אזורי מגע: ארה"ב, מרכז אמריקה וקאריבים במאה ה- 20

American Studies Advanced Course                                  קורס בחירה (בעברית) במסלול לימודים אמריקניים

Dr. Atalia Shragai                             ataliashragai@gmail.com                                      ד"ר עתליה שרגאי

 

The famous remark, "Poor Mexico, so far from God, so close to the United States", attributed to Porfirio Díaz, reflects the widely-held beliefs that shaped, to a large extent, the relations between the United States and the countries south of its border since the late 19th century. However, in this course we'll consider the relations between the United Stand Central America and the Caribbean from a different perspective, as a dialogue of equally active, though not equally powerful, partners.

Based on primary and secondary historical sources, fiction and ethnographies, the course will explore the formation of cultural and physical Contact Zones in the Americas, as a result of the encounters among people, ideas and commodities. We will discuss topics such as the rise to power of the U.S. as a hemispheric empire and the Central American response; society, culture and identity making in the U.S. corporations enclaves and Panama Canal; migration and the constitution of contacts zones; the U.S. Mexico border; and language and Media as a contact zone.

 

Assignments and grading

Participation in class - 15%

2 Response papers - 30%

Take home exam - 55%