Latin America – St. Thomas Libraries Blog
Browsing Category

Latin America

Latin America, Libraries, Media/Music Collections, News & Events

Join Us for the First Latiné Film Festival at UST

University Libraries, MCL, Film Studies, OCB, HOLA will be hosting the first 2023 Latiné Film Festival this April! The festival will be screening three films: Guie’dani’s Navel (Dir. Xavi Salas, 2018), Song Without a Name (Dir. Melina León, 2019), and Los Lobos (Dir.  Samuel Kishi Leopo, 2019). More details about each film below.
Come view these films to learn more about immigration, nationality, race and ethnicity, and gender in Latin America and the United States.
Broaden your knowledge through these three amazing films and participate in the panel discussion at the end of each film. Even more, attending a film will count for extra credit for Spanish classes and/or an event for the Social Justice & Cultural Transformation for the Common Good TBLC. Receptions will follow.

When: Wednesdays in April (April 5, 19, 26) from 6:00-9:00 p.m.
Where: OEC Auditorium

Wednesday, April 5th at 6pm


Guie’dani’s Navel (2018): This film follows the journey of a young girl forced to leave her indigenous village in southwest Mexico, to accompany her mother as a domestic servant in an affluent neighborhood in Mexico City.

Wednesday, April 19th at 6pm


Song Without a Name (2019): This historical fiction film tells the story of the nightmare that many Indigenous Peruvian women experienced in the 1980s.

Wednesday, April 26th at 6pm


Los Lobos (2019): Los Lobos depicts the struggles of single mother Lucía and her two young sons, Max and Leo, in their early days of their arrival in New Mexico.

If interested, click the link to login and RSVP on Tommie Link: https://stthomas.campuslabs.com/engage/event/8981068

Database Highlights & Trials, Latin America, Libraries, Media/Music Collections, Modern Languages, News & Events

Video Streaming Database Trial: Platino Educa

During the month of February, the University of St. Thomas Libraries is conducting a trial for the Database Platino Educa.  This platform offers unlimited access to hundreds of Spanish and Ibero-American movies and documentaries. It is classified by subjects and covers themes including Environment, Social Sciences, Language and Literature, Arts, and Social Justice.

To access to the trial click this link

Please send comments to Cindy Badilla-Melendez, Head of the Music & Media Collections.

Latin America, Media/Music Collections, O'Shaughnessy-Frey Library

Hispanic Heritage Month (Music and Videos)

Let’s Celebrate Hispanic History Month! with some videos and music. Here are some top films and music to celebrate Hispanic history, art, and culture available to watch or listening online from the Music & Media Collections.

Finding Gaston

Watch Online. Can a cook change his country through his food? FINDING GASTON follows acclaimed chef Gaston Acurio, founder of the world-reknowned restaurant group La Mar Cebicheria and the man largely credited with popularizing Peruvian cuisine across the globe, to find out the stories, inspirations, and dreams behind a man on a mission to change his country with his food. Join the culinary journey into the world of Peruvian cuisine to discover the power of food in Peru, and around the world.

The Latino List

The Latino List: Volume 1 “A unique glimpse into the vibrant and burgeoning culture of Hispanic America through a series of highly personal video portraits of Latinos who have richly contributed to the fabric of contemporary society.
The Latino List: Volume 2

Soul of the Tango: The Music of Astor Piazzolla

Enjoy famed cellist Yo-Yo Ma playing the music of Astor Piazzolla in this Grammy Award-winning audio recording of traditional tango, infused with elements of jazz and classical music to create tango nuevo.

Archivo de Guatemala

Spanish colonies in Central and South America emerged as wellsprings of cultural activity throughout the 17th and 18th centuries. The meeting of indigenous populations with Latin American cathedrals and courtly life.

By Cindy Badilla-Melendez

illustration of red and orange flowers with the text "they tried to bury us they didnt know we were seeds - Mexican proverb"
Latin America, O'Shaughnessy-Frey Library

Latinx Unidos display

This summer, we were fortunate to have two students working with us through the REAL program.  As part of their work at the library, Jackie Ponce Chacon and Mirta Loja Guaman designed the Latinx Unidos book display that is in the lobby of the O’Shaughnessy-Frey library.  We asked Jackie and Mirta for an introduction to their display.

Two women stand in front of their book display titled "Latinx Unidos"

Jackie and Mirta in front of their book display

Hello, our names are Jackie and Mirta,
illustration of flowers in red and orange with the text "They tried to bury us they didn't know we were seeds"
We are excited that we got to work on this project because it’s significant to us and a way to represent our community. The Latinx community has been through many ups and downs these past few years, and we wanted to bring attention to the different problems that Latinos face while trying to “assimilate” in the United States. The books we chose for our display were inspired by the quote “They tried to bury us, they didn’t know we were seeds” by Dinos Christianopoulos. These books were written by Latinxs authors to help readers understand how their experiences either affected or influenced their lives. We hope you enjoy our selection of books, and at least check them out! 🙂


Book List:

Image credit: “They tried to bury us” image by Misha Zadeh, from amplifier.org in the Hear Our Voice exhibition.

Database Highlights & Trials, Latin America, Libraries, Media/Music Collections, News & Events, Political Science

Database Trial: TUGG Films


During the month of March, the University of St. Thomas Libraries is conducting a trial for TUGG. This is a platform that offers content of academic videos in different subjects including:

  • Human Rights
  • Education
  • Environmental Studies
  • Arts and Culture
  • Jewish Studies
  • Politics
  • Asian & Asian American Studies
  • Israel/Palestine Studies
  • Gender Studies
  • Race Studies
  • Technology
  • Psychology

Please send your comments about this resource to Cindy Badilla-Melendez, Head of Music & Media  Collections.

Thank you!

Latin America, Media/Music Collections, Modern Languages, O'Shaughnessy-Frey Library

Distant Lands on Video

Exciting places may be thousands of miles away but learning about them only takes one trip to the Music and Media Collections located on the first floor of the O’Shaughnessy-Frey Library. Our extensive selection of travel-related DVDs covers all continents and all countries. For additional options, check out our films by country of origin.

Prepare to look at Machu Picchu in a whole new way with the PBS documentary Time Scanners. Using the latest 3D laser-scanning technology, structural engineer Steve Burrows and his team scan this sacred Incan city in the heart of the Peruvian Andes.
F 3429.1 .M3 M3 2016 DVD

Journey with famed travel expert Rick Steves to Greece and Turkey. His documentary takes you from vibrant Athens to the hauntingly beautiful Delphi in Greece. Lose yourself in the unique city of Istanbul, wander through the Grecian temples of the western region, and experience folk dancing in Central Turkey. Steves concludes this trip with Mount Ararat and Mount Nemrut in the East.
DF 728 .G74 2009 DVD

In need of a longer expedition? A History of Scotland is a ten-part series hosted by archeologist Neil Oliver that charts Scotland’s past through battles, religious conflicts, and political intrigue. This comprehensive documentary features remarkable, award-winning cinematography.
DA 757.5 .H57 2010 disc 1-2 DVD

By Sarah Pavey

 

Latin America, Libraries, Modern Languages, News & Events

1st International Film Festival on Campus

All are cordially invited to attend a first of its kind on the St. Thomas campus International Film Festival 2018.  This collaborative effort represents five departments (Modern & Classical Languages, St.Thomas Libraries, Office of Student Affairs, Student Diversity & Inclusion Services, and Film Studies) who have chosen the theme Cultural Placements and Displacements:  Perceptions and Self Perceptions of a Cultural Identity.

The opening film, “Faces Places” was nominated for an Oscar this year in the Best Documentary – Feature category.

Schedule of Events  – all films will be shown in the OEC Auditorium beginning at 6:30 pm
Thursday, March 15     “Faces Places”   from France    (Opening Reception follows)
Thursday, March 22     “Who is Dayani Cristal?”  from Mexico
Thursday, April 12         “Shun Li and the Poet”  from Italy
Thursday, April 19        “North Face”  from Germany     (Closing Reception follows)

Discussion sessions will be held after most films.

The St. Thomas International Film Festival 2018 is free and open to all.  The entire university community and the general public are welcome and encouraged to attend.  Please plan to join us!

OEC Auditorium Building # 5  https://www.stthomas.edu/media/campusmaps/stpaul2Dalpha.pdf

The O’Shaughnessy Educational Center (OEC) Auditorium is on the University of St. Thomas campus at 2115 Summit Avenue in St. Paul, Minnesota. The nearest cross street is Cleveland and Portland.

Parking: Morrison Ramp #18 https://www.stthomas.edu/media/campusmaps/stpaul2Dalpha.pdf

Latin America, Libraries, Media/Music Collections, News & Events, O'Shaughnessy-Frey Library

Day of the Dead Documentaries

By Sofia Wolf

As many people celebrate Halloween today, another holiday is being celebrated: Día de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead. This holiday is celebrated throughout Mexico, particularly in the central and southern regions of the country, where the celebration originated. Day of the Dead is also observed in other regions where people with Mexican ancestry live, especially in the United States. This multi-day celebration, which takes place from October 31st -November 2nd, is a day of remembrance for loved ones and a celebration of their lives.

If you would like to learn more about the Day of the Dead or other holidays celebrated throughout the world, the Music & Media Collection has vast databases with documentaries about world religions, anthropology, sociology, language, art and many other subjects.

Below are links to several documentaries about Day of the Dead:

Festivals: Day of the Dead, Mexico

Mexico: Day of the Dead – My Americas

Day of the Dead: A Mexican Celebration

Classical Languages, Latin America, Libraries, Media/Music Collections, Modern Languages, New Materials, News & Events, O'Shaughnessy-Frey Library

Foreign Language Films via Kanopy

kanopy The UST Libraries is pleased to announce the new subscription to the Foreign Language Films , a streaming movie collection delivered by “Kanopy.” We have over 40 foreign films available via any computer on campus or from your home computer.

Access to these films through the Library Catalog CLICnet, or you can go through the above link and browse.

If you have questions about this streaming film collection, please feel free to contact Cindy Badilla-Meléndez, Media Resources Librarian at cbadillame@stthomas.edu

Classical Languages, Database Highlights & Trials, Latin America, Libraries, Media/Music Collections, Modern Languages, New Materials, News & Events, O'Shaughnessy-Frey Library

World Cinema Video Database

FOD The UST Libraries is pleased to announce the new subscription to the World Cinema Video Database, a streaming movie collection delivered by “Films on Demand.” We have over 400 foreign films available via any computer on campus or from your home computer.

Access to these films through the Library Catalog CLICnet, or you can go through the above link and browse by country. To watch a film, click on the “title of film.” .

If you have questions about this streaming film collection, please feel free to contact Cindy Badilla-Meléndez, Media Resources Librarian at cbadillame@stthomas.edu