AN 364 - The Making of Patagonia: An Interdisciplinary Approach

This course explores the history and anthropology of Argentine Patagonia and its inhabitants, with a main focus on the relationships between indigenous peoples and territory over time. Course discussions and materials explore a wide range of topics: from European first-contact to current social, economic and environmental problems in the region involving indigenous peoples. Readings include contemporary anthropological and historical reports and current mainstream media, as well as self-representations by indigenous peoples today (in interviews, literature, films and newspaper articles). The course identifies the most persistent and dominant representations about Argentine Patagonia and its inhabitants over history, understanding the power relations involved in these constructions and their implications in the lives of indigenous peoples today. It includes a mid-semester field study trip to the southern city of Bariloche and its surroundings during which students will more deeply understand the realities of the region and develop first-hand experiences in relation to the various topics addressed in class, including indigenous peoples’ struggles in the region.