A comprehensive introduction to Latin America and the Caribbean, this course provides a foundation for understanding the cultures and societies of the region. The course covers such diverse topics as themes in Latin American literature and art; the contributions of Native peoples and Europeans to contemporary Latin American cultures; Latin American colonial and recent histories; interactions between Latin America and the rest of the world. Latin America is an important focus for study because it is central to world economic, political, and cultural processes. Latin American cultures are the center of issues surrounding globalization, international immigration, environmental change, political and religious movements, and artistic and cultural influences. This course will serve as an introduction to the topics, themes and approaches that are dealt with in greater depth in other courses in Latin American studies. Drawing on the expertise of Latin American Studies faculty, and faculty who include Latin American material in their courses, particular focus will be on the diversity of literatures, histories, and cultures of Latin America and on the interactions among Latin American countries and between Latin American countries and the rest of the world. The course will serve to introduce students to the study of an important culture area, and give students a broad base from which to explore more specialized topics in their own areas of interest. It also serves to introduce students to interdisciplinary study. This is important for those students who are interested in studying the diverse aspects of the Americas (North, Central and South).
1/12/07
DESCRIPTION OF THE COURSE
A comprehensive introduction to Latin America and the Caribbean, this course provides a foundation for understanding the cultures and societies of the region. The course covers such diverse topics as themes in Latin American literature and art; the contributions of Native peoples and Europeans to contemporary Latin American cultures; Latin American colonial and recent histories; interactions between Latin America and the rest of the world. Latin America is an important focus for study because it is central to world economic, political, and cultural processes. Latin American cultures are the center of issues surrounding globalization, international immigration, environmental change, political and religious movements, and artistic and cultural influences. This course will serve as an introduction to the topics, themes and approaches that are dealt with in greater depth in other courses in Latin American studies. Drawing on the expertise of Latin American Studies faculty, and faculty who include Latin American material in their courses, particular focus will be on the diversity of literatures, histories, and cultures of Latin America and on the interactions among Latin American countries and between Latin American countries and the rest of the world. The course will serve to introduce students to the study of an important culture area, and give students a broad base from which to explore more specialized topics in their own areas of interest. It also serves to introduce students to interdisciplinary study. This is important for those students who are interested in studying the diverse aspects of the Americas (North, Central and South).
