Reference no: EM133271538

1. This module revisits the concept of "self-determination." Discuss the significance of Simón Bolívar and the Jamaica Letter/Carta de Jamaica. Why do you think the era of colonization led to an era of nation-building and the rise of nationalism? There is not one answer to this question of course; in your response, consider some of the contextual factors that may have contributed to different peoples and cultures in the Americas wanting to not only have their own nations but to develop stronger identities for them.

2. Review the section in this module's reading on the romanticized Argentine gaucho figure Martín Fierro and its similarities to the main characters in Mexican and Central American corridos and African American "bad man folk tales."

Reflect on what contextual factors may have influenced the popularity of these "bad men" folk heroes? Aren't heroes supposed to be "good?" What would make a cultural moment want to elevate anti-heroes? What might the popularity of these characters in poetry and song tell us about some of the cultural changes that were taking place as the colonial period gave way to the modern era?