Course Description:

This course will study why notions such as identity and culture have become important topics in contemporary discourse.  From the perspective of identity theory, the course will also explore how internationalization and globalization have changed the meaning of this concept, and it will examine how literature, visual arts, performance, and music have responded to liquid modernity.  Latin American cultural concepts such as hibridez, transculturación, mestizaje and realismo mágico, will be discussed in relation to the larger identity and cultural context. By the end of this course, a successful student will be able to:

• Discuss theory of identity and apply theoretical concepts to literature and art.
• Understand how identity is constructed, and how essentialist approaches are subverted.
• Analyze representative artistic works and view the notion of identity from a holistic perspective.
• Assess the changing relationship between the center and the periphery.  
• Develop an informed argument centered on a single thesis statement
• Select appropriate methodologies in conducting research and in writing essays.
• Communicate orally in seminar type of environment.
• Generate topics for original research.

LACS*6010 will be team taught by three instructors.  Given that this is an interdisciplinary course taught by various instructors, the coordinator of the course will be present at all lectures and seminars to ensure unity and cohesion. The essay proposal and the final essay in this course will be marked by the course coordinator.

Calendar course descriptions with pre-requisites and restrictions can be found in the Graduate Calendar [1]

Visit our website for more information about an MA in Latin American and Caribbean Studies [2]