Course Description
Covers a range of theories and perspectives instrumental to
Latin American and Caribbean Studies across disciplines and over
time. Examples include dependency theory, liberation theology,
subaltern studies, the decolonial turn, indigenous
epistemologies, and Latin American feminisms. Concepts addressed
may include colonialism, imperialism, coloniality, criollismo,
indigenismo, mestizaje, hybridity, testimonio, and lo popular.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Graduate students will be required to complete additional readings, write reflection papers, and may attend meetings to discuss these outside of class. Graduate students will write an original journal-length research paper as their final.
Athena Title
Critical Concepts in LACS
Prerequisite
LACS 1000 or LACS 1000E or LACS 1000H or LACS 2002 or permission of department
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student Learning Outcomes
- Students will deepen their understanding of historical processes related to class, race, ethnicity, gender and sexuality in Latin America.
- Students will learn and apply comparative methodologies for understanding the interrelated historical relationship between Latin America, Europe, and the United States.
- Students will evaluate how Latin American governments and citizens interpret and address long-term and recent structural and social inequalities.
- Students will compare the long-term legacy of memory, colonialism, and mestizaje in contemporary social, cultural and political processes.
- Students will demonstrate in-depth knowledge of key concepts to interpret Latin American reality through research and expository writing projects.
Topical Outline
- 1. Separating Latin American and Caribbean thinkers in Latin American and Caribbean studies from European methodologies
- 2. Colonialism, imperialism, and the formation of regional and national identities in resistance
- 3. Indigenous theories, epistemologies, and ontologies
- 4. Emancipatory projects such as Dependency theory, liberation theology, and revolution in
the mid-20th century
- 5. Nationalism and national critique, with emphasis on indigenismo, criollismo, hybridity, mestizaje, and critiques
- 6. The decolonial turn, with emphasis on indigenous theories, epistemologies, and ontologies
- 7. Decolonial gender and feminism
- 8. Neoliberal and post-neoliberal struggles and debates
- 9. Popular culture and cultural critique
