With the death of Franco came a loosening of political restrictions and a restoration of many civil liberties. In this program, respected authorities look at the past 25 years of literature in post-Franco Spain and the literary inclinations of the next up-and-coming generation of poets, authors, and playwrights. Dramatic readings include excerpts from Manuel Vázquez Montalbán’s "Sin Memoria," Francisco Umbral’s Mortal y Rosa, Juan Goytisolo’s Señas de Identidad, Rosa Regás’ Fábula Moralista, and Antonio Gala’s Poemas de Amor. (Spanish, 50 minutes)

This program discusses reproduction and motherhood in the hyper-patriarchal societies of Latin America. Women on different economic and social levels discuss such topics as working mothers, and how the extended family contributes to child-rearing; the sterilization movement; abortion; gay parenting; manipulation of women’s reproductive rights by governments; and how access to medical services varies from country to country. Also available in English. (59 minutes)

Spanish

This program examines the work of the resolute women of the Puerto Rican independence movement. The first woman mayor of San Juan, Felisa Rincon, discusses problems of delinquency and crime within the culture, and how women are contributing to a solution. Feminism and women’s rights in the areas of divorce, abortion, and employment are examined, along with racism experienced by Puerto Ricans in the U.S. Also available in English. (59 minutes)

Spanish

This program examines the pros and cons of Fidel Castro’s Cuban revolution through the eyes of women exiles in Miami and Castro supporters in Cuba. We hear from several women, including an avid anti-Castro exile and a Cuban television reporter, who tell stories of repression under the Castro regime. Health workers and educators discuss the benefits of Castro’s policies, and the role of women in the revolution. Also available in English. (60 minutes)

Spanish

To the European imagination, America was a tabula rasa, a virgin territory. As this program describes, narrative art forms were essential to making sense of this exotic Eden and the possibilities it offered. New Spain became a place for re-creating myths and legends of the Western literary canon, for transforming poetry, prose, and epic literature. The diaries of Columbus, Bartolomé de las Casas’ History of the Indies, Bernal Díaz’ True History of the Conquest of New Spain, and Bernardino de Sahagún’s Florentine Codex are explored along with works from indigenous authors of the early colonial period—such as Ixtlilxóchitl (History of the Chichimec Nation), Muñoz Camargo (History of Tlaxcala), and Alvarado Tezozomoc (Mexicayotl Chronicle). An FFH&S/Tranquilo Production. (Spanish with optional English subtitles, 47 minutes)

If global warming cycles are natural phenomena, why should humans alter their consumption habits and behavior? Have we really accelerated climate change? This program studies the causes of ozone depletion and the buildup of greenhouse gases—examining both sides of the highly politicized issue while making the case that current warming trends are in fact human-caused. Outlining the importance of the greenhouse effect for life on Earth, the video looks at recent, measurable changes in sub-climates like Bangladesh and Australia; illustrates the roles played by agriculture, deforestation, and pollution; and features interviews with proponents and skeptics of mainstream arguments. Viewable/printable educational resources are available online. (25 minutes)

After Columbus came the conquistadors: intrepid men who, for good and ill, have left an indelible mark on world history. This program dramatizes the conquests of Hernán Cortés and Francisco Pizarro in the Viceroyalties of New Spain and Peru, stories characterized by courage and brutality—on both sides. In addition, cultural exchanges between New World and Old and their effects over time are considered. Viewer discretion is advised. Not available in French-speaking Canada. An RTVE Production. (Spanish with English subtitles, 47 minutes)

As the 1970s progressed, the political climate in Latin America became increasingly dark, with no end in sight to the proliferation of brutal dictatorships. This program analyzes the cultural impact of those developments and the tensions which gave Latin American literature of the period its energy and resonance. With insight into the challenges of writing in the face of tyranny, the program explores the work of authors from the Southern Cone region and offers perspectives on Carlos Monsiváis, Elena Poniatowska, Rodolfo Walsh, Miguel Gutiérrez, Oswaldo Reynoso, Julio Cortázar, Héctor Tizón, and Diamela Eltit. The emergence of the urban crónica is discussed in depth. Some language may be offensive. An FFH&S/Tranquilo Production. (Spanish with optional English subtitles, 53 minutes)