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Pilot Courses

Culture and Development in Reciprocity: Paraguay

Prof. Doris Sommer* 2021 Spring/ Full Term

1/25/2021-5/15/2021 Fridays 9:45-11:45

This seminar is an interdisciplinary approach to research about Paraguay that takes Reciprocity, a core practice in Latin American cultures, as the pedagogical structure for studying the region. Harvard students will work in reciprocal collaboration with students in Paraguay. 

The first half of the semester will introduce a range of topics that include arts, social mobilization, ways of learning, environment, and public policy. By mid-semester students form pairs based on shared interests and choose a question to develop together. Harvard offers important resources for the team and Paraguay offers other important resources. Student-to-student interchanges will allow for ongoing and reciprocal social and scholarly development. 

The seminar has two fundamental objectives: 1) to foster intercultural research through collaborations that combine perspectives on readings and inquiries; and 2) enhance capacity in English and in Spanish, reciprocally, as students read closely together and write persuasively. Pre-Texts will be the pedagogy for achieving language proficiency. Our institutional partner is Paraguay’s Instituto Desarrollo, directed by José Molinas. It will serve as co-mentor for the student teams and will provide guidance for accessing resources and convening relevant scholars in Paraguay. 

The co-written final paper for the course will be a “Case for Culture.” This is a hybrid essay that combines humanities with social and/or natural sciences to develop the kinds of interdisciplinary collaborations made possible by reciprocity. 

  • Co-taught with José Molinas

 

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Topics:

  1. Music, Social Capital and Community Development : “Sonidos de mi tierra”, “H2O” Lecture by Luis Szarán and “Cateura Landfillharmonic” Favio Chávez” 
  2. Authoritarian Governments in Paraguay throughout its history: A living legacy? Lecturer: Alfredo Boccia (1.5 Hours)
  3. Jesuit Missions in Paraguay, History and legacy. Invited Lecturer: Ignacio Telesca, S.J. (1.5 Hours)
  4. Movies and Cultural Identity: Recent industry evolution and challenges. Invited lecturers: Tana Schembori and Juan Carlos Maneglia (1.5 Hours).
  5. Tañaraindy, a case of community arts and local economic development, in the town of San Ignacio: Koki Ruiz (1.5 Hours)
  6. Afro-Paraguayos. Kamba Kua, Emboscada and Kamba Kokué: History, Cultural Legacy and current invisibility. Invited Lecturer: Elvio Segovia (1.5 Hours)
  7. Women at the crossroads of Paraguayan identity. Milda Rivarola (1.5 Hours)
  8. Literature, featuring Roa Bastos, Cassaccia, and others. Invited Lecturer: Arístides Escobar (1.5 Hours)
  9. Land and Water: Conservation, Management, Climate Change. Invited Lecture. . 
  10. Social Movements, Peasants and Indigenous. Lecturers: José Carlos Rodriguez Alcalá and José Zannardini (1.5 Hours)
  11. Visual Arts: Indigenous, Campesino, and Contemporary. Invited Lecturer: Ticio Escobar(1.5 Hours)
  12. The Guaraní Language in Paraguay; History and Current Situation. Invited Lecturer: Martín Ramirez (1.5 Hours)