Scholars presented the latest research on ethnic studies defining the visible differences in economy, class, education and culture during "Siglo XXI: Economies of Class, Economies of Culture" Thursday at the Center for Mexican-American Studies.
The scholars came from institutions around the nation that have centers in Latino, Mexican-American, Chicano, Puerto Rican and Dominican Studies, including Texas A&M University, Loyola Marymount University and the University of Notre Dame, said Elvira Prieto, academic advisor at UT's Center for Mexican-American Studies.
"I'm curious about how we construct the subject matter of Latino-American studies," said Karen Mary Davalos of Loyola Marymount University.
Davalos explained how Latino-American studies is anthologized into different subgroups such as Mexican-American or Puerto Rican. Aside from art, dance and music, where the topic includes all ethnicities, Latin cultures rarely come together as a whole, Davalos said.
"I'm cynical about the term 'globalization,'" said Richard R. Flores, UT associate dean of liberal arts. The term engenders a lack of analysis, Flores said. "We need not to invoke it as a mantra," he said.
Flores explained that social forces have shaped culture and identity, reconverting culture into a commodity. If we do not understand the true process of globalization and how it reconceptualizes culture, we will be fooled, Flores said.
The conference continues through Saturday at the Doubletree Guest Suites Hotel at 303 W. 15th St.
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