SN 308 - Violence and Culture: Columbia in the Twentieth Century

(3.00 cr.)

Cultural territories that represent the complex and unique political, economic, and social realities of Columbia are explored. Starting with the eighties, students examine important events in the history of the country as recreated by writers Laura Restrepo, Fernando Vallejo, and Jorge Franco Ramos. Modern conflicts such as social violence, guerrilla resistance, and marginality are addressed, as portrayed in testimonial writings, documentaries, painting, and music. Students also analyze the effect of drug-trafficking on the rise in sicarios (young paid assassins) and their sociocultural practices, as well as their representation of juvenile violence both in literature and film. In addition to studying various fictional and nonfictional portrayals of violence, students explore the way other cultures perceive Columbia through the press, as well as the international community's response to the growing violence Columbians have been facing in the last 30 years. Closed to students who have taken SN 368 .

Prerequisite: SN 203 or SN 217 or written permission of the instructor.
Sessions Typically Offered: Fall/Spring
Years Typically Offered: Varies

Interdisciplinary Studies: IL/IPJ