Cajun and Creole Louisiana

Catalog description

This course will introduce you to Cajun and Creole cultures in Louisiana and the ways they have shaped the politics of the state. We will explore how everyday cultural practices within these communities, including language, music, and foodways, have functioned as sites of both conflict and cooperation. The course will highlight moments of cultural advocacy, when Cajun and Creole communities have mobilized to protect, reinterpret, or publicly assert their identities in response to political pressure and economic change. While you will be encouraged throughout the semester to connect course topics to current events and your own experiences, no prior knowledge of Louisiana history or proficiency in the French language is required.