ENGL 5635 - Mexican-American Literature and Theory Before 1954

3 hours

Examines the literary productions of Mexican-Americans from the 19th century up to the landmark civil rights Supreme Court case Hernandez v. Texas of 1954. Traces the historical and cultural influences of Mexicans and Mexican-Americans in the U.S. from the early 19th century through the rise of modernism and the impact of the Mexican Revolution and increasing immigration from Mexico, to the emergence of post-war activism. Provides a foundation in Mexican-American literature by attending to historical contexts and to concerns of war and displacement, migration, early ethnic consciousness, mestizaje, and other relevant topics. Secondary readings may also be drawn from anthropology, historiography, studies in nationalism, popular literature and journalism, narrative studies, and various ancillary fields.

Prerequisite(s): None.

May be repeated for credit as topics vary.