Latino Communities in the U.S.

Catalog description

This course is an interdisciplinary socio-political and cultural survey of Latinx communities in the U.S. It examines the Latinx presence in the US, from its origins in the sixteenth century to the present day. It explores comparative ethnicrelations and struggles for community representation, persistence and self-sustainability. Through readings, lectures, film, research and discussions, the course studies the development of Latinx diasporas, their cultural expressions and traditions, and their contribution to US American society. Students will also analyze the legacy of Indigenous, Black and feminists movements and the distinctand at times counter cultural worldviews of Chicanxs and Nuyoricans, among other groups. Other topics include language, media representation, migration patterns,borderlands theory, decolonial politics and aesthetics and economic impact. The objective of the class is to facilitate entries into Latinx culture and identities while framing the struggle for visibility, human rights and artistic platforms in the U.S.