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Start date: Tuesday, January 20, 2026 |
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End date: Friday, May 8, 2026 |
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Mode of Instruction: In Person |
Course Description:
This course examines how Mexico is represented in English-language literature and film, often created for global audiences rather than Mexican ones. While earlier writers like Malcolm Lowry, Katherine Anne Porter, D.H. Lawrence, and Cormac McCarthy shaped enduring portrayals, the course focuses on contemporary works that move beyond stereotypes to explore the complexities of a culture older than the United States, shaped by shared borders and modern tensions. A central theme is the evolving figure of Malintzin (La Malinche), once seen as a symbol of betrayal but increasingly reclaimed as a feminist figure of resilience, intelligence, and agency. The course begins with Camilla Townsend’s Malintzin’s Choices, followed by texts addressing violence (political, sexual, and narco), coming of age, immigration, identity, class, and borderlands. Readings span multiple genres and include works by Cristina Rivera Garza, Roberto Bolaño, Valeria Luiselli, Jennifer Clements, and Óscar Martínez, alongside selections from authors such as Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Reyna Grande, and Chloe Aridjis, as well as supplementary materials and at least two films. |