Speak Through the Screen: Idaho State University Professor Publishes Book on Conflict through Films

Idaho and Peru have a few things in common: beautiful mountains, lots of potatoes and rich indigenous cultures. Peru, however, has a much different history.

María Claudia Huerta Vera, an assistant professor of Spanish in Idaho State University’s Department of Anthropology and Languages, recently published a new book on the legacy of Peru’s internal armed conflict and the role of film during this period of history, titled “Cine Rebelde: Documentales y conflicto armado interno en el Perú” (Rebel Cinema: Documentaries and internal armed conflict in Peru).

As Huerta Vera explains, the Peruvian Internal Armed Conflict describes the political violence between the Peruvian government and insurgent groups from 1980-2000. The conflict was brutal, involving human rights violations perpetrated by all sides; indigenous communities were disproportionately affected in the Andean highlands, which has left persistent divisions across Peru. However, film played an important narrative and reparative role during and after the conflict.

“Film has allowed victims from every side of the conflict to share personal stories that were initially overlooked or excluded by mainstream media and those in positions of power, including the government,” said Huerta Vera. 

“Through their work, they bring attention to the experiences of different social actors, particularly those whose voices were silenced or marginalized during the Peruvian Internal Armed Conflict. In doing so, these films can challenge dominant narratives, reshape how the conflict is remembered and understood, and preserve the experiences of those who might otherwise be forgotten. Filmmakers continue to play an important role in keeping these voices visible and ensuring alternative perspectives are included in the collective memory of the conflict.”

The book, published in Spanish, has gained traction in Peru. Huerta Vera hopes to publish an English version as well, to share her research with a wider audience.

“Understanding how film has shaped the memory of the Peruvian Internal Armed Conflict over the past 40 years can help readers understand not only how collective memory is constructed, but also how it continues to influence the present. I hope this book encourages readers to reflect on Peru’s current political polarization and how interpretations of the past shape contemporary political and social divisions,” she said.

Huerta Vera also shared her feelings about getting her work published.

“Having this book published is very meaningful to me, as it brings together the research I conducted for my doctoral dissertation. It is especially meaningful to me to publish the book in Spanish and in Peru,” she said.

Huerta Vera also had the opportunity to host an online book presentation on October 23 alongside professors Charles Walker, Mauricio Godoy and Guadalupe Pérez Recalde. Next year, she is looking forward to presenting her work in person all around Peru.

Interested in learning more? Check out the book on the publisher’s website.