Spring 2020

Amherst Latinx Lives

Listed in: American Studies, as AMST-375  |  Anthropology and Sociology, as SOCI-375  |  Latinx and Latin Amer Studies, as LLAS-375  |  Spanish, as SPAN-375

Faculty

Leah C. Schmalzbauer (Section 01)
Paul A. Schroeder Rodriguez (Section 01)

Description

(Offered as AMST 375, LLAS 375, SOCI 375 and SPAN 375) Over the past four decades, the Latinx student population at Amherst has increased more than seven-fold, from about 30 students per class in the 1970s, to over 200 per class in the last several years. As a community, however, we know very little about the subjective experience of Latinxs who live, study, and work at Amherst College. In this course, we will read and discuss different genres of scholarship that focus on the Latinx experience—empirical research, fiction, memoirs, and films—before proceeding to a series of workshops on how to conduct oral history interviews. Students will then apply this theoretical and practical knowledge to an exploration of the experiences of Latinx students, alumni, faculty, and staff in our community. These interviews will form the basis of a collectively-edited documentary designed to encourage cross-cultural dialogues within and outside the Latinx community, and in the process, increase awareness of the diversity of Latinx lives on our campus. Students of all backgrounds are welcome, and knowledge of Spanish or Spanglish is useful but not required.

Admission with the consent of the instructor. Limited to 12 students. Spring Semester. Professors Schroeder Rodríguez and Schmalzbauer.

If Overenrolled: Preference given to Spanish and American studies majors.

Keywords

Artistic Practice, Attention to Issues of Class, Attention to Issues of Gender and Sexuality, Attention to Issues of Race, Attention to Issues of Social Justice, Attention to Research, Attention to Speaking, Attention to Writing, Community Based Learning, Languages Other Than English

Offerings

2022-23: Not offered
Other years: Offered in Spring 2020