Latin-American Cinema: Poetry, Rhythms and Revolutions
Course code
YID7023.YM
old course code
Course title in Estonian
Ladina-Ameerika kino: luule, rütmid ja revolutsioonid
Course title in English
Latin-American Cinema: Poetry, Rhythms and Revolutions
ECTS credits
6.0
Assessment form
assessment
lecturer of 2025/2026 Spring semester
Carlos Eduardo Lesmes Lopez (language of instruction:English)
lecturer of 2026/2027 Autumn semester
Not opened for teaching. Click the study programme link below to see the nominal division schedule.
Course aims
The course aims to develop critical competences in the students, focusing on Latin American cinema and its history as a window towards the cultural and social development of the region. Thus, expanding the media literacy of the attendants while encouraging analytical thinking.
The approach is to think of films as an encounter (Andreu, 2020) with reality proposed by the authors and through that encounter expand the critical tools to relate to the present of a globalized world that is rapidly changing.
The approach is to think of films as an encounter (Andreu, 2020) with reality proposed by the authors and through that encounter expand the critical tools to relate to the present of a globalized world that is rapidly changing.
Brief description of the course
Following the structure of a journey from the south to the north of Latin America the course will focus on the developments and cinematic expressions of the region, emphasizing Latin America as a place of encounter between cultures and how this mixture of worlds created specific expressions in film. Ranging from the colonial past to the idea of an emerging global south, marked by social and political revolutions that give its cinema a unique identity.
Latin America has been marked by the idea of the revolution, from social and cultural to artistic and in the course we will dig deep into the meaning of that idea, the constant striving towards a fight, a fighting spirit that strives to find its voice in a global context. A voice marked by the impacts of colonization, syncretism and rhythms.
The course proposes cinema as an encounter between the makers and the audience, an encounter through which the specifics of a culture and its history can shine on the silver screen. This is because cinema is a wide-open window into the specificity of Latin America and its transformations, a window that invites us to analyze history, social and artistic revolutions and how they can reflect upon what is considered the western world and our present in Estonia.
The course uses examples of Latin-American films - older and contemporary- to open the discussion about history, social development, artistic expressions and potential futures of the region.
This activity invites the students to dwell into the suggested literature and discuss in class, each of them bringing the unique perspective of their fields. Watching and discussing enhances the discursive and analytical abilities of the students while inviting them to embrace a more holistic approach towards knowledge.
Latin America has been marked by the idea of the revolution, from social and cultural to artistic and in the course we will dig deep into the meaning of that idea, the constant striving towards a fight, a fighting spirit that strives to find its voice in a global context. A voice marked by the impacts of colonization, syncretism and rhythms.
The course proposes cinema as an encounter between the makers and the audience, an encounter through which the specifics of a culture and its history can shine on the silver screen. This is because cinema is a wide-open window into the specificity of Latin America and its transformations, a window that invites us to analyze history, social and artistic revolutions and how they can reflect upon what is considered the western world and our present in Estonia.
The course uses examples of Latin-American films - older and contemporary- to open the discussion about history, social development, artistic expressions and potential futures of the region.
This activity invites the students to dwell into the suggested literature and discuss in class, each of them bringing the unique perspective of their fields. Watching and discussing enhances the discursive and analytical abilities of the students while inviting them to embrace a more holistic approach towards knowledge.
Learning outcomes in the course
Upon completing the course the student:
- demonstrates knowledge of the history and key trends of Latin American cinema, is able to identify significant works and place them within their historical and cultural contexts;
- analyzes the cultural and societal meanings of Latin American films, considering historical, political, and social background factors;
- compares the aesthetics and storytelling strategies of Latin American and Western European cinema, highlighting similarities and differences;
- develops skills in argumentation and critical discussion through audiovisual art, expressing viewpoints either orally and/or in written form.
- demonstrates knowledge of the history and key trends of Latin American cinema, is able to identify significant works and place them within their historical and cultural contexts;
- analyzes the cultural and societal meanings of Latin American films, considering historical, political, and social background factors;
- compares the aesthetics and storytelling strategies of Latin American and Western European cinema, highlighting similarities and differences;
- develops skills in argumentation and critical discussion through audiovisual art, expressing viewpoints either orally and/or in written form.
Teacher
Carlos E. Lesmes, Diego Alejandro Barajas Riaño
Additional information
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