Chris Culbertson ’12 presented his Independent Study research in progress as part of the Center for Diversity and Global Engagement (CDGE)’s I-Seminar earlier this month. The I-Seminar brings together students from across the College of Wooster community to present their interdisciplinary research to a diverse group of faculty, staff, and students. The CDGE hopes these seminars will support collaborative and interdisciplinary projects.
Chris, a double major in History and Spanish, is investigating the history of the Mapuche indigenous community’s relationship with the Chilean state. He is especially interested in the work of 20th and 21st century Mapuche poets and the construction of cultural identity in Chile. Chris’ analysis compares and contrasts the themes engaged by both the older generation of poets composing in Mapudungun who remain in their rural communities, and younger authors writing poems in Spanish which address the alienation and difficulties they face after migrating to Chile’s urban centers. Through a careful analysis of the composition and reception of these poems, Chris’ work moves beyond debates over indigenous cultural “authenticity” to argue for a more dynamic notion of Mapuche identity.
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