In this course we will explore how crossing “borders,” identity politics, race, and sexuality intersect to produce a rich and necessary conversation on contemporary global immigration social justice issues. We will explore the gendered dynamics and experiences of recent (im)migrants from three geographic locations from/to the Global South to/from the Global North: Latin America to the US and Europe; Africa to Europe; Europe to Latin America and back to Europe.

We will focus on the negotiations and boundaries of sexual identity and how these identities in transition open up a new mesh of identity possibilities especially as transnationalism and diaspora studies are offering new frameworks for better understanding the role and impact of cross-trans-border relations in a globally interconnected space.

To further highlight the interdisciplinary approach to this course, there will be:

A) Guest lectures (Dr. Héctor Carrillo from Northwestern University and Mexican-Chicago poet and Lit&Luz Festival participant José Olivárez spoke to the class in 2019) and round table discussions with local and international NGOs.

B) Integrate award-winning US and international films, podcasts, TED talks, among other multimedia platforms.

C) Incorporate Lit&Luz Festivals which create artistic spaces both in Chicagolandia and Ciudad de México for cultural exchange between writers and visual artists from México and the United States. Lit&Luz Festivals believe that art and language are key to understanding culture and community while fomenting and building cross-cultural friendships [https://www.litluz.org/about/]. Past participants include: Cristina Rivera Garza; Valeria Luiselli; Luis Alberto Urrea; Luis Felipe Fabre; Érika Sánchez.  

D) Offer diverse course readings---literary and theoretical---in both English and Spanish (translations will be available) and highlight 'global' cinema/tv series options from a non-US English language focused perspective.

Literary and theoretical texts include: Judith Butler: The Force of Nonviolence: The Ethical in the Political;  Héctor Carrillo's Pathways of Desire: The Sexual Migration of Mexican Gay Men; Carlos Fuentes' La frontera de cristal/The Crystal Frontier; Margo Glantz's Las geneologías/The Family Tree; José Olivárez's Citizen Illegal; Achy Obejas' We Came All the Way From Cuba So We Could Dress Like This?; Jasbir Puar's Terrorist Assemblages; Abdellah Taïa's Salvation Army & Another Morocco: Selected Stories.

Films/tv series include: La Haine; Princesas; Sin nombre; Frozen River; The Bubble, María llena de gracias/Mary Full of Grace; My Beautiful Laundrette; Princesas; Divines; Luciérnagas; Gentified; Dogs of Berlin; Sense8; Ramy. 

Attendance at all synchronous class meetings is a basic expectation.

 

Learning Objectives

Knowledge Outcomes:

• Identify leading thoughts of contemporary Transnationalism and Diaspora Studies in relation to the present "crisis" of immigration both in Europe and The United States.

• Develop an understanding of how Gender and Sexuality Studies ---Feminist Thought, Decolonialism, Queer Theory, Affect Theory, Masculinity Studies---is directly impacting and opening new conversations in Migration Studies.

• Recognize and assess issues, topics, and socio-political nuances stemming from Migration Studies from an intersectional, social justice lens.

Skills Outcomes:

• Delve deeply into one area of Gender and Sexuality Studies to better acquire and understand key theoretical concepts in the study of “borders,” identity politics, transnationalism, and race/ethnicity from an intersectional lens.

• Synthesize course objects of knowledge---literature, film/tv series, theory, (pop) culture, case studies, mass media---to write critical analysis essays and PowerPoint presentations focused on social change and social justice.

• Collaborate and work closely throughout the course with classmates from different academic and ethnic-migration backgrounds to create a Final Project--- “My/A Migration Story Project”---from an intersectional lens.

Values Outcomes:

• Develop a personal, intersectional approach to the study of migration and social action that includes principles of global diversity, equity, and inclusion.