Publications | Courses | Projects | Links | Contact

Courses

Colonial Latin America

We will examine the formation of Latin American societies from the fifteenth to the nineteenth century, with emphasis on four major phases: indigenous, European, and African civilizations prior to contact; conditions that facilitated the European conquest; life in the colonial societies; and the political, economic, and philosophical changes that led to the independence movements of the nineteenth century.

Modern latin America

This survey will trace the philosophical, economic, political, and cultural developments of Latin America from independence to the present day. Particular emphasis will be placed on the formation of nation-states; issues of development, including agricultural production and industrialization; national and cultural symbols; and social relations within Latin American societies. The aim of the course is to provide a broad background of the five major geographical areas of modern Latin America, which include Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean Basin, Brazil, the Andes, and the Southern Cone.

Film and History

In this class we will study the challenges and promises of film as a historical artifact by focusing on cinematic representation of social activism and struggles of liberation (from national and post-colonial struggles to the rise of ethnic consciousness and revolutionary movements of the twentieth century). Students will examine how filmmakers present historical figures as well as the acts of ordinary citizens. In addition to researching the historical events represented on the screen and exploring how film came be used as primary and secondary sources, we will also become involved in the creative process of historical representation. We will study films from countries around the world but most of our examples will come from Latin America and the Caribbean.

Urbanization and the Rise of Popular Culture, 1880-1950s

This course will examine the emergence and development of "popular culture" from the turn of the nineteenth century to the end of the1950s. We will study the interconnections between leisure, the development of mass media, particularly the radio, and urbanization. This was a time which witnessed the proliferation of popular music, the emergence of popular religions such as Rastafarianism, the institution of national celebrations such as carnival, and international sports, as well as other cultural manifestations for mass consumption. It will also be important to understand the ethnic, racial and national implications of these developments and to examine how historians study, document and analyze them. Examples will come from Latin America and the Caribbean but we will discuss their impact and relationship to popular culture in other parts of the world including Europe and the United States.

The African Diaspora

This course will examine the complex political, economic, and cultural causes and impacts of the movement of peoples across various national boundaries in the 19th and 20th centuries. While we will focus on the African Diaspora in the Americas and Europe, we will also examine and make comparisons with other ethnic, religious and national diasporas, and experiences of exiles in other areas around the world. We will critically examine issues of the contribution of diaspora communities to national communities, intermingling and assimilation, cultural production and the relations of all of the above to power. 3 hrs. sem.

Diaspora, Immigration and Exile

This course will examine the complex political, economic, and cultural causes and impacts of the movement of peoples across various national boundaries in the 20th centuries. While we will focus on the African diaspora in the Americas and Europe and Latin Americans abroad, we will also examine and make comparisons to other ethnic, religious and national diasporas. We will study the experiences of exiles and immigrants to Latin America and look at the impact of the first and second world wars as well as during other displacing conflicts. In addition, we will critically examine issues of the contribution of diaspora communities to national communities, intermingling and assimilation, cultural production and the relations of all of the above to power. Students will choose a research topic on a diaspora or exile community of their interest. 3 hrs. sem.

Research in the Atlantic Worlds

In this class, students will learn and discuss ways to write research papers on topics related to the countries of the Atlantic world. Themes related to colonization, revolution, transculturation, war, immigration and cultural production will be explored. In class, emphasis will be placed on examining and analyzing primary and secondary materials in a number of languages and utilizing traditional as well as unconventional sources. At the end of the course, students will be required to produce a major research paper.

Struggles of the Sacred and the Profane

This course will study and compare various civil, religious and nationalist movements in the late nineteenth and twentieth century. In comparing the various movements cross-culturally, we will attempt to create a paradigm for analysis that will help us to understand the role of religious and civil discourse in grass roots, fundamentalist, and nationalist movements in a number of countries around the world. We are particularly interested in examining the similarities and differences among the discourses that various movements employ to empower themselves and forge 'community'; the relationship of these movements to the state; and the relationship of these movement to the discourse on modernization.Our overall goal is to help students examine the similarities and differences between religious, civil and nationalist movements globally, particularly in post-colonial societies. Most of the examples will come from Latin America and the Islamic World but we will make comparisons with movements around the world.

Other Courses

Caribbean Revolusions

• Race and Identity
• Latinos in the United States
• The History of Latin Music

Modern Brazil

This class will explore the rich cultural history of Brazil in the 19th and 20th centuries from 1800 to 1990. We will look at Brazil's diverse cultural artifacts such as music, film and literature. This class should give you an overall background of Brazilian history and allow you to analyze Brazil's contribution to regional and world history.

History of the Southern Cone

Brazil and its Neighbors

This class will study the history of Modern Brazil from independence to the present day. We will pay close attention to the construction of national identity and the formation of a unique Portuguese-American culture by comparing major developments in Brazil to that of its neighbors, particularly Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. We will attempt to answer the question what is “Brazil”? And how important has it been to the development of Latin American history by engaging in discussions of politics, economic and political development, and culture.