Mondays, Wednesdays, & Fridays, 2:00-:3:20
Dr. William Garcia-Medina
Most North Americans view the Caribbean as a tropical paradise of palm trees and resorts for tourist consumption. Our goal in this introductory course is to understand the diverse histories, cultures, and forms of thinking of Caribbean societies beyond these stereotypes. The course will begin with the geographical and sociocultural aspects of the Caribbean and an overview of its history. This course will also explore popular culture in connection with larger social issues like race and gender. Students will think about the cultural significance of musical genres like hip-hop and reggaeton in the Caribbean and its diaspora as a way to examine the complex, dynamic historical and contemporary realities of countries like Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and Cuba.
