A Cultural Genealogy of the Patagonian Giants from Magellan to Darwin

The Margaret Anstee Centre for Global Studies would like to invite you to join us as we hear from our PhD candidate Victoria Cogorno (Newnham, Latin American Studies) as she presents key findings and outcomes of her PhD research. Lunch will be provided.

A Cultural Genealogy of the Patagonian Giants from Magellan to Darwin.

Abstract: "One day we suddenly saw a naked man of giant stature on the shore of the port, dancing, singing, and throwing dust on his head... He was so tall that we reached only to his waist". Ferdinand Magellan's description of Argentina's Patagonia, the first written representation of the region, introduced a land of giants and monsters into the archives. The archetypical depiction of the land of monsters circulated across European travellers over the next two centuries until, in the early nineteenth century, Charles Darwin and French naturalist Alcide D'Orbigny offered a refutation. Across centuries of Patagonia's depiction lies a history of evolving epistemes, scientific revolution, and colonial entanglements. This talk explores the history of the region's representation approaching Patagonia as the European traveller's epistemological frontier.

The seminar will take place from 12.30pm to 2.00pm on Thursday 7 May in Sidgwick Hall, Newnham College, Sidgwick Avenue, Cambridge CB3 9DF.

All welcome! Reserve your place.

Image: Americae sive qvartae orbis partis nova et exactissima descriptio