The 19th century brought tumultuous political change to Central and South America. This program shows how the cultural crucible of the region fused and realigned aesthetic movements considered sacrosanct in Europe—specifically, Romanticism, Realism, and Naturalism. In an eclectic matching game that became typical of Latin American literature, Realist and historical novels existed cheek-and-jowl with Romantic poetry, Romantic novels competed with the anecdotes of Ricardo Palma, and newspaper serials vied for attention with costumbrismo—a genre that depicted everyday manners and customs. Jicoténcal, Jorge Isaacs’ Maria, and Gertrudis Gómez de Avellaneda’s Guatimozín, Last Emperor of Mexico are among the works discussed. An FFH&S/Tranquilo Production. (51 minutes)