Latin American Studies

LAS:1150 Brazilian Culture and Carnival 3 s.h.

Dance, music, historical, and social contents of Brazilian Carnival production, critical theories of performance, religious backgrounds, and theatre making in carnival parades. GE: Engineering Be Creative; Values and Culture. Same as DANC:1150.

LAS:2200 Introduction to Spanish American Cultures 3 s.h.

Introduction to study of cultural history of Spanish America; topics range from precolombian times to present; for students who are just starting work on the Spanish major or minor. Requirements: SPAN:1502 or SPAN:1503. Same as SPAN:2200.

LAS:2220 The Olmec, Maya, and Aztecs: Archaeology of Mesoamerica 3 s.h.

Archaeological data related to the evolution of civilization in Mesoamerica; sequence from hunter-gatherers to A.D. 1519; emphasis on Central Mexico, Maya area, Oaxaca. Same as ANTH:2220.

LAS:2311 Music of Latin America and the Caribbean 3 s.h.

Folk and popular musical traditions and their social contexts in Latin America, the Caribbean; listening skills; video/film screenings. GE: Literary, Visual, and Performing Arts; Values and Culture. Same as MUS:2311.

LAS:2415 Latin American Politics 3 s.h.

Governmental institutions, major interest groups; focus on area as a whole. GE: International and Global Issues; Social Sciences. Same as POLI:2415.

LAS:2700 Introduction to Latin American Studies 3 s.h.

Cultures of Latin American countries with emphasis on cultural history and cultural production; interdisciplinary survey. Taught in English. Same as COMM:2800, IS:2700, PORT:2700, SPAN:2700.

LAS:2800 Screening Latin America 3 s.h.

Basic introduction to contemporary Latin American societies and cultures through fiction feature films (i.e., comedies, dramas) and documentaries by major filmmakers; previous knowledge of film analysis not required. Taught in Spanish. Requirements: SPAN:1502 or SPAN:1503. Same as SPAN:2800.

LAS:2850 Brazilian Narrative in Translation 3 s.h.

Representative readings of modern and contemporary novels, short stories, and other narrative forms; cultural background; focus on major writers. Taught in English. Prerequisites: ENGL:1200. GE: Literary, Visual, and Performing Arts. Same as PORT:2850, SPAN:2850.

LAS:2900 Music of the Hispanic World 3 s.h.

Introduction to music of Spain and Latin America, including the United States; listening skills, music appreciation, continuing development of Spanish language skills. Taught in Spanish. Requirements: SPAN:1502 or SPAN:1503. Same as SPAN:2900.

LAS:3020 Journalistic Writing in Spanish 3 s.h.

Spanish writing skills; introduction to style and practice of journalistic reporting and writing. Taught in Spanish. Requirements: at least one course taught in Spanish at the 2000 level or above. Same as JMC:3445, SPAN:3020.

LAS:3104 Immigration Politics 3 s.h.

United States immigration policy and political consequences of Latina/o/x population growth; contrast of political experiences of Latina/o/x with groups and ideals of democratic political systems; analyses of past immigration policies; studies of public opinion, voter turnout, and campaign tactics. Same as LATS:3104, POLI:3104.

LAS:3215 Medellin 3 s.h.

Medellin, Colombia has been transformed from one of the most violent places on Earth to an award-winning city of innovation in only 20 years; introduction to the city and its people through literature, music, and a digital map project. Taught in Spanish. Requirements: at least one course numbered SPAN:2000 or above. Same as SPAN:3215.

LAS:3217 Latina/o/x Immigration 3 s.h.

Immigration experiences of people arriving in the United States from other regions of the Americas (e.g., Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, South America); what has fueled immigration—social, political, and economic developments in the United States and other nations; territorial conquest, colonialism, real and imagined borders, chain migration, formation of immigrant communities, acculturation, circular migration, social networks; how migration restructures gender relations; immigrant communities and pan-Latina/o/x identity in the United States. Same as HIST:3217, LATS:3217.

LAS:3225 Latin American Women Writers 3 s.h.

Focus on long tradition of strong female writers in Latin America; materials may include poetry, theater, fiction, and essay from the Spanish-speaking countries of Mexico, Central America, South America, and Brazil. Taught in Spanish. Requirements: at least one course taught in Spanish at the 2000 level or above. Same as SPAN:3225.

LAS:3310 Spanish American Short Story 3 s.h.

Works by 19th- and 20th-century Spanish American writers; emphasis on reading strategies and historical, cultural, literary backgrounds. Requirements: at least one course taught in Spanish at the 2000 level or above. Same as SPAN:3310.

LAS:3501 Rebel Island: A History of Cuba 3 s.h.

Cuban society and revolutionary movements since the late colonial period, including the years since 1959. Same as HIST:3501.

LAS:3508 Disease and Health in Latin American History 3 s.h.

Survey of major topics in Latin American history in relation to development of medicine and public health. Same as GHS:3508, HIST:3508.

LAS:3515 Introduction to Modern Latin America 3 s.h.

Introduction to modern history of Latin America from independence movements of the early 19th century to present; topics include race and ethnicity, slave emancipation, gender, labor relations, and foreign interventions; exploration of relationship between economic, social, and political structures over time to explain difference and commonality between Latin American people and societies; focus on topics pertaining to histories of Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and South America. Same as HIST:3515.

LAS:3535 Topics in Literature and Culture of the Americas 3 s.h.

English majors and English and Creative Writing majors may apply this course to the following area and/or period requirement. AREA: Transnational Literature and Postcolonial Studies. PERIOD: 20th/21st-Century Literature. Same as ENGL:3535.

LAS:4216 Mexican American History 3 s.h.

Survey of Chicana/o (Mexican American) history from 18th century to present; Mexican American society's diverse nature, explored through class, ethnic, gender, and regional divisions. Same as HIST:4216.

LAS:4390 Topics in Spanish American Literature 3 s.h.

Taught in Spanish. Requirements: one literature course in Spanish numbered SPAN:3200 or above. Same as SPAN:4390.

LAS:4502 History of Mexico 3 s.h.

Mexican history since the eve of the Spanish invasion, with focus on the national period; may include ethnic groups, conquest and demographic disaster, Native survival, labor and migration, social protest and rebellions, nationhood, regional differences, religions, popular culture, economic growth and distribution, state building, international relations; survey. Same as HIST:4502, NAIS:4502.

LAS:4700 Latin American Studies Seminar 3-4 s.h.

Examination of past, present, and future of Latin America; interdisciplinary. Taught in English. Same as ANTH:4700, HIST:4504, PORT:4700, SPAN:4900.

LAS:4815 Lost Childhoods: Marginal Children of Latin America 3 s.h.

Focus on lost childhoods from a cultural studies perspective; analysis of marginal perspectives that emerge from a globalized urban landscape; evolution of literary, artistic (art, photography, comics), and film productions about dispossessed children, the construction of childhood by nongovernmental and nonprofit organizations, and how these cultural productions denounce social violence. Taught in Spanish. Requirements: two courses numbered SPAN:3000 or above. Same as SPAN:4815.

LAS:4990 Independent Project in Latin American Studies arr.

Independent work completed under the supervision of Latin American studies faculty.