Copyright

Kathleen Ann Myers

Published On

2024-03-05

Page Range

pp. 44–69

Language

  • English

Print Length

26 pages

1. New Directions in the Sierra Norte de Sevilla

Juan Vázquez Morán and Family (Constantina, Sevilla)

  • Kathleen Ann Myers (author)
Chapter of: A Country of Shepherds: Cultural Stories of a Changing Mediterranean Landscape(pp. 44–69)
Featuring the case study of Juan Vázquez Morán and his family, this chapter describes
life within the industry of transhumance as well as the incredible dedication and commitment needed to excel in this profession, particularly to ensure ethical practices. It depicts transhumance, the seasonal movement of herd animals, as an extensive grazing model undergoing a (not entirely voluntary) process of modernization. Morán and other shepherds now own their livestock, and their family members look for other ways to develop markets for their products. He talks of the hardships and prejudice of growing up in a shepherding family but also of the heart-warming solidarity that can be found within this community. The chapter provides insights into communication between shepherds and their sheep or goats and into ethical milking practices. While highlighting the challenges of traditional pastoralism, this chapter also comments on the growing hope amongst workers as the profession develops and a larger system of support emerges. This chapter concludes with an update on Juan’s life and profession following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Contributors

Kathleen Ann Myers

(author)
Professor of Spanish and History at Indiana University Bloomington

Kathleen Ann Myers is Professor of Spanish and History at Indiana University-Bloomington. She received her doctorate in Hispanic Studies from Brown University. She has published widely on a variety of topics, including books about women writers in colonial Mexico (Liverpool 1993, Indiana University Press 1999, Oxford 2003) and the Spanish conquest and colonization of the Americas (Texas University Press 2007). Her recent studies include books on cultural geographies and coloniality in contemporary Mexico (University of Arizona Press 2015, University of Toronto 2024). This research has been generously funded by a variety of organizations, including Indiana University, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Fulbright Scholar Program, the Spanish Ministry for Education and Culture, the Centro de Estudios de Ciencias Sociales (Mexico), the American Philosophical Association, the Huntington Library, and the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas of Spain (CSIC).