HIST-3520 Drugs, Violence, and Media in Modern Lat Amer
(SELF & SOCIETY, ENGAGING DIFFERENCE) This course explores the complex relationship between the drug trade, violence, and media representation in modern Latin America. Focusing on countries like Colombia, Mexico, and Brazil, students will examine how the production, trafficking, and consumption of illicit substances have shaped the region's political, social, and economic realities. A central theme of the course is the role of media such as narco-corridos, corridos tumbados, or TV series such as "Narcos," "Queen of the South," or "Pablo Escobar," in shaping public perceptions of the drug trade and violence. Through news, film, television series, and music, students will critically evaluate how narratives about cartels, criminality, and urban violence are constructed and consumed. The course also discusses the impact of U.S. policies, including the War on Drugs, and their repercussions on Latin American societies.