Debating Cultures: Escritoras, Guerrilleras Y Artivistas: Central American Womens Legacy in Art and

3 units

Debating Cultures: Escritoras, guerrilleras y artivistas: Central American Women's Legacy in Art and Politics. This course will examine Central American history through the lens of women's struggles and their literary and artistic production. The class will start with readings from Marxist writers like Carmen Lyra and proto-feminists who contributed to the prestigious journal Repertorio Americano. The students will be introduced to Prudencia Ayala, the first Latin American woman presidential candidate and her political platform. They will also learn about women's contributions to revolutionary culture during the twentieth-century civil wars, such as testimonio and participation as war reporters. Finally, we will discuss contemporary artivism forms such as music, performance, visual art, and Central American film. We will investigate the causes and motivations for women's struggles and creative political participation. The course will be taught entirely in Spanish, with a strong and graded oral communication component. Prior or concurrent enrollment in Spanish 303 is required. Students who have taken more than two Spanish culture or literature classes are not allowed in this course and must proceed to a Researching Cultures class.