The mid-20th century was an era of large-scale and often tragically violent political shifts which completely changed the face of Latin American life—and art. As this program demonstrates, the rise of military dictatorships and authoritarian regimes forced a reassessment of issues that had been problematic since Latin American countries gained their independence. These dilemmas brought intense pressure on social institutions and energized the works of Jorge Luis Borges, Octavio Paz, Pablo Neruda, Roberto Arlt, César Vallejo, Alejo Carpentier, Silvina Ocampo, and Juan Carlos Onetti. The significance of the Rio de la Plata region and Ángel Rama’s concept of narrative transculturation also inform the discussion. An FFH&S/Tranquilo Production. (50 minutes)