Dr. Paloma Vargas Montes, visiting scholar in residence, at KU from April 1-14


The University of Kansas Libraries, along with support from the Institute of Digital Research in the Humanities and other campus sponsors, will host visiting scholar Dr. Paloma Vargas Montes from Tecnológico de Monterrey in Mexico from April 1-14. Dr. Vargas Montes holds a PhD in History (École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales, Paris) and in Hispanic Literature (University of Navarra). Her research focuses on the ethno-history of the Mexican indigenous people by using textual criticism and book materiality methods in the study of primary sources.

During her stay she will give three public talks (details below), will work on two digital research projects, and participate in several classroom visits and other events. Please see below for the schedule of public events:

 

Monday, April 1, 1pm – 2pm in Watson 455. Meet and Greet

Join us on Dr. Vargas’s first day on campus for an informal meet and greet in Watson 455. Light refreshments will be served.

Tuesday, April 2, 3pm – 4:30pm in the Hall Center. Digital Humanities Seminar

“Building DH Scholars in northern Mexico: the case of the Tecnológico de Monterrey’s Master in Digital Humanities”

Description: For a year and a half, a group of 15 scholars affiliated to the Tecnológico de Monterrey have been working on the curriculum for an online Master on digital humanities which will be available on September 2019. The MHD will offer two lines of work and research:  Cultural heritage and Digital Culture. The university has a long tradition in online education and a solid presence in South America. It is expected that the MHD will impact strongly in other countries, besides Mexico, like Peru, Colombia and Ecuador. This talk will present the process of creation of this program as a case study which exemplifies the challenges and opportunity areas of building DH scholarship in Latin America.

Wednesday, April 3, 3pm – 4:30pm in the Hall Center. Colonialism Seminar

“Cosmogony and culture of the Aztecs of XVI century Mexico: the accounts of Sahagún and Durán”

Description: The primary sources for the study of Prehispanic cosmogony of the Nahua people, the Aztecs, are contained on the chronicles of the friars, who recover the past of the indigenous people as a result of their evangelization efforts. This talk will present the works of Bernardino de Sahagún and Diego Durán, two authors who inherited us with the great accounts of mythology, rites and beliefs of the Aztecs.

Monday, April 8, 3pm – 4:30pm in Tommaney Hall, Haskell Indian Nations University

Indigeneity and the Digital: A Panel with Tiffany Midge and Paloma Vargas

Description: How are digital technologies changing the ways in which Indigenous communities represent themselves? How are these same technologies transforming the general public’s understanding of Indigenous history, culture, and social justice issues? Join us for this important conversation as these two internationally-renowned scholars share their perspectives.

 

Dr. Vargas will have a cubicle on the fourth floor of Watson Library, and will also be available to meet with faculty, staff and students during her stay. Please let Brian Rosenblum (brianrosemblum@ku.edu) know if you would like to schedule a time to meet with her.

This visit is made by possible by the following generous sponsors: School of Languages, Literatures and Cultures | College of Liberal Arts and Sciences | Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies | Dept. of Spanish & Portuguese Indigenous Studies Program | Center for Global and International Studies | Dept. of English | Dept. of History | Hall Center for the Humanities | Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion | Institute for Digital Research in the Humanities | Dept. of Anthropology | Office of International Programs | Dept. of American Studies