Conquest, Resistance and Syncretism: The Forging of Mexico
Medieval and Renaissance Studies 224*
Carlos A. Vega, Professor and Chair, Department of Spanish.
Faculty member Program in Medieval/Renaissance Studies, Wellesley College
Early-Modern México represents a unique case of cultural syncretism forged by the confrontation of distinctively different cultures, religious beliefs, economics, science and social structures. It is impossible to understand the “conquest” of the Americas without awareness of both European Medieval/Renaissance world views and equivalent constructions of the “vanquished.” Although the core of the course will focus on-site experiencing of the artistic, literary and religious resulting from the encounter of the European and the native peoples of México (in México City, Puebla and Chiapas), participation will require preliminary readings, videos and lectures, and post-travel processing of how cosmologies based on syncretism emerged in the 16th century and how they continue to inform the realities of México and other Latin American nations that rely upon the notion of “mestizaje” (literally, miscegenation, or hybridism) as an integral part of the national imaginary.
January 4 to January 23: Mexico City, Puebla and Oaxaca
Total Cost per participant (before applying Financial Aid and Provost Grant): $3,671.** Actual cost (eligible for financial aid): $2,671.
Includes:
Round trip air travel from US to Mexico City
19 days lodging and meals
Local transportation for program activities
Guides and entrance fees for group visits
Click here for application.
Contact course instructor, Professor Carlos A. Vega, Professor and Chair, Department of Spanish (cvega@wellesley.edu).
Application deadline: September 25, 2015. Program limited to twelve students.
* .5 unit awarded upon successful completion of program and submission of research paper. May also be used for the Spanish Major upon completion of the paper in Spanish.
** Provost´s Grant: $1,000. Total cost reflects generous contribution by the Medieval and Renaissance Program, Moffat Fund, Wellesley College. For questions regarding financial aid please contact Student Financial Services (x2360) or sfs@wellesley.edu or course instructor.