The Sociology Video Project

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Title: The hidden story: confronting Colombia’s dirty war

Rating: 3.8 out of 4

Reference: Toronto, ON: KAIROS, 2001.
29 minutes
Call number: video 6227

Abstract: The media has had a powerful influence in shaping Colombia's international image. However, camouflaged by its fascination with drug violence are human rights violations the media has largely ignored. The Hidden Story analyses the roots of the conflict, the role of the US-sponsored Plan Colombia as well as Canada's connection to the crisis.

Reviews and Numerical Ratings

3.5 Lots to like: it’s well-paced, at the right level (e.g., locates Colombia on a map & identifies its main industries), brings in historical context effectively (implicates Canada too, which is interesting), shows violence in a way that doesn’t desensitize viewers, avoids romanticization, emphasizes the agency of Colombian people. Lecture topics: media analysis, international relations. Kathy Bischoping & Pnina Ginzberg

4 Reveals how North American media stereotypes of Colombia as a violent drug-trafficking haven conceal the issue of human rights violations occurring there. Reveals issues of poverty, globalisation, civil war, genocide of the indigenous population, & racism, and how these issues in the Third World are directly connected to the Western world. Canada, often seen as neutral, has an involvement in funding the war. And, while the West says it is funding a war on drugs, really they’re funding genocide in order to get their hands on resources. The Western world isn’t taking responsibility for this or acting accountably, but rather blaming all the violations on drug trafficking. I found this to be an excellent video, depicting the power of media & discourse in connection to racial profiling & representation. It would be good for Mass Communication, Sociology, Social Science & Political Science courses. For students in 3rd & 4th year. Kisrene McKenzie (undergraduate)

Please contact Kathy Bischoping (kbischop@yorku.ca) if you’re interested in writing a third review of this video.

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