Art does not stay in one place, it moves, transforms, and takes on new meanings as it crosses borders, communities, and generations. This first-year seminar explores Mexican and Mexican-American aesthetics through an interdisciplinary and transnational lens, drawing on literature, visual art, craft history, media, and cultural history to examine how these traditions have developed and how they have shaped and been shaped by their relationship across geographies and communities. No prior knowledge of Spanish is required, however, students with Spanish language skills may engage with selected materials in the original format.
A central theme of the course is translation itself, not just linguistic, but cultural, artistic, and historical. Students will learn foundational research skills in the humanities, including how to find, evaluate, and communicate with sources, while connecting course themes to local and regional contexts that make the subject matter personally relevant. This is a course about aesthetics, identity, and the enduring power of art to carry meaning across time and place.
