Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs
CLACS

CLACS Reading Group | The Latin American Essay | Ailton Krenak

Latin American Essay Reading Group Ailton Krenak

Thursday, March 7, 2024

1:00-3:00 p.m.

59 Charlesfield St. (101)

About the Text
Ailton Krenak, A vida não é útil. Available in English translation.

About the Series
This reading group explores the intellectual landscape of Latin America produced outside of the US Academy. Who are some of the thinkers that are shaping the region’s intellectual discourse? Our selection of readings transcends disciplinary boundaries and incorporates diverse perspectives and backgrounds, from Brazil to Guatemala, from Mexico to Colombia. But it also transcends genre limitations, because we believe that critical thinking can be achieved through different creative approaches. As we delve into these essays, encompassing political, racial, and cultural topics, we'll ponder pressing questions that challenge our worldview: Why are certain bodies disproportionately subjected to violence?  How is the Mexican sewage system tied to a powerful publishing house and the fight of Indigenous peoples? What did the pandemic teach us about the “usefulness” of our bodies?  Why do we separate our reality from that of our territory? Four of the texts in this reading group are written in Spanish, while one is in Portuguese. However, English translations are available when available to ensure accessibility and inclusivity. 

Please contact Alba Lara Granero or Amanda Macedo Macedo to receive the reading material in advance.

Over the course of the 2023-2024 academic year, the Latin American Essay Reading Group will explore the following topics: 

Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023Lorena Cabral, “El relato de las violencias desde mi territorio cuerpo-tierra” 
Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024Laura Quintana, Política de los cuerpos. Emancipaciones desde y más allá de Jacques Rancière. Available in English translation.
Thursday, March 7, 2024Ailton Krenak, A vida não é útil. Available in English translation. 
Thursday, April 4, 2024: Mariana Orantes, Visita guiada al mundo de los muertos
Thursday, April 25, 2024: Diego Rodríguez Landeros, Drenajes