Speaker: George Yúdice, University of Miami
The topic of his conference will be on creative industries in Latin America. Many Latin American countries have turned to the so-called creative industries – Design, Fashion, Architecture, Cultural Software, Web advertising –, which include a number of more traditional cultural industries such as visual arts, music production, TV & radio, crafts, as a means to increase GDP. It is claimed that the contribution of these industries is as high as 7%, outpacing most other industrial sectors. It is also claimed that they employ a significant percentage of the population, since these industries are labor intensive. After a review of a number of studies of this sector in the most dynamic countries (US, UK, etc.), Dr. Yúdice will take a critical look at how they operate in a number of Latin American countries. It is significant that the Inter-American Development Bank and UNESCO have initiatives to bolster this sector. To what degree are Latin American creative industries competitive and capable of capturing a significant share of the global market? Do these industries provide good opportunities for social inclusion, as is claimed? What innovative initiatives have been formulated?
Dr. George A. Yúdice, is a distinguished Professor of Spanish and Portuguese and Cultural Studies at the University of Miami. He has authored 9 books including,The Expediency of Culture: The Uses of Culture in the Global Era (Durham: Duke University Press, 2003). He has also edited 5 books and published hundreds of articles and chapters in prestigious academic journals and books.