Topics in Latina and Latino Text and Representation (393-0-2)
Topic
Memory, Mourning, and Protest
Instructors
Elvia Mendoza
Crowe Hall, Room 1144
Meeting Info
Kresge Centennial Hall 2-435: Mon 2:00PM - 4:50PM
Overview of class
In this course, we will critically examine the interconnections between memory and mourning and how these concepts inform acts of protest—ranging from the public to the intimate, individual to collective, and historical to contemporary. We will move beyond the authoritative narratives that often medicalize or pathologize mourning, engaging instead with the insights of Black and Brown scholars, philosophers, activists, and artists who view mourning as a vital foundation for dissent in the quest to envision alternative futures. Our exploration will utilize a variety of texts, including journal articles, short stories, films, photographs, and exhibitions, to analyze how memory and mourning are expressed, embodied, and mobilized in shaping individual and collective forms of protest and refusal against the enduring legacies of colonial violence. Our approach will be transnational and diasporic, allowing us to explore how memory and affect are transmitted across time and space. and space.
Learning Objectives
Students will cultivate a critical understanding of how memory and mourning shape and inform acts of refusal through a range of assigned course materials, readings, mini-lectures, and discussions. Employing an interdisciplinary approach, students will explore theoretical frameworks that reframe and redefine the relationship between memory, mourning, and their roles in various forms of protest.
Class Materials (Required)
No books to be purchased for this class.
Class Attributes
Literature and Arts Foundational Discipline
Literature & Fine Arts Distro Area
Enrollment Requirements
Enrollment Requirements: Registration is reserved for Latina and Latino Majors and Minors during pre-registration. Regular registration will be open to all majors/minors after the pre-registration period.