This seminar will look at culture and society in the large and diverse country of Mexico. The fundamental aim of the course is to give students an overview of Mexican history, geography, cultural diversity, and contemporary social issues. Themes to be covered include: the search for a Mexican identity (how culture and national identity in Mexico have been historically and socially constructed over the past century); cultural variations among Mexicans; region, "race", and ethnicity in the construction of Mexican culture; gendered views of Mexicanness and Mexican culture; the family or household and the community as centers of identity, social action, and economy; religious traditions and religious change; urban and rural views of the nation; "borderlands"; the disparate impact of globalization, transnational migration, and transculturation on communities and individuals across Mexico; and the regions of Mexico.

Course Requirements:

Requirements include: keeping up with readings (mainly coursepack articles), writing a short weekly response to the readings, taking part in the weekly class discussion, one class presentation, and two short papers.