231162 Chicanx Literature: A Rebel Without a Cause (S) (SoSe 2025)

“Chicanx Literature: A Rebel Without a Cause” explores the vibrant, insurgent tradition of Chicanx literature through the lens of rebellion, resistance, and reimagination. From the margins of American society, Chicanx writers have challenged dominant narratives of identity, nationhood, gender, and power. Indeed, different texts and art work reclaim and redefine “rebel without a cause” by examining how Chicanx authors create characters, spaces, and stories that resist assimilation and advocate for social justice, cultural pride, and political transformation.
Through poetry, fiction, memoir, and performance we will engage with key works by writers such as Gloria Anzaldúa, Luis Valdez, Sandra Cisneros, José Antonio Villarreal, Helena María Viramontes, and others. The course will also draw connections between literature and broader movements such as the Chicano Movement, queer activism, migration, etc.
The main goals of this course are 1) to understand the historical and socio-political contexts that shaped the emergence of Chicanx literary expression, 2) to explore the intersectionality of race, class, gender, sexuality, and language in the construction of Chicanx identity, 3) to identify themes of resistance, hybridity, identity, and belonging in Chicanx literature, 4) to analyze the literary, cultural, and political significance of Chicanx texts across different genres and last , but not least, 5) to reflect on the role of literature as a tool for activism, community-building, and cultural preservation.

BIBLIOGRAFIE
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Cisneros, Sandra (2002) Caramelo or Puro Cuento. New York, N.Y.: Vintage Books.
Elías, Eduardo F (2010) “Cisneros’s Ethnic Past Plays a Major Role in her Creative Works” in Durst Jonson, Claudia (Editor) (2010) Patriarchy in Sandra Cisneros’s The House On Mango Street. Greenhaven Press, USA.
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