IN THE CLASSROOM:

Explorations of Texts and Contexts in Hispanic Literature | SPA411/2/3

This course presents a thematic approach to the study of Spanish and Spanish-American literature and culture. The readings allow students to examine the universality of literature, and make comparisons and connections through historical and contemporary cultural contexts. Students will explore the interdisciplinary connections between literary works and other artistic forms of expression such as music, painting, architecture, and film. This course prepares students to read and critically analyze representative works of Hispanic literature in all genres. Students will focus on the terminology of textual analysis, learn to identify the different elements of style, and interpret texts in correct oral and written Spanish. This course explicitly addresses each of the following themes: societies in contact, gender as construct, time and space, literary creation, interpersonal relationships, and duality of being. All instruction, discussion, and writing are in Spanish in order to support the development of students’ language proficiency.

IN THE CLASSROOM:

Advanced Topics in Chinese: LGBTQ+ Literature and Media in China | CHI622

It might be surprising to many that there has been a literary and social media movement towards LGBTQ+ advocacy in China and other parts of Asia at the grassroots level. Working within a unique system of political censorship in China grounded in Confucianistic beliefs, LGBTQ+ literature is thriving through a variety of forms of literacy including on-line books, manga, Anime, audio drama, television shows and social media. This literary movement is entirely consistent with the traditional Chinese culture and a history of the oppressed people fighting for freedom of expression and justice in creative ways. In this course, students will read works from the “Pure Love” genre – the literary genre that advocates for the idea of “love is love, regardless of gender,” with a focus on works about Chinese high school students’ lives. Students will also explore various forms of popular media that feature transgender and gender non-conforming people in order to better understand the concept of gender expressions within the Chinese context. Students will reflect on how this movement is both a manifestation of deeply ingrained Chinese values such as staying true to oneself and showing resilience in the face of obstacles, and a continuation of the tradition of using literature for collective healing and empowerment.

IN THE CLASSROOM:

The Making of a Latino City | SPA502

Due mostly to immigration from Latin America, modern Lawrence, Mass., has become the first minority-majority city in New England—a Latino City—though a historical inspection of human migration into and around Lawrence and the greater Merrimack Valley reflects a rich tapestry of cultures that have made this area what we know it to be today. Go through time to peel back the layers of humanity in the region in order to understand better the forces that have shaped our local community, which in many respects is a microcosm of the United States. This community-based, interdisciplinary course incorporates weekly opportunities to experience the curriculum beyond the classroom, including engagements with local experts in anthropology, history, culture, politics, social justice, etc. Students capture their learning in field journals, write weekly reflections, and design and execute a collaborative project to promote a deeper appreciation of Lawrence, not only for ourselves but also for other scholars asking the question Why Lawrence? Students are encouraged to participate in a weekly Community Engagement project to gain complementary perspectives on issues that we see in the course.