Posted: Friday, August 31, 2012

As part of the University of Evansville’s Andiron Lecture Series in the liberal arts and sciences, Diana Rodríguez Quevedo, assistant professor of Spanish, will present “Skipping Beats: The Impact of the Illegal Drug Trade on Colombian Music.”

Rodríguez Quevedo will speak at 4 p.m. Wednesday, September 5 in Eykamp 252, Ridgway University Center. Her lecture is free and open to the public.

“Colombia’s music has undergone some transformations due to the influence of the illegal drug trade over the past four decades,” said Rodríguez Quevedo. “Cumbia, once known as the emblematic rhythm of the nation, was replaced by vallenato, which itself faced competition from the production and commercialization of narcocorridos or prohibited corridos. This lecture will offer an overview of the main impacts the illicit drug trade has had on Colombian music.”

Rodríguez Quevedo holds a PhD from the University of Toronto. At UE, she teaches a wide variety of courses such as Spanish language, Spanish conversation, business Spanish, Latin American culture and civilization, and Latin American literature. Her research focuses on non-canonical texts of Latin America, such as testimonio narratives and songs.

Established in 1982, the Andiron Lectures offer stimulating research, commentary, and reflection from many fields of study. Presenters are primarily drawn from the faculty of UE’s College of Arts and Sciences but also include faculty members and administrators from across the University campus and occasional contributions from the regional community. The Andiron Lectures are sponsored by the University of Evansville College of Arts and Sciences and supported by a generous gift from Donald B. and Jean Korb.

For more information, please contact series coordinator M. Christine Mohn at 812-488-2585 or the College of Arts and Sciences at 812-488-2589.

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