SPAN 083 Latin America in the World and at Penn State

During the first half of the semester we will reflect on several questions that are more complex than they initially seem: What and where is “Latin America”? When did this geopolitical region take shape, and how did this occur? Our efforts to answer these questions will involve learning about the Conquest and colonization of the region by European countries, Indigenous resistance, dramatic foreign invasions, writers who become revolutionaries, military dictatorships backed by the CIA, musical movements, and other political and cultural events. Our materials will include feature films, documentaries, music, news reports, literature, and historical texts. During the second half of the semester we will turn our attention to what Latin American studies looks like at Penn State. Professors from across the university, from diverse disciplines (including Spanish and Portuguese, History, Anthropology, the arts, and various sciences), will visit the class to talk about their research or artistic practice and the kind of courses they teach. Students will also learn about Penn State’s many study abroad programs in Latin America as well as other opportunities to engage with Latin American culture at the university and in the broader community. This course will be taught in English and no prior knowledge of Latin America is required.