Latin America and the United States:

Internationalism and the Politics of Cultural Production

In what ways has Latin America influenced U.S. discourses in fine arts, architecture and cinema, and how does this testify to the vital role of Latin America in U.S. cultural production? This course will examine the ways that Latin American subject matter is replicated, represented and repurposed in U.S. contexts. Influences range from ancient archaeological sites like Machu Picchu to modern architectural works like Luis Barragán’s Jardines del Pedregal, to the works of Rio de Janeiro’s Grupo Frente, among many other examples. In doing so we will consider the relationship between American cultural production and the racial and cultural hierarchies that in many ways define U.S. national identity. In keeping with the goals of MCWP 50, students will examine arguments about this topic in an effort to understand their structures while researching and writing a research-based argument about an issue relevant to the course topic.