Writing Amerindian Americas

Catalog description

This course examines the European imperial project in the Americas through the lens of Indigenous writing and cultural responses. By examining indigenous texts from throughout the Americas, we will trace the way native orality and writing has negotiated the impact of imperialism, as well as the various ways in which these responses have helped to shape hybrid, autochthonous cultures throughout the western hemisphere. We will examine both primary texts and engage in a critical reappraisal of the framework we use to understand the origins, genesis and afterlife of European and American imperial projects. Although the bulk of the materials will be from the 16th through the 19th centuries, we will also examine more contemporary texts and cultural artifacts, as well as consider the ways in which genre and period insufficiently address the slipperiness and adaptability of the imperial project. Satisfies Hispanic Studies major and minor requirement. Satisfies Literary Studies, Creative Writing and Rhetoric requirement. Satisfies Justice, Equality and Community requirement. Prerequisites & Notes SPA 271 or SPA 272