SPA 373 - Writing Amerindian Americas

This course examines the European imperial project in the Americas through the lens of Indigenous writing
and cultural responses. By examining indigenous texts from throughout the Americas, we will trace the way
native orality and writing has negotiated the impact of imperialism, as well as the various ways in which these
responses have helped to shape hybrid, autochthonous cultures throughout the western hemisphere. We will
examine both primary texts and engage in a critical reappraisal of the framework we use to understand the
origins, genesis and afterlife of European and American imperial projects. Although the bulk of the materials
will be from the 16th through the 19th centuries, we will also examine more contemporary texts and cultural
artifacts, as well as consider the ways in which genre and period insufficiently address the slipperiness and
adaptability of the imperial project.

Satisfies Hispanic Studies major and minor requirement.
Satisfies Literary Studies, Creative Writing and Rhetoric requirement.
Satisfies Justice, Equality and Community requirement.

Prerequisites & Notes
SPA 271 or SPA 272