Welcome to Spanish and Latin American Studies

Our programs examine the diverse societies of Latin America and Spain through a de-colonial lens to explore and make sense of the experiences of the peoples of the region.

Three fundamental questions structure this inquiry:

  1. How are gender, class, and ethnicity constructed in Latin America and Spain?
  2. How do these constructions intersect with structures of power? How is power contested and resisted?
  3. How are people building more tolerant and more inclusive societies?

We address these issues in cultural studies courses (taught in English) and Spanish language courses (taught in Spanish).

Learn about the culture

Cultural production reflects and critiques societyOur interests range from the study of novels, comics, film, poetry, music, art, performance, digital and traditional mass media, documentaries, etc. from representative authors and creators to the study of everyday social interactions to understand and question the values and practices that structure Latin American and Spanish societies.

Learn the language

At the same time, language always plays a central role in the construction of social relations and identity. Language mediates our relationship to the world; it is a way to make sense of it and to organize it. Spanish is the most widely spoken language in Spain and was imposed through conquest and colonization on what we now know as Latin America to structure the social, political, and spiritual lives of the region. It is the main linguistic force shaping Spanish and Latin American societies.


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News

Tuesday, February 13, 2024

Culture Fest

A celebration of undergraduate research organized by Joan Coutu (Fine Arts) and Jeremy Bergen (Religious Studies).