Course Description
01:595:316 Mexican Art Across Borders
- Instructor: Tatiana Flores, Ph.D.
- Description:
Fulfills Upper-Level Elective Requirement for LCS Major and Minor
This course examines the modern and contemporary art of Mexico and by Mexican-American artists in the United States. Students will be introduced to critical events that have shaped the history and culture of Greater Mexico before delving into the relationship between art and social movements, focusing on the post-revolutionary moment in Mexico (1910-1940) and the Chicano Civil Rights Movement (El Movimiento) in the United States (1960s-1990s). The class engages students in an in-depth analysis of works of art in diverse media and relates these to the social and historical conditions of their production. It challenges canonical accounts of Mexican modernism by broadening the traditional field of inquiry to consider mediums and artists traditionally regarded as “minor” and by offering a comparative approach to the art of Mexican-Americans in the United States.
Prior coursework in Latino Studies, Latin American Studies, or Art History is recommended but not required. Writing is an integral component of this course, and students will be expected to develop a final research paper that synthesizes information and ideas from multiple sources to generate new insights. Although visual art will be the primary subject of discussion, students are encouraged to explore interdisciplinary topics for their final projects. This course will generally be taught as a double-period course, and it will incorporate lectures, in-depth discussion of texts and images, oral presentations, and workshopping papers in small groups. Regular attendance is crucial to success in this course.
- Learning Goals:
Upon completion of the course, students will:
- gain familiarity with the principal historical and cultural factors that impact modern Mexican and Mexican-American identities
- analyze and compare the breadth and depth of Mexican modernism and Chicano art through the study of a wide variety of works
- delve into specific topics related to Mexican and Mexican-American cultural studies through in-depth research and writing
- Required Reading:
All readings and materials are available in Canvas.
- Evaluation:
Attendance and Class Participation = 15%
Paper 1 (3-4 pages) = 15%
Paper 2 (5-6 pages) = 25%
Presentation = 15%
Research Paper = 30%
(Annotated Bibliography = 5%, Outline = 5%, Abstract = 5%, Final Paper = 15%) - Credits: 3
- SAS Core Certified: WCD, WCR
- Disclaimer: The information in this course description is subject to change. For up-to-date course information, please refer to the syllabus on your course site (e.g. Canvas).
