This course examines Cuban history, literature, and culture since the Revolution, both on the island and in the United States diaspora. In political and cultural essays, personal narratives, fiction, poetry, drama, visual art, music, and film, we will seek a comprehensive and diverse view of how Cubans on the island and Cubans in the diaspora understand their situation as people of the same nation divided for fifty years by the Cold War, revolution, and exile. Topics to be considered include the meaning of diasporas in our time, Fidel Castro and the making of the Cuban Revolution, masculinity and gay sexuality in the Revolution and Cuban diaspora, women's dreams, everyday life under communism, Afrocuban culture and religion, Jewish-Cuban revitalization, the Cuban visual arts movement, and the construction and deconstruction of exile identity.

Course Requirements:

This course will use Zoom for all synchronous teaching and learning. This course will use Canvas for all asynchronous online components. Optional synchronous office hour meetings with the instructor will be conducted through Zoom. Students should have access to a camera and microphone.

Intended Audience:

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Class Format:

The course will be synchronous, combining a mix of lectures with discussion throughout, so synchronous participation is required. Readings, Powerpoint presentations, and multimedia materials will made available asynchronously. Testing for this course will primarily be asynchronous and will consist of two assigned essays (topics noted on the syllabus) as well as a final research project chosen by the student. Students will also be assessed synchronously on an oral presentation based on course readings that they will present during one of the weeks of the class, as well as on a summary of their final project, to be presented on the last day of class.