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Please visit the department office in 304B Silsby Hall or visit the Registrar's Web site for course descriptions.

• Course Syllabi (authentication required)

Courses in Latin American and Caribbean Studies

1. Introduction to Latin America and The Caribbean

 10F: 11

This interdisciplinary course introduces students to the geographical conditions, historical roots, and enduring cultural diversity of Latin America and the Caribbean. After a brief survey of the physical and cultural geography of the region, the course examines the history of selected countries to highlight the way European conquest and colonialism have molded Latin American institutions and attitudes. The course then turns to particular case studies of contemporary life and society to analyze the ongoing problems of ethnicity, inequality, and political repression engendered by the region's colonial past. Finally, the course draws on these historical and anthropological understandings to assess recent economic, social, and political developments in Latin America. By juxtaposing historical realities with their living consequences, the course presents a multi-disciplinary perspective on the nature, dynamics -- and future prospects -- of the many peoples who inhabit this vast and diverse continent. Dist: SOC; WCult: NW. Padilla

4. History, Culture and Society: The Many Faces of Latin America

10W: 10A

The Spanish discovery and conquest of this continent created Latin America and the Caribbean out of the diverse and complex realities of the pre-Columbian world. Since colonial times Latin American and Caribbean cultures have developed against a background of cultural repression, racial conflict, political domination, colonial exploitation, and gender inequality. And yet, in the midst of all this turmoil, Latin America and the Caribbean has produced an extraordinary variety and wealth of artistic creations, ranging from literature to the visual arts, from music to film. In this course we will turn to some of the works by Latin American and Caribbean artists and writers in an attempt to illuminate and explore some of the wonders of the cultural dynamics that shape the many faces of what we call Latin America. Dist: LIT; WCult: NW. Bueno,Walker, 10W.

7. First-Year Seminars in Latin American, Latino and Caribbean Studies

Consult special listings

10. Pre-Columbian and Colonial America (Identical to Hist. 5.6)

10W: 12

This course will examine the pre-Columbian civilizations of the Andes and Mesoamerica, the causes and consequences of the Spanish and Portuguese Conquests, and the establishment of colonial societies and economies. Dist: SOC; WCult: NW. Padilla.

30. Cuisine and Culture in Latin American Cinema(Identical to Comparative Literature 62)

09F: 10

Every student of every ethnicity has personal experience with food, these cuisines are not just about sustenance but also about cultural symbols that bind together people in ritual and community. The goal of this class is to gain an understanding of how food habits function beyond providing calories and sustenance. Films from Latin America will be used as an entrée to discussing specific topics related to food and the history of Latin America. Dist. LIT; WCult: CI. Lirot.

42. The Aztecs (Identical to Anthropology 21)

10W: 11, 11W: 10

For nearly two thousand years the dominant political power in Middle America has resided in central Mexico. Mexico City, the capital of the empire of New Spain and of the modern nation-state of Mexico, lies over the remains of Tenochtitlan, the prehispanic capital of the Aztec empire formed out of an alliance of three city-states-the Mexica of Tenochtitlan, the Alcolhuacans of Texcoco, and the Tepanecs of Tlacopan. These city-states traced their heritage to the earlier civilizations of the Toltecs and Teotihuacan. This course examines the origins and development of the pre-Columbian civilizations of central Mexico that culminated with the Aztec empire and the Spanish conquest of the Aztec empire, and it ends with an introduction to Nahua society in the first century after conquest. We will also consider the varied perspectives of Aztec history offered by Nahua texts, archaeology, history, and art history. Prerequisite: One course in Anthropology or a Dartmouth Foreign Study Program in Mexico or permission of the instructor. Dist: SOC; WCult: NW. Nichols.

43. Olmecs, Maya, and Toltecs: Ancient Civilizations of Mesoamerica (Identical to Anthropology 22)

 10F: 12

Mesoamerica, the area encompassing Mexico and northern Central America, provided the setting for two major transformations in human history: the development of maize agriculture and the emergence of cities and states. The legacy of those achievements is still evident today among contemporary Latin American societies. We begin with an examination of how people first occupied Mesoamerica during the Ice Age and discuss the development of agriculture and early villages that laid the foundations for the evolution of Mesoamerica's earliest complex societies, including the Olmecs. We then the explore the Classic civilizations of Teotihuacan, Monte Albán, and the Maya. The course ends with an overview of the Postclassic city-states and kingdoms of the Toltecs, Mixtecs, and Maya and the Aztec empire at the time of the Spanish Conquest. Dist: SOC; WCult: NW. Nichols.

48. Mexican Muralism( Identical to Art History 16)

10S: 10

This survey course introduces students to Mexican muralism. Students will learn about the fresco technique and how to visually analyze a mural. We will consider the following themes: cultural nationalism; art and class politics; the legacy of muralism in the U.S.; the ethics of aesthetic indigenism; and the gender politics of public art. Student projects will concentrate on Jose Clemente Orozco's mural at Dartmouth College. Dist: ART. Coffey.

50. Topics Course (Identical to African and African American Studies 80)

09F: 12

In 09F, Afro-Latino Expressions of Identity in Sacred Tradition will encompass Enslaved Africans from Nigeria, Congo, Angola, Benin, and Ghana survived by adapting to a new world while still retaining elements that linked them to their cultural roots. For them, a connection to the spirit world was constant, unchangeable, and crucial for the maintenance of identity. Afro-Latino syncretic religions, some of which blended Catholicism with African beliefs, have thrived in Cuba and Brazil and are now prominent in other countries. In these religions, practitioners experience their faith rather than observe it—they can touch their deities in human form and access the wisdom of African ancestors without ever having stepped on African soil. They can pray to the image of Saint Barbara and recognize her as Chango, god of thunder and masculinity. Dist: SOC, WCult: CI. Dickerson.

51. The Brazilian Amazon and Multilingualism (Identical to Linguistics 50, anthropology 50.3)

11W: 11

This course examines multilingualism as an anthropological object through the comparison of two indigenous Amazonian "multilingual culture area," or social systems where many languages coexist in networks of alliance and shared cultural patterns. We explore mythology, kinship and marriage, and the history of contact in connection to language in these sites. We also look at the politics of language identity and indigenous rights in contemporary Brazil. (ETHN) Dist: SOC; WCult: NW. Ball.

52. Gender Politics in Latin America (Identical to Government 49.4 and Women and Gender Studies 32)

10S: 2A

This course examines women's movements in Latin America. Women in Latin America are perhaps the most highly mobilized population in the world. Throughout the region women have organized around myriad issues, including the right to vote, human rights, poverty, legal rights, anticommunism, the workplace, race, ethnicity and war. Women's efforts to challenge fiercely repressive regimes, deeply entrenched norms of machismo and extreme poverty defy conventional stereotypes about women and provide us with inspiring examples of how to sustain hope during difficult times. The seminar will introduce students to recent scholarship on women's movements in Latin America in the 20th century and seek to understand the emergence, evolution and outcomes of women's movements in particular countries and crossnationally. Dist: SOC; WCult: NW. Baldez.

53. Protests and Parties (Identical to Government 49.5)

10F: 2

For many people, Che Guevara remains the key symbol of protest in Latin America. His passionate belief in social justice, his refusal to compromise and the extraordinary personal sacrifices he made on behalf of the poor all contribute to his enduring legacy. While this legacy continues to inspire people to engage in protest and revolutionary movements, it does little to help us understand the conditions under which organized movements will succeed in their goals-or even form in the first place. Under what conditions do people organize on behalf of their collective interests? We compare revolutionary movements, social movements, political parties and other forms at political action in various countries throughout the region. Dist: SOC or INT; WCult:NW. Baldez.

56. Latin American Women Writers: Negotiating Realities (Identical to WGST 47.4)

 11S: 11

This course focuses on narrative by Latin American women, primarily fiction, and how that fiction has been a force for social change. The course will introduce students to Feminist theories which have been applied to and by Latin American scholars to give account of diverse literary forms produced across cultural differences. The core articulating idea of the course is women’s impact on literature and on the world. Students will: 1. Become familiar with important authors and common themes in contemporary Latin American literature by women. 2. Be familiar with different literary periods and movements in Latin American literature. 3. Demonstrate an understanding of the different literary terminology employed in the analysis of different types of narratives, such as poetry, short stories, and plays. 4. Use literary terminology in their own analysis of contemporary Latin American literature. 5. Articulate a basic understanding of Latin American history, politics, human rights, social activism, and gender roles, as seen through the lens of fictional and non-fictional characters. 6. Discuss the social and political impact of Latin American writers in the struggle for social change. Dist: LIT; WCult: NW. Lirot.

60. War and Representation in 19th Century Latin American Culture (Identical to Comparative Literature 63)

10S: 11

This course will provide a critical and theoretical approach to textual and visual representations of war during the 19^th century in Latin America (specifically focused on Argentina, Brasil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay). We will analyze war as a special condition in the production of cultural artifacts -such as essays, novels, illustrated newspapers, memoirs, paintings, wood engravings and photography- during the formation of Nation-States, starting with the Independence revolutions against Spain that established a romantic and neo-classical political “model” of seeing and talking about war. We will also look at two case studies: the River Plate Civil Wars (1816-1862) and the War against Paraguay (1864-1870). The goal of the course is, on the one hand, to problematize the relation between State and violence by asking: how can violence reach its extreme and remain within the confines of the State? Can civilization be barbaric and remain civilized? On the other hand, our objective will be to evaluate the implications of war texts and images in relation to power, knowledge, and ethics in Latin American culture. Dist LIT: WCult: NW. Díaz.

61. Slavery in the Empire: Brazilian Literature in the Nineteenth Century and Beyond (Identical to African and African American Studies 87) 

10W: 2

This course explores how the experience of slavery and abolition in Brazil has formed a major theme for Brazilian authors from the nineteenth century to today. Key literary texts will be paired with period art, historical writings, films, and music. We will examine how the Brazilian Empire was part of the larger Atlantic world yet its history of slavery and abolition was distinct from tht of the U.S. Dist. Lit: WCult: NW. Smolin.

76. Culture and Identity in Modern Mexico (Identical to History 81)

10S, 11S: 12

From the Porfiriato and the Revolution to the present, a survey of Mexican society and politics, with emphasis on the connections between economic developments, social justice and political organization. Topics include fin de siécle modernization and the agrarian problem; causes and consequences of the Revolution of 1910; the making of the modern Mexican State; relations with the United States; industrialism and land reform; urbanization and migration; ethnicity, culture, and nationalism; neoliberalism and social inequality; the problems of political reform; and the zapatista rebellion in Chiapas. Open to all classes. Dist: SOC: WCult: NW. Padilla.

80. Seminar

10W: 2A

In 10W, Gender and Race in Latin America looks at how different ideas about gender and race have shaped Latin American politics in the 20th and 21st centuries. We will focus on the evolution of these categories as the basis for political incorporation and representation over time, instances of collective, mobilization around gender and race, the creation and impact of law and public policy, and political institutions as they relate to race and gender. Dist: SOC or INT; WCult: NW. Baldez.

 82. Popular Struggle, Political Change and U.S. Intervention in Central America (Identical to History 82)

10W: 10A, 10F: 2

This course will explore the history of popular struggles, political change and U.S. intervention in Central America. The region's rich and complex history has been marked both by repressive dictatorships and by struggles for national liberation, social justice and indigenous rights.  We will look at the different factors that played a part in determining this history including commodity production, labor systems, U.S. foreign policy, race relations, liberation theology and revolution. Open to all classes. Dist: SOC; WCult: NW. Padilla.

89. Independent Study

All terms: Arrange

Students wishing to pursue intensive supervised study in some aspect of Latin American and Caribbean Studies should consult the appropriate member of the LACS faculty to design and carry out an independent study project. Students are required to submit a short description proposal to the program office in the term prior to doing the independent study. This course fulfills the 'culminating experience' requirement for all majors who do not complete the Honors Program.

Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.

98, 99. Honors Thesis I and II

All terms: Arrange

Guidance in the selection of a topic and in research and writing will be provided by the student's thesis adviser. Only students accepted into the Honors Program may take this sequence.

Courses in Latino Studies

5. Complexities of Latino Identity in the United States

Not Offered in the period from 08F through 09S.

3. Introduction to Latino Studies

10S: 2

This course provides students with a critical overview of some of the most central themes and issues that have shaped the experiences of Latina/o populations in the U.S. The main areas of inquiry that this course will address include: the history of ethnic levels; the formation of transnational communities and identities; the politics of language and bilingualism: race, class, and ethnicity; gender and sexuality; political and social movements; geographic space and localities; and media and popular culture. In order to foster an interdisciplinary and hemispheric approach to Latina/o Studies, course materials will draw from the social sciences and the humanities, as well as from U.S. and Latin American scholarship and cultural traditions. This course will serve as a general introduction to the more focused areas of study developed in an intermediate and upper level LATS course. Dist: SOC; WCult: CI. Reyes.

31. Constructing Race and Ethnicity in the U.S. (Identical to Sociology 42)

10X: 10A

What is ethnicity? What is race? What are the boundaries and markers for being a member of an ethnic or racial group? This course examines the development, maintenance and relevance of panethnic groups in the United States. Specifically it focuses on African-Americans, Latinos, and Asian-Americans. The course begins with a review of the theories on ethnic and racial identity. The class will spend several weeks on each panethnic group addressing the following questions: What does it mean to be African-American, Latino, or Asian-American? Who belongs to that group and why? Does the panethnic label capture the complexity of the group? Why is it necessary to construct panethnic identities and who benefits? What are the political ramifications of using panethnicity? Dist: SOC; WCult: NA. Gómez.

40: Immigration, Race and Ethnicity (Identical to Geography 28 and Sociology 48)

10S:10

This course examines immigration to the United States and pays special attention to issues of race and ethnicity. The course begins with a brief history of US immigration and then thematically covers specific topics such as economic impacts and costs, social mobility, citizenship, transnationalism, and assimilation, and religious issues and their relationship to the immigrant experience. I highlight differences within and between Latino, Asian, and European groups throughout the course. The class will be a combination of lectures, discussions, and video/film presentations. Class members are expected to have read material thoroughly and be prepared to discuss readings in class. On occasion students will be asked to present readings to the class and prepare discussion questions. Dist: SOC; WCult: NA. Wright.

41: Representations of/from Latinos in the Media and the Arts

10F: 10

What role do the media and the arts play in the formation of ethnic, racial and cultural identities for Latinos/as? How do Latin@s respond to these representations of themselves through various electronic media and the arts? This class investigates how race, ethnicity, gender, and "otherness" are represented in various media and art forms, including: cinema, radio broadcasting, performance art, mural art, graphic novels, and the Internet. We will trace the history of Latin@s in various media and artistic movements, as well as hold online discussions and video conferences with students and professionals working in these areas. Students will explore the politics and dynamics of representation by producing their own creative and critical work and presenting it to the Dartmouth community through their final projects. Dist: ART. Moody.

45. Comparative Perspectives on the U.S.-Mexico Borderlands (Identical to Anthropology 34)

10W:3A, 10F: 2

The U.S.-Mexico borderlands will be examined in ways that take us from a concrete analysis of the region, including conflict and organizing efforts at the border to more abstract notions that include strategies of cultural representations and the forging of new dietetics. We will consider several analytical perspectives relevant to anthropology including gender, identity, resistance, economics, globalization, migration, and the politics of everyday life. Dist: SOC. WCult: CI. Galemba, 10W, Gutiérrez Nájera, 10F.

46. The Politics of Latin@Ethnography (Identical to Anthropology 31)

Not offered in the period from 07F through 09S

51. Beyond Sex, Drugs and Rock 'n Roll: Radical Latinos in the 60's

10S; 10A

The 1960s and 70s were in time of tremendous political and creative turmoil in the U.S. in general and for Latinos in particular. Joining in the Civil Rights Movement and the anti-Vietnam mobilization, Latinos also fought for their rights, founding important political organizations, such as the Raza Unida Party, MeCHA, the United Farm Workers, the Brown Berets, and the Nuyorican Young Lords Party, among many others. This course will examine how protesters and political activists were inordinately adept at creating and mobilizing artistic symbols, music, and literature to promote a political agenda of social transformation. We will study the creation of the myth of Aztlán as an imaginary Chicano homeland in the Southwest; the artists and writers; the creation of journals (Revista Chicano-Riqueña, Con Safos, Chismearte, Arte del Varrio); organizations such as the Royal Chicano Air Force, Asco, Galería de la Raza, the Teatro Campesino, the Nuyorican Poets' Café; national monuments such as Chicano Park; and exhibitions of 1960s and 70s art such as Chicano Art: Resistance and Affirmation. Dist. SOC. ; WCult: CI. Spitta.    

 

Other Latino Courses Offered in the Dartmouth Curriculum

Comparative Literature 52: The Borderlands: Latina/o Writers in the United States

History 31: Latinos in the United States: Origins and Histories

Spanish 77: Hispanic Literature in the USA

Spanish 78: Living in the Borderlands, Latino/a Culture and Identity

Spanish 79: Latino/a Literature: Between Literary Traditions, Languages and Cultures

Associated Courses for LACS

Courses with a central focus on Latin America and the Caribbean offered by various departments.

• Anthropology 35: Culture, Class and Community in Contemporary Latin America
• Anthropology 37: Legacies of Conquest in Latin America
• Anthropology 44: Globalization from Above and Below
• Art History 16: Mexican Muralism
• Geography 43: Geographies of Latin America
• Government 49.1: Latin American Politics and Government
• Government 80: Readings in Government
• History 46: Spain in the Golden Age
• History 82: Popular Struggle, Political Change and United States Intervention in Central America
• History 96.4: Latin American Rebels
• History 96.5: Topics in Modern Latin American History
• Portuguese 35: Advanced Studies in Brazilian Language and Culture (DFSP)
• Portuguese 36: Studies in Contemporary Brazilian Literature (DFSP)
• Portuguese 60: The Portuguese-Speaking World: Literature and Culture by Period (when Brazil is main subject)_
• Portuguese 61: The Portuguese-Speaking World: Genre(when Brazil is main subject)
• Portuguese 62: Film, Media, Performance and the Arts in the Portuguese-Speaking World(when Brazil is main subject)
• Portuguese 63: Special Topics: Literary and Cultural Productions of the Portuguese-Speaking World (when Brazil is main subject)
• Portuguese 80: Seminar(Braziiian content)
• Portuguese 87: Independent Study
• Spanish 33: Argentine Civilization: The Cultural Heritage (DFSP)
• Spanish 35: Studies in Spanish-American Literature: Contemporary Argentine Literature (DFSP)
• Spanish 65: One Hundred Years of Solitude
• Spanish 66: Latin American Culture: Migrations, Displacement, Exclusion and Exile
• Spanish 67: Romanticism and the Formation of National Identities in Latin America
• Spanish 68: Literature and Ideas in Spanish America (1845-present)
• Spanish 70: Contemporary Latin American Poetry (1936-present)
• Spanish 71: Twentieth-Century Regionalist Writing: The Discovery of Latin America's Cultural Heritages
• Spanish 72: Latin American and Latina Women: Gender, Culture, Literature
• Spanish 73: Literature and Social Protest: Alienation, Dictatorship, Revolution and Disillusionment in Twentieth-Century Latin America
• Spanish 74: Old World/New World: Tradition and Change in Contemporary Latin American Culture
• Spanish 76: The Fabrication of Imgaes: Mass Media in Latin America
• Spanish 80: Latin American Literature Seminar
• Women and Gender Studies 52.2: Caribbean Women Writers: Prose Fiction

Departmental Seminars: These will vary from year to year. Consult the program office for a list of seminars available in 2008-2009.

LACS students are strongly advised to take courses in economics, especially Economics 1, The Price System: Analysis, Problems, and Policies, Economics 21, Microeconomics, and Economics 39, International Trade.

Students taking Government 80, Readings in Government may receive LACS credit if the instructor approves independent study or a seminar paper dealing with the politics of Latin America or the Caribbean.