JAN 182 - Globalized Mexico

In this course, students will analyze changes that have occurred in Mexico that have put I doubt the national project initiated by the Mexican Revolution as they travel to visit famous archeological sites such as Teotihuacan, the colonial cities of Puebla and Taxco as well as the postmodern metropolis of Mexico City, where students will visit the Museums of Anthropology, National History, and Frida Khalo. The base city is Cuernavaca where students will attend classes at Universidad Internacional Monday through Friday from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. During the first two hours of each day, Prof. Ramírez will lead seminar-type discussions in English. We will discuss the post-revolutionary politics that helped to define the national project and its nationalism that created a Mexican identity that had its heyday during the mid-twentieth century and has lately been transformed by the forces of globalization in both in urban and rural areas.

We will specifically focus on Mexican identity during the NAFTA years; the cultural transformation of rural communities, in particular traditional indigenous groups. From 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. all students will attend language courses according to their level. Once a week, students volunteer at a nearby school where they will work with indigenous children. With the exception of two afternoon trips, excursions will take place on weekends. All students will be housed in pairs with Mexican families who provide room and board. Four meetings scheduled prior to leaving on the trip are considered part of the course.

Reading List: 

• Christina A. Sue, “Land of the Cosmic Race: Race Mixture, Racism, and Blackness in Mexico”
• Jorge Castañeda, “Mañana Forever: Mexico and the Mexicans”
• Nestor García Canclini, “Citizens and Consumers: Globalization and Multicultural Conflicts”

Instructor(s): Alvaro Ramirez
Email:  aramirez@stmarys-ca.edu

Prerequisites & Notes
Prerequisites:  Students who enroll in this course must be in good academic standing at the time of enrollment. First-year students are ineligible for this course.

Course Fee:  2550
 

Credits: 1