The border between the United States and Mexico has long held a special place in American culture – from fajitas and margaritas, to cinema and literature. In this course we will discuss the contact zone between these two nations, addressing some of the myths, realities, and representations that have shaped how we view the border. From Cormac McCarthy’s novels to the Mariachi Trilogy, from Chicano culture to politics, we’ll develop our ideas and understanding of the important role of this unique region in both a US and, increasingly, a global context. This region is particularly pertinent as the demographic and cultural changes promise to redefine the US political landscape as the nation prepares for its next election.
Not limited to Mexico, students have the option to explore other borders – political, economic, national, environmental… and to bring their ideas into the classroom debates, discussions, and presentations.
In the current context in Europe, understanding how borders and borderlands function is a key aspect in our lives, and what we have learned in the US borderlands is quickly becoming relevant here in France.
Attention: this version of the course is only available to students who did not take the shorter, 2A version. Sorry!
- Teaching coordinator: Langlois Laura Hilary
- Teaching coordinator: Morgan-Bate Karin