Interseminars Spotlight: Jose Figueroa Díaz

Jose Figueroa Díaz (Spanish, Literature and Culture) is a member of the 24–25 graduate cohort for “Collisions Across Color Lines,” the third Interseminars project funded by the Mellon Foundation. Jose reflects on how his experiences and interests align with Interseminars.

 

In what ways do your research interests connect to the theme “Collisions Across Color Lines”?

My current research interests focus on poetry written during the period of political and social turmoil in Honduras in the second half of the 20th century. To examine and showcase a literary discourse produced amidst violence and military dictatorships is to analyze the embedded political and social structures of inequality that we are currently exploring in our Interseminar discussions. Studying the works of Honduran writers such as Roberto Sosa, José Luis Quesada, José Adán Castelar, and Rigoberto Paredes highlights a rich literary tradition that continues to challenge these same pervasive social and political hierarchies that persist in Honduras today.

How has the Interseminars initiative impacted the way you approach your research?

The Interseminars initiative has provided me with new research methodologies and theoretical frameworks.  It has encouraged me to explore other fields of knowledge, which have the potential to deepen my research interests. Often, each discipline has its own traditions, canonical texts, and authors that guide and shape the research in the field. And there is often a set way of approaching a topic and examining a cultural discourse. However, by observing how others conduct research in their fields, it is possible to question these established methods and consider alternative approaches. Additionally, the initiative has prompted me to investigate other sources of knowledge production that are often overlooked and marginalized but have the potential to be central to a comprehensive understanding of my research interests.

Can you describe a group interaction or activity from Interseminars that has been particularly memorable?

I particularly enjoyed learning about the work of Guatemalan writer and anthropologist Irma Alicia Nimatuj. She is an inspiring figure who has had a significant impact on her community through both her academic and non-academic work. Although we come from neighboring countries with distinct experiences and research interests, her perspective on academic work and her sense of responsibility towards others is truly admirable. Nimatuj exemplifies someone who is able to leverage their academic abilities to contribute to scholarly discourse while also engaging in work that has a tangible impact on people’s lives. She is acutely aware of her privilege as someone who has had access to higher education and uses this privilege to benefit those who are less fortunate.

How will you bring interdisciplinary collaboration into the next phase of your graduate school experience?

I believe that the Interseminar experience has influenced my approach to future research. It has exposed me to diverse fields of study and research methodologies, including anthropology, dance, and art. By incorporating texts from these fields into my own research, I hope to explore new perspectives and approaches to my current interests.