Postmodernity is a much-debated and ambiguously defined term that attempts to describe historical and cultural developments since the 1970s. It dovetails with the concept of globalization, which first described economic developments and has now broadened to encompass ideas about cultural phenomena. The decades since the 1970s have produced often divergent socio-political experiences and artistic expressions in Spain and Latin America, but for both regions this period has meant a re-evaluation of popular cultures, of political participation, and of regional and national identities by many writers, artists, and activists. In Latin America this re-evaluation sometimes emerged in response to dictatorship, civil war, neo-liberal policies; in Spain it emerged as the return to democracy after 36 years of conservative dictatorship created a radical shift in popular and artistic expression. This course explores postmodernity and globalization from Spanish and/or Latin American perspectives through literature and other arts in the context of these socio-political changes since the late 20th century. Prerequisite: ILCS 206 or consent of the instructor.
2016-2017 Course Catalog / Courses / Postmodernity and Globalization