SPAN 1848 - BORDERS AND MIGRATIONS IN LATIN AMERICAN LITERATURE AND FILM IN TRANSLATION
Minimum Credits: 3
Maximum Credits: 3
The course examines representations of borders, migration, and displacement in Latin American literature and film through works studied in English translation. Focusing on different national, regional, and transnational contexts, students explore how geographical, cultural, linguistic, and symbolic borders shape individual and collective experiences. Particular attention is given to Latin American migration toward the United States and Spain, historically some of the most significant destinations, as reflected in both fictional and non-fictional narratives. These transnational movements constitute a central focus of the course and are examined through literature and film as key expressions of displacement, identity, and belonging. At the same time, the course considers important forms of migration that take place within Latin America itself. Students explore intra-regional movements such as migration from Paraguay and Bolivia to Argentina, from Nicaragua to Costa Rica, and, more recently, the large-scale migration of Venezuelans to multiple countries across the region. By examining these varied patterns, the course highlights migration as a diverse and complex phenomenon shaped by regional histories, economic conditions, and social change. The course treats borders not only as physical lines but also as cultural and social spaces where identities are negotiated and redefined. Through close analysis of literary and cinematic narratives, students examine themes such as exile, return, nostalgia, family separation, violence, labor, and belonging. Literature and film are studied as complementary forms that capture the emotional, political, and everyday dimensions of migration. Particular emphasis is placed on how migration narratives have evolved from the second half of the twentieth century to the present, reflecting changing historical conditions, globalization, and contemporary debates. The course explores how stories and images transform experiences of movement into cultural memory and social critique. Through literary analysis and film studies, students develop tools to understand how migration and border experiences are represented, remembered, and reimagined in translated texts and films. No knowledge of Spanish is required.
Academic Career: Undergraduate
Course Component: Lecture
Grade Component: LG/SNC Elective Basis
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