Approaches to Latin American Studies

Catalog description

This course introduces students to the interdisciplinary field of Latin American Studies through the study of contemporary social, political, and cultural issues in the region. Addressing some of the most critical scholarly questions through a variety of disciplinary and theoretical lenses, the class examines the theoretical and practical meanings of interdisciplinarity while introducing students to canonical literature in the field of Latin American Studies. Through readings and discussion of texts from the humanities and social sciences, students develop an understanding of how various disciplinary perspectives contribute to an holistic understanding of the complexities of a world region. Critical to the class is to challenge external constructions of an issue or problem and to approach it on its own terms, from within its cultural context.