Tomorrow will kick off Louisiana Tech’s spring Shaping the 21st Century: Focus on Latin America series, which will span from March 19 to May 12.

This will be the university’s fourth Shaping the 21st Century installment, with previous series focusing on India, China and Russia.

“Latin America was chosen because we wanted to round out the BRIC countries,” said Bill Willoughby, associate dean of the College of Liberal Arts, speaking of Brazil, Russia, India and China, which are fast-growing, economically developing countries. “We felt in some ways we don’t know our neighbors to the south as much as we should.”

The series will include brownbag lunches, speakers, exhibits, music and movies. Stephen Webre, head of the department of history, said the movies and speakers are extremely relevant.

“The speakers are addressing very different issues, issues of current concern,” Webre said.

Willoughby added that he hopes students, staff, faculty and the community will have a greater understanding of Latin America and its place in the world today.

“We will be looking at Latin America as it is in itself and our relationship with Latin America,” he said.

Events of the series are as follows:

Brownbag Lunch Video/Talk No. 1
March 19
“Popol Vuh: Sacred Book of the Quiché Maya” (1989), introduced by Dr. Taylor
Mack, assistant professor of geography
International Student Office in Tolliver Hall; 12:15 p.m.

Film Screening No. 1 by the College of Education
March 25
“I, the Worst of All,” directed by Maria Luisa Bemberg (1990)
Introduced by Dr. Stephen Webre, head of the department of history, as part of March 2009 Women’s History Month
A. E. Phillips Planetarium; 6:30 p.m.

International Days Food and Cultural Festival
March 31
Sponsored by the International Student Association
Student Center, Main Floor; 4-7 p.m.

Exhibition in Tolliver Hall
April 1-May 12
“The Mobile Colors of Panama: Panamanian Nationalism, Ethnicity, and Bus Art”
The Panama City Autobus Photographs of Dr. Peter Szok
Special exhibition tour and discussion with Dr. Szok in Tolliver Hall, 4 p.m. on April 7

Distinguished Speaker Series No. 1
April 7
Art and Ethnicity in Latin America
“Re-Africanization in Contemporary Latin America: The Lessons of Panamanian
Popular Art”
Dr. Peter Szok, associate professor of history at Texas Christian University
Wyly Tower Auditorium; 10:15 a.m.

Brownbag Lunch Video/Talk No. 2
April 9
“The Last Communist” (1992), a frontline video on Fidel Castro, introduced by Webre
International Student Office; 12:15 p.m.

Film Screening No. 2 by the College of Education
April 15
“Central Station,” directed by Walter Salles (1998)
A. E. Phillips Planetarium; 6:30 p.m.

Faculty Concert Series VI
April 16
“Music for Latin America”
Stone Theater, 7:30 p.m.

The University Jazz Ensemble
April 17
“The Musical Influence of Latin America”
Howard Auditorium; 7:30 p.m.

Distinguished Speaker Series No. 2
April 21
“Religion in Latin America”
Dr. Virginia Garrard Burnett, associate professor of history and religious studies at the University of Texas at Austin
Wyly Tower; 10:15 a.m.

Film Screening No. 3 by the College of Education
April 22
“Frida,” directed by Julie Taymor (2002)
A. E. Phillips Planetarium; 6:30 p.m.

Brownbag Lunch Video/Talk No. 3
April 23
“Pablo Neruda”
Dr. Dianne Douglas, Professor Emeritus of Spanish
International Student Office; 12:15 p.m.

Distinguished Speaker Series No. 3
April 28
Culture of Chile, Immigration, and the Latin American community in the U.S.
“Identity, Community, Politics and the Latino Immigrant Experience in the United
States”
Rodrigo Dorfman: storyteller, playwright, multimedia journalist and filmmaker
Wyly Tower Auditorium; 10:15 a.m.

Film Screening No. 4 by the College of Education
April 28
“El Norte,” directed by Gregory Nava (1983)
A. E. Phillips Planetarium; 6:30 p.m.

Concert Choir
May 5
Latin American Music: “Romancero Gitano”; a piece for choir and guitar by Mario
Castelnuovo-Tedesco
Howard Auditorium; 7:30 p.m.

Brownbag Lunch Video/Talk No. 4
May 7
“Amazon Journal,” produced and directed by Geoffrey O’Connor (1995), introduced by Webre
International Student Office; 12:15 p.m.

Film Screening No. 5 by the College of Education
May 12
“Cidade de Deus (City of God),” directed by Fernando Meirelles (2003)
A. E. Phillips Planetarium; 6:30 p.m.

An honors class of Latin America geography, civilization and culture is also being taught this spring by Webre and Dr. Taylor Mack, an assistant professor of social sciences. This year’s Shaping the 21st Century series is sponsored by the Office of Academic Affairs, the College of Liberal Arts, the College of Education, the International Education Committee and the Working Group on Latin America Studies.

Written by Judith Roberts