LAS 237 - Topics: Detective Fiction and Societal Crisis in Latin America (1)

This course will use contemporary detective fiction as a lens through which to understand crises currently enveloping parts of Latin America (with a particular focus on Mexico and the US border). As various political and economic crises unfold in the countries to the south of the United States, many writers have turned to the genre of detective fiction to try to make sense of seemingly unsolvable problems (mass migration, femicide, cartel-driven violence). We will all play the role of detective as we attempt to find the sources of conflict and search for potential solutions to these problems. Prerequisite: First Year Writing Seminar