American Studies 260 - Latino Migration

(Offered as AMST 260 and SOCI 260)  Whereas capital, culture, and commerce flow freely in contemporary capitalism, labor does not.  Walls--physical, legal and cultural--aim to keep certain people in and “others” out.  In this course we explore the sociological forces behind cross-border labor flows and the parallel reality of immigrant life.  We focus specifically on the experience of Latinos in the United States.  We pay special attention to the linkages between the demand and supply of Latino immigrant labor, social constructions of (il)legality, and the oft-overlooked privileged lifestyles that immigration supports.  While this course has a deep theoretical rooting, we use daily immigrant life as the lens through which to explore migration. 

Limited to 25 students.  Fall semester.  Professor Schmalzbauer.