Castells. The discussion following the presentation of Alberto Aziz Nassif was very comprehensive. As the book treats topics of communication and politics, it was easy to discuss its contents in relation to Mexican reality. It seemed remarkable how easily the text of Castells could be updated to explain Mexican reality. The discussion of the texts presented by Lorenza Villa Lever dealt with topics of globalization, the plurality of its definitions and the relation between that plurality and special interests of the different disciplines which offer interpretations of the phenomenon.
February 27, 2012, Presentations of research projects, Fundación Cardoza y Aragón
During this meeting Sebastián Rivera and José Alberto Moreno Chávez presented their research progress. The following professors took part in the session: Lorenza Villa Lever, Carlos Alba, Bernd Hausberger and Ricardo Pérez Montfort. The following scholarship holders were present: Rosana Meireles, Sebastián Rivera, Santiago Galvis, Paulina Mena and José Alberto Moreno Chávez.
The project of Sebastián Rivera with the title “Actores y cultura política latinoamericana en la Ciudad de México, 1920-1940” (Latin American actors and cultural politics in the City of Mexico, 1920-1940) was commented by Bernd Hausberger. The research progress of the project of José Alberto Moreno Chávez, “El cura de dos mundos: Antonio Plancarte y Labastida y el proyecto de modernidad católica en México” (The Priest of two Worlds: Antonio Plancarte y Labastida and the Project of Catholic Modernity in Mexico) was commented by Antonio Ibarra who, as he could not be present, sent his commentary in written form.
March 12, 2012, Inter-institutional Colloquium, PUEG, UNAM
During this session of the Colloquium Liliana Weinberg presented the text of Fernando Coronil, “La transculturación y la política de la teoría: enfrentando el centro, contrapunteo cubano”. On this occasion, the concept of transculturation was the centre of discussion. Besides, Carlos Riojas presented the text “Evolving Economic Landscapes: Why New Institutional Economics Matter for Economic Geography”, written by Rafiqui Pernilla. The discussion focused on the union of economic geography and economic institutionalism, with a strong emphasis on its contribution for the study of regional spaces.
Events in the coming months
IN BERLIN/POTSDAM:
Programme of the Interdisciplinary Colloquium
This semester the Interdisciplinary Colloquium will take place on Tuesdays, 6-8 pm, at the Latin American Institute, room 243.
April 10, 2012, 6 – 8 pm, room 243
Cecilia Tossounian, "Forjando una nación bella: cultura física y género en Buenos Aires (1920-1940)"
April 24, 2012, 6 – 8 pm, room 243
Fernando Artavia, “Actores y representaciones de la globalización: El caso de dos centros de pensamiento neoliberal en Costa Rica"
May 5, 2012, 6 – 8 pm, room 243
Romy Köhler, "Dios descubre América. Los huehuetlatolli y los sermones y tratados de doctrina cristiana como testimonios de la extensión global de los sacramentos católicos hacia Nueva España (1533-1556)"
May 15, 2012, 6 – 9 pm, room 243
Thilo Papacek, "Global Perspectives on the Chaco Boreal - Different Views on the Same Territory in the Dawn of the Chaco War"
Clarissa Heisig, "Patrones de carrera de élites financieras en México. Procesos de transformación y estrategias de reproducción entre el espacio nacional y transnacional (2000-2010)"
May 22, 2012, 6 – 9 pm, room 243
Santiago Galvis Villamizar, "Examinando la nación: Aproximaciones científicas al territorio y a las poblaciones colombianas, 1880-1910"
Paulina Mena Méndez, “Globalización y familia. Familias de padres solteros queretanas: características de la paternidad, organización del trabajo familiar y sus redes sociales“
May 29, 2012, 6 – 8 pm, room 243
José Alberto Moreno Chávez, "El cura de dos mundos: Antonio Plancarte y el proyecto de modernidad católica"
June 5, 2012, 6 – 8 pm, room 243
Carlos Pérez Ricart, "Presencias trasnacionales de seguridad: Soberanía y Estado en México"
June 12, 2012, 6 – 8 pm, room 243
Tabea Huth, "Gay Performances in the Border City of Tijuana: Travesti Beauty Pageants"
June 19, 2012, 6 – 8 pm, room 243
Yan Geoffroy, "Symbolism and Numbers in the Context of the Mayan Ballgame"
June 26, 2012, 6 – 8 pm, room 243
Kevin Niebauer, "Amazonia como imaginario y lugar de la memoria del movimiento ecologista alemán"
July 3, 2012, 6 – 8 pm, room 243
Marius Haberland, "The Making of Transnational Protest Spaces in Mexico/ Central America"
July 10, 2012, 6 – 8 pm, room 243
Stephanie Fleischmann, "La construcción simbólica de mundos globalizados y la simulación y reflexión de experiencias emocionales en recientes novelas latinoamericanas"
Guests are welcome. Please register at entre-espacios@lai.fu-berlin.de
The full programme of the Interdisciplinary Colloquium is also available here.
Other Activities
We would like to draw your attention to other activities that might be of interest to you.
April 12, 2012, 2 – 6 pm, LAI, room 243
Workshop with Liliana Weinberg (IRTG Mexico): ‘Entre-ensayos. Prosa de ideas y formas de sociabilidad en América Latina’
Liliana Weinberg, professor of Literature and Cultural Studies at the UNAM in Mexico, member of the IRTG in Mexico and a specialist in essay research, will offer a workshop in which she will acquaint us with her latest work on the Latin American essay, which she sees as a global genre.
April 24, 2012, 4 – 6 pm, LAI, room 243
Lecture Vibha Maurya (University of Delhi): “¿Cómo cruza el Atlántico el Caballero Don Quijote de la Mancha?“
Vibha Maurya is a professor for Spanish and Latin American Literature at the Department of Germanic and Romance Languages of the University of Delhi. One of her research foci is the literature of the Golden Age (Siglo de Oro) and especially the Quijote of Cervantes. At the same time Vibha Maurya has research interests in the Latin American literature of the 19th and 20th centuries and its social contexts (e.g. José Martí and Pablo Neruda). Maurya is a well-known translator of literary texts into Hindi, with a very successful translation of the first part of Cervantes‘ Quijote, published in 2006.
April 26, 2012, 10 am – 6 pm, Institute for Latin American Studies, room 243
Workshop with Paul Talcott: Academic Writing
Paul Talcott, a specialist in courses on academic writing, will offer a workshop for doctoral candidates of the IRTG Berlin/Potsdam in which he will specifically address the problems facing dissertation writers in the final stages of their work. In the second part of the workshop, Talcott will respond to and discuss questions and problems of the participants.
This workshop has been arranged exclusively for Berlin/Potsdam scholarship holders and is not open to the public.
June 02, 2012, 5 pm – 1 am, Institute for Latin American Studies
Long Night of the Sciences 2012
July 5, 2012, Institute for Latin American Studies, room 243, time to be arranged
Workshop with Erika Fischer-Lichte (FU Berlin)
For those interested in participating in the workshop, we kindly ask to register with entre-espacios@lai.fu-berlin.de
July 11, 2012, 6-8 pm, Institute for Latin American Studies, room 201
Lecture Javier Garciadiego Dantán (El Colegio de México)
Followed by a fiesta
Further details to follow
All members and friends of the IRTG are invited and welcome!
Participation of the International Research Training Group ‘Between Spaces’ at LASA 2012!
The IRTG ‘Between Spaces’ will participate at the next Congress of the Latin American Studies Association, May 23-26, 2012, at San Francisco. Members of the Berlin/Potsdam and the Mexican part of the IRTG together with international guests will meet on Saturday 26, 8.30-10.15 am at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in San Francisco, to offer the panel “Between Spaces – Asia and America as New Transnational Spaces” (Session ID: 7955, Track Code: TRA).
8.30-8.35 am
Carlos Alba (El Colegio de México, IRTG ‘Between Spaces’), Stefan Rinke (Freie Universität Berlin, IRTG ‘Between Spaces’)
“Introduction”
8.35-8.50 am
Carlos Alba (El Colegio de México, IRTG ‘Between Spaces’), Marianne Braig (Freie Universität Berlin, IRTG ‘Between Spaces’)
“Asia y América como nuevos espacios transregionales – desde la perspectiva mexicana”
8.50-8.55 am
Discussion
8.55-9.10 am
Mariano Bonialian (El Colegio de México)
"Rutas, plata, bienes y consumo. Cultura material asiática en la América española durante el período colonial"
9.10-9.25 am
Nino Vallen (IRTG ‘Between Spaces’)
“Being at the Heart of the World”: Asia and the Pacific in the Making of Creole America (1580– 1641)
9.25-9.30 am
Discussion
9.30-9.45 am
Ursula Prutsch (Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München)
“Japanese Immigrants in Brazil and the United States during World War II”
9.45-10 am
Ximena Alba (IRTG ‘Between Spaces’)
“Transnational Enclaves, Chinese Migrants in the North of Mexico, Community Resources and Social Insertion”
10-10.05 am
Discussion
10.05-10.15 am
José Carlos Aguiar (Leiden University)
Commentary
IN MEXICO:
April 23, 4 pm, Fundación Cardoza y Aragón
Presentation of the projects of scholarship holders
Paulina Mena Méndez (CIESAS)
"Globalización y familia. Familias de padres solteros queretanas: Características de la paternidad, organización del trabajo familiar y sus redes sociales”.
Commentary: Juan Guillermo Figueroa (El Colegio de México)
Rosana Meireles (UNAM)
“Latinoamérica tan violentamente dulce. Relatos de viajes de intelectuales latinoamericanos sobre las experiencias revolucionarias de Cuba y de Nicaragua”
Commentary: Ricardo Pérez Montfort (CIESAS)
April 30, 4 pm, room 2242 de El Colegio de México
7th Inter-institutional Colloquium, IRTG Mexico
Teresa Carbó (CIESAS)
Teresa Carbó will present: Cupers, Kenny/ Miessen, Markus (2002), Spaces of Uncertainty, Müller & Busmann, Wuppertal. (Chosen chapter will be announced)
Carlos Alba (El Colegio de México)
Text to be presented will be announced later.
May 14, 4 pm, CIESAS (Room to be announced)
8th Inter-institutional Colloquium, IRTG Mexico
Antonio Ibarra (UNAM)
Antonio Ibarra will present: John Tutino, Making a New World. Founding Capitalism in the Bajío and Spanish North America, Duke University Press, 2011, pp. 1-62.
Bernd Hausberger (El Colegio de México)
Bernd Hausberger will present: Sempat Assadourian, Carlos (1982), El sistema de la economía colonial. Mercado interno, regiones y espacio económico, Instituto de Estudios Peruanos, Perú, pp. 277-339
June 4, 4 pm, UNAM (Room to be announced)
9th Inter-institutional Colloquium, IRTG Mexico
Ricardo Pérez Montfort (CIESAS)
Ricardo Pérez Montfort will present: Said, Edward: “Interpretación secular, el elemento geográfico y la metodología del imperialism”. In: Gyan Prakash (1995) (ed.), After Colonialism. Imperial Histories and Postcolonial Displacements, Princeton University Press, New Jersey, pp. 21-39.
For more information on our programme and activities, please consult our website: www.entre-espacios.de
Best wishes and Happy Easter,
Ingrid Simson and her team
