LAST 1100a / HIST 1605a, Introduction to Latin American Studies: History, Culture and Society  Lorena Ojeda-Davila

This course provides a political and social introduction to Latin America and the Caribbean, an extraordinarily diverse group of countries in the Western Hemisphere. Latin America is often presented as a region characterized by poverty, inequality, crime, drugs, political instability, and armed conflict. However, this stereotype does not reflect the remarkable economic and political development over the last few decades. While social, legal, political, and economic factors vary within and between the countries of the region, since the 1980s, many countries that faced authoritarian regimes transitioned to democracy; Most children in the region now have access to healthcare and attend school; The subcontinent is at the center of the climate justice agenda while dealing with new forms of colonialism from the “Global North”; Latin America is pioneering women’s inclusion in politics, parity policies, and legal landmarks to combat gender-based political violence; Latin American feminism, queer activism, and movements advocating for the rights of black people, indigenous communities, and environmental protection are vibrant and have achieved pivotal accomplishments. Still, some governance challenges persist, and new ones have emerged.  HU
MW 2:35pm-3:50pm

LAST 1200a / PLSC 2430a, Introduction to Latin American Politics  Staff

Introduction to major theories of political and economic change in Latin America, and to the political and economic systems of particular countries. Questions include why the continent has been prone to unstable democratic rule, why countries in the region have adopted alternatively state-centered and market-centered economic models, and, with the most recent wave of democratization, what the remaining obstacles might be to attaining high-quality democracy.  SO  0 Course cr
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LAST 1214a / AFAM 1986 / BLST 1986a / PLSC 2417a / SOCY 1704a, Contesting Injustice  Staff

Exploration of why, when, and how people organize collectively to challenge political, social, and economic injustice. Cross-national comparison of the extent, causes, and consequences of inequality. Analysis of mobilizations for social justice in both U.S. and international settings. Intended primarily for first years and sophomores.  SO  0 Course cr
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* LAST 1255b / ANTH 2255b / ARCG 2255b, Inca Culture and Society  Richard Burger

The history and organization of the Inca empire and its impact on the nations and cultures it conquered. The role of archaeology in understanding the transformation of Andean lifeways; the interplay between ethnohistoric and archaeological approaches to the subject. This course is not open to students who previously enrolled in ARCG 030.  SO
TTh 11:35am-12:50pm

* LAST 2161a / FILM 2161a / PORT 2161a / SPAN 2095a / WGSS 2161a, Love in the Lens? Romance and Resistance in Latin American and Iberian Cinema  Giseli Tordin

Is love truly captured through the lens? Whose desire are we witnessing - the characters’, the audience’s, or the male gaze? How do films shape representations of gender through the camera’s gaze, and how can cinema subvert these ways of looking? This course, taught in Portuguese and Spanish, explores these questions through Luso-Brazilian, Latin American, and Iberian cinema while allowing students to use the languages to interpret scenes, describe characters’ perceptions and emotions, compare films, and analyze dialogue, visual composition, and cinematic techniques. Students read critical texts and film analyses, discuss ideas in class, and produce essays, scripts, and video essay projects in Portuguese or Spanish, demonstrating the ability to construct arguments, present evidence, and reflect on cultural and historical context. Themes such as unrequited love, emotional emptiness, and longing are examined not simply as romantic failure but as experiences intertwined with memory, trauma, and societal pressures, often against the backdrop of authoritarian regimes. The course considers how these films challenge a cinematic tradition shaped by Victorian ideals, where early cinema framed love as individual fulfillment and moral triumph. Postwar cinema further dramatized love through predominantly white, heterosexual relationships, reinforcing patriarchal visual norms. Through close analysis of discourses and cinematic techniques - framing, sound, spatial composition, sequence, and camera angles - students examine how film language constructs or challenges norms of gender, sexuality, and class. Students may speak and submit assignments and projects in either language (Portuguese or Spanish), creating a multilingual space for critical engagement with Ibero-Latin American visual culture and the politics of the gaze. Prerequisite: PORT 1400 (or equivalent) or SPAN 1400 (or equivalent). Conducted in Portuguese and Spanish.  L5, HU
TTh 4pm-5:15pm

LAST 2181a / PORT 2181a, Amazonia in Word and Image  Kevin Ennis

Amazonia is globally known for its natural environments, especially the rainforest and the many rivers and tributaries that populate maps of the region throughout the centuries. Moving beyond stereotypical, monolithic views of the region, in this course, we examine how writers, artists, and other cultural agents imagine Amazonia—historically, literarily, culturally, and linguistically. How is Amazonia defined, and in what terms? What is the role of cultural expression in world-sharing and world-building in and from the region? This course focuses on the Brazilian Amazon in its interrogation of Amazonia, broaching these questions by reading a broad range of texts, watching films and documentaries, and looking at works of art that respond to questions of defining and understanding Amazonia from a variety of perspectives, human and more-than-human. Course units focus on recent news media portrayals of Amazonia; extractivism and environmental conflict in the region; Indigenous literatures and arts; and hope and optimism in and for Amazonia alongside contemporary environmental humanities. This course also aims to further build communicative proficiency in Portuguese and develop knowledge of the diverse cultures of the region through sustained reading, discussion, and writing. L4 Portuguese: PORT 140, PORT 1400, PORT 1440, or equivalent in placement.  L5, HU
TTh 11:35am-12:50pm

* LAST 2222a / SPAN 2050a, Legal Spanish  Mercedes Carreras

An introduction to Spanish and Latin American legal culture with a focus on the specific traits of legal language and on the development of advanced language competence. Issues such as human rights, the death penalty, the jury, contracts, statutory instruments, and rulings by the constitutional courts are explored through law journal articles, newspapers, the media, and mock trials. Enrollment limited to 18. A maximum of one course in the 200-230 range may count as an elective toward the Spanish major.  L5
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* LAST 2223a / SPAN 2020a, Spanish in Film: Visual Narratives of Latin America and Spain  María José Gutiérrez Barajas

SPAN 2020 is an advanced language course designed to engage you with the intricate cultural tapestries of Latin American and Spanish cinema. Through engaging films, discussions, and assessments, this course provides you with a unique opportunity to increase your language proficiency and critical cultural awareness while deeply reflecting on how cinematic practices within the Spanish-speaking world serve as a mirror to diverse identities, pressing social issues, and significant historical contexts. The films in this course are organized around three main perspectives or “miradas”: the past, the present, and the future. Our class discussions and analyses, therefore, aim to shed light on i) how past events shape people's experiences in Latin America and Spain, ii) how they respond to the challenges posed by an ever-changing present, and iii) what actions they can take in response to some of the challenges that may lie on the horizon. The multifaceted perspective this class adopts helps us better appreciate how cinema can function as an essential cultural artifact within the broader framework of Spanish and Latin American studies. SPAN 1400, SPAN 1450, SPAN 1500, or L5 placement  L5
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* LAST 2227a / SPAN 2100a, Entrelíneas: Creative Writing in Spanish  Mayte López

An entry point to the writing of fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction, with a focus on developing the techniques and abilities essential for crafting imaginative texts and honing self-expression. Through in-class tasks, substantive discussions on composition and craft, and analyses of contemporary Latinx, Latin American, and Spanish works, you will advance your language proficiency, sharpen your writing skills, and nurture your unique voice as a writer. Throughout the course, you’ll complete regular writing exercises with the assistance of prompts. At the end of each unit, the course transitions to a workshop format where students receive constructive feedback on their writing from both their peers and the instructor. These discussions will enhance our collective understanding of the choices available to us as writers and the various techniques and strategies at our disposal. The syllabus is divided into three units, one for each genre: fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction. By the semester’s end, students create a comprehensive final portfolio, incorporating the last revisions of assignments from each course unit. This course is designed as a broad introduction to creative writing in Spanish. It can be taken on its own or alongside SPAN 2101. SPAN 1400, SPAN 1450, SPAN 1500, or L5 placement.   L5, HU
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LAST 2232a / ANTH 2232a / ARCG 2232a, Ancient Civilizations of the Andes  Richard Burger

Survey of the archaeological cultures of Peru and Bolivia from the earliest settlement through the late Inca state.  SO
TTh 10:30am-11:20am

* LAST 2240a / HUMS 2088a / SPAN 2080a, Writing Literature: From Reading to Argument in Latin American Texts  Katherina Frangi

How do we write about literature? How do we move from reading to argument, from intuition to hypothesis, from response to analysis? Structured in three units, the writing-centered course introduces a range of critical lenses—formalist, archival, historical, feminist, ecocritical, comparative, and creative—through which the students are familiarized with different approaches to literary analysis. The main objective of the course is to develop students’ ability to formulate critical questions, construct hypotheses, and write coherent, persuasive academic arguments. To that end, the course combines theoretical reading, textual analysis of Latin American texts, and sustained writing practice. Readings include works by Jorge Luis Borges, Nicolás Guillén, Elena Garro, Clarice Lispector, João Guimarães Rosa, and Alejandra Pizarnik. The course is taught entirely in Spanish and is designed to strengthen students’ ability to engage critically with literary texts and produce clear, well-structured academic prose in Spanish.  L5 placement or students or who have successfully completed an L4 course in Spanish.  L5, HU
TTh 1:05pm-2:20pm

* LAST 2245a / SPAN 2015a, Language and Culture through Art: Crafting Collective Memory in the Hispanic World  Rosamaria Leon

Taught in Spanish, this course enhances communication skills and media literacy through the experiential analysis of art. Students engage directly with objects at the Yale Art Gallery, using curatorial study to explore how gastronomy, music, and visual arts shape history and collective memory. These experiences are complemented by riveting readings, illuminating guest speakers, and creative projects designed to benefit the community. By promoting critical citizenship, the course prepares students to debate the role of art in Latin America and Spain. Through a remote exchange with students in Peru, participants master the academic Spanish and analytical tools necessary to thrive in a globalized society. Prerequisite: AP with score of 5/ IB score of 7, Placement in L5 through Spanish Department placement exam or by having completed L4.  L5, HU
TTh 11:35am-12:50pm

* LAST 2321a / HIST 2510a, Environmental Insurgency, Dispossession, and Slavery in Latin America  Staff

Exploration of when, how, and why processes of dispossession and enslavement have been shaped by environmental insurgency amidst  European colonization of Latin America. This lecture course emphasizes on correlated human and nature interventions in the shaping of colonial societies and the disputes over domesticated environments in Latin America by Indigenous peoples and Afro-descended communities.Therefore, this course adopts various scales of analysis, from local and regional to hemispheric, to approach key themes of colonial Latin American history (15th-19th centuries) from an environmental lens to adress policies and social mobilization over colonization, dispossession, enslavement, environmental degradation, but also adaptive usages of emancipatory technical knowledge to navigate exploitation and unfreedom regimes.    HU  0 Course cr
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* LAST 3253a / HIST 3253a, Dissidence and Control in Early Modern Spain and its Empire  Maria Jordan

Aspects of Spanish culture and society in the Golden Age (c. 1550–1650) that demonstrate discontent, dissidence, and suggestions for reform. Emphasis on the intersection of historical and literary sources and the dynamic between popular and elite cultures.  WR, HU
Th 9:25am-11:20am

* LAST 3350a / EVST 3365a / HSAR 3380a / HUMS 3452a / SPAN 3380a, Ecologies of Culture: Latin American Environmental Aesthetics  Santiago Acosta

In the age of rising sea levels, mass extinction, and carbon-driven climate change, can culture and the arts remain unchanged? This course focuses on the intersections between aesthetics and ecological practices in the context of the Anthropocene, a proposed geological epoch wherein humans have become a major geological force shaping the planet. It challenges traditional approaches by examining how culture and the arts can help to understand and respond to environmental crises. Discussions and readings emphasize the role of culture and aesthetics as agents and producers of environmental knowledge, highlighting their potential to challenge socio-ecological relations. Throughout the semester, students explore various themes, including colonialism, anthropocentrism, human-animal relations, fossil capitalism, indigenous ontologies, and the impact of extractive industries on territories and bodies in Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Latinx world. Students engage with works by established and emerging artists, aiming to produce ecocritical knowledge about the current climate and environmental crisis. The course also offers a panoramic view of Latin American culture by examining some key historical events and authors whose works can shed light on cultural and ideological processes at the root of climate change. By the end of the semester, students can formulate research questions that are critical to the field of Latin American environmental humanities, as well as produce papers that are relevant to a broader debate about culture and ecology. Lastly, the course hopes to motivate students—beyond the classroom—to examine their place in an increasingly warming world. Taught in Spanish.  L5, HU  0 Course cr
TTh 4pm-5:15pm

* LAST 3392a / CPLT 2960a / PORT 3920a, Brazil's Cannibal Modernism: From Modern Art Week to Antropofagia  Kenneth David Jackson

A study of Brazilian modernism in literature and the arts, centered on São Paulo's "Modern Art Week" of 1922 and the "Cannibal Manifesto" from the perspective of major figures and works, and transatlantic exchanges with figures from the European avant-gardes. Includes analysis of antropofagia as a post-colonial strategy. Reading knowledge of French and Portuguese helpful but not required.  WR, HU
Th 1:30pm-3:25pm

* LAST 3394a / CPLT 2940a / PORT 3940a, World Cities and Narratives  Kenneth David Jackson

Study of world cities and selected narratives that describe, belong to, or represent them. Topics range from the rise of the urban novel in European capitals to the postcolonial fictional worlds of major Portuguese, Brazilian, and Lusophone cities. Conducted in English.  WR, HU
T 1:30pm-3:25pm

* LAST 4491a, The Senior Essay  Ana De La O

Preparation of a research paper about forty pages long under the direction of a faculty adviser, in either the fall or the spring term. Students write on subjects of their own choice. During the term before the essay is written, students plan the project in consultation with a qualified adviser or the director of undergraduate studies. The student must submit a suitable project outline and bibliography to the adviser and the director of undergraduate studies by the third week of the term. The outline should indicate the focus and scope of the essay topic, as well as the proposed research methodology. Permission may be given to write a two-term essay after consultation with an adviser and the director of undergraduate studies and after submission of a project statement. Only those who have begun to do advanced work in a given area are eligible. The requirements for the one-term senior essay apply to the two-term essay, except that the two-term essay should be substantially longer.
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LAST 4492a, The Senior Project  Ana De La O

A project of creative work formulated and executed by the student under the supervision of a faculty adviser in the fall or spring term. Students work on projects of their own choice. Proposals for senior projects are submitted to the adviser and the director of undergraduate studies by the end of the term preceding the last resident term. An interim project review takes place by the fifth week of the term the project is developed. Permission to complete the senior project can be withdrawn if satisfactory progress has not been made. An exhibition of selected work done in the project is expected of each student.  Approval by the DUS and advisor by the end of the term preceding the last resident term. 
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