The Program in Latin American Studies (PLAS) promotes the study of the histories, cultures, societies, and political systems of Latin America and the Caribbean at the Johns Hopkins University. PLAS’s curricular offerings and extracurricular activities provide undergraduate and graduate students with opportunities to explore the rich political, aesthetic, intellectual, and scientific traditions of Latin America. Drawing on faculty expertise across the disciplines, PLAS aims to generate new perspectives on Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Latinx experience in the United States.
PLAS coordinates an undergraduate minor in Latin American studies. The minor is designed to deepen student interest in, and understanding of, Latin America through course work and extracurricular programs. The program encourages and supports students wishing to undertake summer research in Latin America as well as those who seek to study abroad at Latin American universities.
Information about PLAS may be found on its website: http://krieger.jhu.edu/plas
The goal of this course is to provide an overview of Latin America, analyzing political and cultural aspects, chronologically organized. We will begin studying the origins of the multi–ethnic societies, starting with the ancient civilizations and their transformation under colonization. It is important to understand the survival of cultural traits among indigenous peasants today in the countries that were the cradle of ancient civilizations: Mexico, Guatemala and the Andean countries.In the republican era the course will focus on the classical Caribbean dictators in the first half of the 20th century and their reflection in the literature, comparing the historical reality with the magic representation in the work of Garcia Marquez. The course will scrutinize the most important revolutions in the continent: the Mexican, Cuban and Bolivian revolutions and the geopolitics of USA in the Americas. Weekly lectures related to the assigned reading will focus on specific periods, topics and regions. After each lecture, we will review the material, connecting specific details from the readings with the more theoretical aspects provided in my lecture. The course has a website where the PowerPoint presentations will be posted. Students are encouraged to post their questions, comments and suggestions on the web after their readings.Students will be given a study guide for each lecture, which will be the basis for the exams. Our perspective on Latin America will be enhanced by a selection of few films related to the topics.
Area: Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences
Through readings and discussion of texts, viewing of films and performance art, this course studies varied histories of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban and other Latin American peoples in the U.S. Students will develop a general understanding of major issues facing Latinos/as in the 21st century as well as gain an understanding of the impact Latino culture has on US society and politics.
Area: Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences
The history of Colombia comes down to a tale of armed conflicts, protracted and renewed civil wars, coups, ethnic cleansing riots, narco wars, besides the struggles for independence from Spanish colonial rule and extractive capitalist exploitation. We will study the literary, journalistic, and historical record about warring and uncivil Colombia through fiction from Gabriel García Márquez (The General in his Labyrinth and News of a Kidnapping), Fernando Vallejo (The Virgin of the Assassins), and Juan Gabriel Vázquez (The Sound of Things Falling and The Secret History of Costaguana). We will also delve into the current peace process and disarming of the FARCS and the perils and promises that the absorption of the former combatants and recalcitrant holdovers pose to the skeptical and hopeful citizens and various political factions.
Area: Humanities
Are the current extreme hard times in Venezuela's Bolivarian Republic irreversible? Is there a ballpark somewhere for Thomas Jefferson and Simón Bolívar to hold a debate match about democracy, achieved emancipations, republican values and the lure of dictatorship? The course welcomes serious and sharply political dialogue about ideals of democratic republicanism in clash from the rise and apparent fall of Fidelismo and Chavismo in the Caribbean region to the agitations and alliances dictated by Trump's seizure of American politics.
Area: Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences
Prerequisite(s): You must request Independent Academic Work using the Independent Academic Work form found in Student Self-Service: Registration > Online Forms.
Prerequisite(s): You must request Independent Academic Work using the Independent Academic Work form found in Student Self-Service: Registration > Online Forms.
Prerequisite(s): You must request Independent Academic Work using the Independent Academic Work form found in Student Self-Service: Registration > Online Forms.