Overview

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

A writing-intensive examination of selected topics in the history of the Americas. The content will vary from offering to offering. See department for further information. HIST 374W may be repeated for credit only when a different topic is taught. Students may not take selected topics within HIST 374W for further credit if duplicating content of another history course and vice versa. Writing.

COURSE DETAILS:

Decolonizing Memory: Identity and Resistance in 20^th-century Latin America

This course delves into the complex interplay between state terror, identity, and various forms of resistance in Latin America from the 1940s to the 2000s, acknowledging the ongoing legacy of these events. Through a feminist and anti-oppressive lens, we'll examine how women, queer, and Indigenous communities were uniquely targeted by dictatorships and state terror campaigns during the Cold War era and beyond.

We'll analyze key historical events and their enduring impact on Latin America's fragile democracies, power dynamics, and ongoing identity politics. Case studies from Mexico, Guatemala, Argentina, Brazil, and Chile, among others, will provide a nuanced view of forms of resistance and paralleled forms of gender state violence.

Using primary and secondary sources, including novels, memoirs, oral histories, and state documents, we'll uncover the diverse forms of resistance employed by these communities – acts of defiance, cultural expressions, social mobilization, and more. This course will challenge traditional national narratives and explore the ongoing struggle for memory and justice.

No previous coursework or knowledge about Latin American history is required to take this class.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

What are the goals? By the end of this course, students will be able to:

• Analyze the experiences of 20th-century Latin America, particularly those of women, queer, and Indigenous communities targeted by state terror campaigns, through a feminist and anti-oppressive lens.
• Evaluate diverse evidence (primary and secondary sources, including novels, memoirs, oral histories, and state documents) to critically analyze historical events and their impact.
• Engage in respectful evidence-based discussion and debate, analyzing in context and considering multiple perspectives, while fostering a safe and inclusive learning environment.
• Develop and apply historical analysis skills through various writing projects, exploring the enduring impact of state terror and forms of resistance on 20^th-century Latin American democracies and power dynamics.

Grading

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

REQUIRED READING NOTES: