Thursday, May 20, 2010

Raza Studies on CNN

Tucson High Ethnic Studies on CNN

From Costa Rica with Love...for Futbol

Back from Vacation
I'm reflecting on some issues that come up in Tourism Studies from my recent trip to Costa Rica after having taught there back in 2002. But, I feel like I can post this Nike/World Cup ad that's got my man Gael Garcia Bernal, which gives it shades of Iñárritu a la Rudu y Cursi.

Update July 1
This could be a case of life not mirroring art, or the inevitability of national teams losing even though they have an internationally known player, but The New York Times, among others, has dubbed Nike's "Write the Future" commercial a curse in this World Cup. I find myself of course leaning towards the criticism of capitalism poisoning the well of nations coming together, playing in the spirit of unity (however dangerous the ideology of nationalism can be).

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Los Suns

Celebrating Victories Among Losses(Getty Image)

I was pleased to read on Yahoo Sports that the Suns would be wearing their Cinco de Mayo 'Noche Latina alternates' as a show of solidarity against SB 1070. It's difficult to say whether the Suns are trying to anticipate and avoid a boycott of the team.

Today, I signed a petition to move the baseball All Star Game from Phoenix as a protest, so this could just be what is called 'getting in front' of a controversy/bad news. Either way, more visibility of this issue is what is needed to shame Arizona on a national platform into overturning SB 1070.

Sunday, May 2, 2010

Conference & Marching in South Arizona


New Directions in Critical Theory


This year's conference this past weekend was amazing, and I'm not just saying that because I presented at one panel and moderated another. At the panel I moderated on the GEAR UP writing centers in local high schools, I had the pleasure of Walter Mignolo sitting in the audience as I facilitated a lively discussion.
I like this particular picture because the teachers decided that they didn't want to speak from behind the table during the round-table discussion. Although as more nerves were struck through the course of discussion, I told the panel speakers, "That's why you want the table between you and the audience." At the same time, the empty row in the front there doesn't accurately depict the audience of high school teachers, librarian, college English teachers, administrators and members from the Latino Caucus present.(Caucus members Enrique, Andy, myself, Damian with Paul Espinosa)

Other highlights and speakers from the conference included Paul Espinosa's showing of his PBS film The Border, the trailer of the Dos Vatos documentary Precious Knowledge, and keynote speaker Walter Mignolo's discussion of decoloniality.

(Caucus members Andy, Aja, myself and Enrique with Walter Mignolo)
In the future, I hope to post more on the documentary Precious Knowledge because Dos Vatos are so close to having it completed, but still need to raise funds. I will also elaborate on Mignolo's discussion as well the Saturday March in Tucson against SB1070 that I participated in.