Spanish 240DQ - Visual Cultures, An Introduction: 'Drama Queens: Love, Heartache and Making a Scene'

Movies and television in Spanish are known for serving over-the-top drama. From the histrionics of Mexico's sweeping época de oro productions to the telenovelas of today, melodrama has provided an effective means for understanding not only our own personal affliction but also broader societal issues. Star-crossed lovers, family feuds, a mother's sacrifice, and other common tropes become vehicles for articulating and challenging ideas about socio-economic hierarchies, gender and sexuality norms, racialization, and national identity. This course explores such dynamics in iconic box-office hits, popular television serials, and recent streaming content.

Prereq: SPAN-212.