Introduction to U.S. Latinx Studies

Catalog description

Through a hemispheric approach, this course surveys the historical and contemporary forces that have shaped U.S. Latinx literature, culture, society, and politics. We will explore changing categories-such as Spanish, Chicano, Hispanic, Latina/o, Latinx, and Latine-and the production of contemporary U.S. Latinx identities. Course readings will include primary texts such as first-person narratives from mestiza women in the Spanish 18th century mission system, Chicano activist poetry from the 1960s, and contemporary performances like Bad Bunny’s 2026 Super Bowl halftime show. Secondary texts will include scholarly analyses of colonialism; race, ethnicity, class, gender, and sexuality; migration and transnationalism; identity; language; and social movements and power. Coursework will include participation in a mix of faculty-led and small group discussions, with students engaging in small stakes assignments that test comprehension and develop discussion and critical thinking skills, such as quizzes, composing discussion questions, and mini-presentations. Satisfies Latin American Studies major and minor requirement. Satisfies Justice, Equality, and Community requirement.