Portraits of Indigenous People in Latin American Culture and Literature

3 units

What does it mean to identify as an Indigenous person in Latin America? How have Latin American countries dealt with their Indigenous legacies? What does it mean to be an Indigenous subject in nations where the official discourse is one of racial hybridity? This course will introduce students to represnetations of Indigenous people through Latin American literature, art, music, film and other cultural forms. This course explores the different inventions and reinventions of racial thinking and experiences of race, with emphasis on basic histories, social structures, cultures, and issues faced by Indigenous peoples in Central and South America. We will cover diverse contexts -- including Mexico, the Andes region, and Central America -- from the colonial period to the 21st century.