Meet Neta Kanny | Scholar & Language Enthusiast

We had the good fortune of connecting with Neta Kanny and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Neta, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I was born in Israel but moved to the United States as a young child. As an immigrant with Mizrahi and Ashkenazi migratory family histories in the Jewish diaspora, movement, language, and identity have always been at the core of my personal story and continue to shape and impact my academic and professional experiences and careers.

Currently, I am a Ph.D. student of Literary, Cultural, and Linguistic Studies with a focus on Spanish and Portuguese at the University of Miami (UM), where I research transnational and diasporic cultural productions across the Latin American region related to the Venezuelan migrant crisis. I also teach Spanish and Portuguese to UM students, aiming to impart my love for language and culture to our world’s future global citizens.

Now you might ask, how did an Israeli-American become interested in this field of work? In the seventh grade, I began learning Spanish, sparking my immense love affair with the language, cultures, and stories of the Spanish-speaking world. Later, during my undergraduate studies, I began learning Portuguese, further developing my passion for the Lusophone world, Brazil in particular. I’ve had numerous experiences since then, including teaching English in a bilingual elementary school in the south of Spain, training as a Spanish Literacy Promoter with the Peace Corps in the Dominican Republic, consulting for the Carter Center on the 2021 Nicaraguan elections, and serving as the Venezuela Intern for the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs. I am driven by my love of language to impact change, whether at the local level through teaching or globally through shaping policy.

My passion for Venezuela began during my Master’s program in Applied Languages and Intercultural Studies – COVID prevented me from going to Colombia for an internship focused on Venezuelan migration, but I knew that I had to continue with this research later on in my doctoral studies, as I became increasingly invested in the complex Venezuelan experience of the twenty-first century. This crisis has become one of the worst in recent history, with nearly 8 million Venezuelans leaving Venezuela over the last decade due to the country’s devastating socioeconomic conditions, undemocratic political instability, and concerning deterioration of human rights. Due to the relative novelty of the crisis within the humanities academic space, I am proud to not only share Venezuelan migrant stories and experiences through my research but to also help shape cultural discourse surrounding evolving Venezuelan trauma and identity, exploring how these continue to affect cultural productions across the region.

After my studies, I ultimately hope to continue amplifying Latin American voices either by remaining in academia or pursuing a career in diplomacy. The most important component for me is to continue participating in spaces that allow me the opportunity to use my language skills to create connections, share stories, and hopefully make the world a more just place. As a polyglot (I speak Hebrew, English, Spanish, and Portuguese fluently, and French and Italian at the intermediate level), I am excited to continue expanding my abilities to learn other languages (who knows what will come next, maybe Arabic or Farsi?) – language is one of the fundamental ways we not only connect with others but also create community through authentic communication!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
In addition to publishing (I have an academic article focusing on the use of censorship to silence dissident Venezuelan theater and the performativity of the late Hugo Chávez that comes out this year!), I have a couple of exciting digital projects that I’ve begun developing over the last year related to Venezuelan diasporic cultural productions and the conditions and experiences of the country’s migrant crisis.

The first is my recently launched academic Instagram, @venezolaneta, a space to organize and delve into my Ph.D. research on all things Venezuela and Latin America. As the account develops, I’ll be sharing books, films, theater, art, current events, my research projects, conference presentations, and more related to the Venezuelan migrant crisis and diaspora, as well as other regional and transnational productions and stories.

Another project that is quite out of my comfort zone is a digital humanities cartography visualization, where I map the productions that I work with and on to show Venezuelan creatives and their migration patterns as trends for Venezuelan migration at large. It’s been challenging getting the hang of cartography programming, but I’m enjoying the ride!

In general, researching Venezuela through the lens of cultural studies has been both exhilarating and daunting, as there are few academics currently exploring this area. I take immense inspiration from Venezuelan migrants and creatives who share their stories and experiences amidst some of the most difficult socioeconomic, political, and humanitarian conditions. As an immigrant and student of language, I am an avid storyteller and hope to make Venezuelans everywhere proud through my work by continuing to uplift their voices in spaces that typically lack their representation. While I don’t face nearly the same challenges as the Venezuelans directly affected by such strife, I continue to push through any possible barriers to shed light on the wide array of Venezuelan perspectives that make the Venezuelan case so unique amongst the conditions of the rest of the region.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
It’s funny, when I tell people I live in Miami, they assume that all there is to do is just party 24/7, but the city has so much more to it! As someone who draws inspiration from culture, art, and food, and enjoys being outdoors, Miami truly has so much to offer! Over the last year and a half that I’ve lived here, I’ve created an exciting itinerary that my friends love:

Our first stop is usually the beach – who doesn’t love to catch some sun? My favorite spot is Key Biscayne – there aren’t many tourists throughout the week, parking is easy, food trucks offer yummy bites to eat or refreshing smoothies, there are paddleboards for rent, and the sunset views are stunning! If you like to be outdoors, the Vizcaya Botanical Gardens are quite close to Biscayne – the property and gardens are breathtaking!

For my artsy friends, you can’t miss the Peréz Art Museum and the Wynwood Walls! There are many shops and restaurants in the surrounding area to explore! There are always unique exhibits on display from both local and global artists. For those who like to attend performances, the Colony Theater on Lincoln Road and the Arsht Center present exciting shows, including many with local actors.

I also love taking my friends to the Books & Books flagship location in Coral Gables – it’s not only my favorite place to study, but on Wednesday nights, they have local artists playing live music. It’s the perfect environment to enjoy a glass of wine and of course to purchase books from an independent bookstore!

For brunch and dessert, I always go to Coconut Grove – Le Pain Quotidien has the most delicious breakfast sandwiches, and the Arbequina Olive Oil ice cream at Salt & Straw is simply the best! There are plenty of boutiques for shopping as well, so the area has something for everyone!

Last but not least, visiting Little Havana is always a must! I love to take my friends to one of Miami’s Cuban staples, Versailles – the bakery has incredibly delicious pastries, and the restaurant’s menu has authentic Cuban dishes that you can’t resist! Of course, the area has plenty of options to choose from, but it’s fun nonetheless to explore!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I dedicate this shoutout to the millions of Venezuelans who have bravely left their home country, many by foot, in pursuit of a better life amidst Venezuela’s deteriorating conditions, and the creatives of the Venezuelan diaspora and other countries across the Latin American region who continue to share and highlight migrant and dissident perspectives, stories, and experiences through their respective cultural productions. As an immigrant with a family history filled with persecution, trauma, and loss, I see much of my and my family’s stories in those of Venezuelan migrants. Even amidst increasing poverty rates, displacement, and threats of imprisonment and oppression at the hands of the State, Venezuelans continue to demonstrate resiliency and love for their country. The Venezuelan people have an especially important year ahead, with upcoming presidential elections that could completely change the country’s future trajectory and the possible return of millions of Venezuelans back home.

I would also like to thank my language teachers and professors over the years for inspiring my passion for language and culture. I couldn’t imagine my life without the many experiences centered around language, and it’s because of them that I aspire to be the best language educator for my students, motivating them to reach their potential and expand the possibilities of their futures through exploring the world and connecting with others through language.

Lastly, I have immense gratitude for my family and ancestors, who have paved the way for me to achieve my dreams. As a proud Israeli-Jewish woman, I wouldn’t be who I am today without the legacies of my family’s stories and experiences, and I’m grateful to continue growing and learning in their footsteps.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/venezolaneta/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/netakanny/