Latin American Subcultures

3 units

This course has been planned as an introduction to the interconnections between “high” culture, popular culture and mass culture, with particular emphasis on the formation of urban subcultures in contemporary Latin America. The topic of subculture and counterculture will be analyzed taking into consideration the influence of factors of class, race, and gender, in the construction of alternative cultural identities. Some of the connections to be studied are between political power and cultural resistance, affect, violence, and symbolic value, hegemony and marginality. Distinctions will be made between culture, subcultures, traditions, and lifestyles, as well as between multiculturalism and interculturality. While the first part of the course will introduce critical concepts, theories and methodologies, the second half will focus on specific articulations between cultural practices and the domains of belief, sexuality, violence, and social media, including uses of music, video and films. Students will prepare a final paper on a Latin American subculture of their choice and analyze it using the critical and theoretical tools discussed in class.