SPAN 065. Comida y cultura en el mundo hispanoamericano

Food and culture have been inseparably intertwined since the beginnings of humankind. Food has not only sustained life, but has also driven exploration, exchange, and transformation across the globe. We could even argue that the search for food-particularly spices-was one of the key motivations behind Christopher Columbus’s voyages, ultimately leading to the encounter between the two hemispheres and the historical formation of what we now call the Ibero-American region.

In this course, we will explore the historical, cultural, and symbolic power of food through its rich representation in literature, film, and visual culture. We will examine how food functions as a strong marker of national identity in Spain and Latin America, while also serving as a material and symbolic bridge that reveals dialogues, tensions, and connections among countries, cultures, traditions, and communities. Through the lens of food, we will engage with critical questions of mestizaje, transculturation, diaspora, sex and gender, environmental concerns, and other pressing social and cultural issues. By tracing what is cooked, consumed, represented, and remembered, this course invites students to rethink history, identity, and cultural exchange-one meal at a time.

Humanities.
1 credit.
Spring 2028 Díaz.
Catalog chapter: Spanish
Department website: https://www.swarthmore.edu/spanish

Access the class schedule to search for sections.