Latin America: Studies in Culture and Society (361-0-1)
Topic
Aesthetics of El Barrio: Representations and Resis
Instructors
Christian David Vasquez Infante
Meeting Info
Kresge Centennial Hall 2-420: Mon, Wed 3:30PM - 4:50PM
Overview of class
Aesthetics of El Barrio: Representations and Resistances
In Latin America, el barrio is both a marginalized urban space inhabited by working-class communities and a site of collective identity and cultural expression, reflecting the region's social, economic, and political realities. This course explores the diverse aesthetics of el barrio, examining it as both an urban space and a defining experience within the region's cultural imaginaries. Through contemporary cultural productions—including literary texts, films, and songs—as well as case studies of grassroots initiatives and recent protest movements, students will analyze how issues of race, class, gender, and migration shape the representation and lived experiences of these spaces. The course also provides tools to critically examine the role of barrios and their communities as sites of both social stigmatization and cultural resistance. Covering works and examples from countries such as Colombia, Mexico, Ecuador, Chile, and Argentina, alongside Latinx barrios in U.S. cities like New York and Chicago, students will develop interdisciplinary approaches to understanding how these spaces and communities are portrayed and politicized in cultural texts and media. Prerequisite: SPANISH 250-0, SPANISH 251-0, SPANISH 260-0, or SPANISH 261-0.
Registration Requirements
Prerequisite: SPANISH 250-0, SPANISH 251-0, SPANISH 260-0, or SPANISH 261-0.
Learning Objectives
• Critically interpret, through written and oral assignments, how contemporary literary works, films, music, and other cultural productions portray the lived experiences, struggles, and resilience of barrio communities.
• Produce thoughtful and persuasive written and oral analyses of the course materials, focusing on how issues of race, class, gender, and migration are interconnected with the cultural and political significance of barrio spaces.
• Evaluate the role of protest movements and grassroots initiatives in challenging stereotypes and advocating for social change within marginalized urban spaces.
• Understand the social, economic, and political factors that shape the identity and representation of barrios in Latin America and Latinx communities in the United States.
Class Materials (Required)
Course materials will be provided in Canvas.
Class Attributes
Literature & Fine Arts Distro Area
Enrollment Requirements
Enrollment Requirements: Prerequisite: 1 course from SPANISH 220-0, SPANISH 250-0, SPANISH 251-0, SPANISH 260-0, or SPANISH 261-0.