Intro LitCult Luso Africa

3 Credits · Level: Graduate, Undergraduate

This course provides a critical introduction to the cultural and literary production of Lusophone Africa. Through an analysis of representative films, literary texts, and music from various historical periods, we will explore how the legacies of Portuguese colonialism and the Cold War have shaped the political and cultural life of Angola, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, and Cape Verde. From independence to the twenty-first century, we will trace the political transformation of these societies, examining themes such as colonialism, racial inequality, ethnic divisions, nationalism, utopia, tensions between traditional societies and modernizing elites, and issues of gender and sexuality. Course materials will offer students a unique window into these societies while helping them develop their skills in textual and cultural analysis. Readings are available in Portuguese and English.