SPAN 049. Latino Cityscapes in Literature and Film

The experience of Latinos in the United States has been historically linked to cities and urban spaces. Many major cities in the US, such as Miami, New York, or Los Angeles, undoubtedly have a Latino character that is now inextricably linked to these urban landscapes. This course will discuss the representation of cities and urban landscapes in contemporary Latino films and literary works to explore how the city emerges as an essential component of Latino identity in the United States. Some questions we will address are: How are cities shaped and transformed by Latino communities? How has the Latino experience in the US been impacted by the urban settings they called home? How do essentially urban issues such as crime, gentrification, racial and gender politics, and cultural production relate to Latino experiences? Could we imagine cities like New York, Houston, or Miami without Latinos? These and other questions will allow us to reflect on the larger and lasting impact of Latinos on the fabric of the United States. We will read and watch works by Ernesto Quiñones, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Gregory Nava, Jennine Capó Crucet, the Newyorican Poets movement, Roberto Lovato, Elizabeth Acevedo, and Sandra Cisneros, among others.