LAS 193 - Andean & Amazonian Culture: Continuity and Change

Credits: 5
An introduction to Andean and Amazonian cultures from both historical and contemporary perspectives, exploring the cultural diversity and resilience of the peoples within these regions. Focusing on the territories of present-day Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Colombia, Venezuela, the Guianas, and Brazil, the course examines cultural continuities and transformations over time. Topics include symbolic practices across art, ritual, myth, and music; the influence of indigenous knowledge and environmental relationships; the persistence of communal structures like the ayllu; and the cultural dynamics of conquest and colonialism. Through themes such as indigenous cosmovision, Andes-Amazonia connections, cultural syncretism, and contemporary social movements, students will gain a deep understanding of how the region’s cultures have been shaped by internal and external forces, fostering an appreciation for their unique contributions to Latin America. Possible thematic rotations include symbolic continuity and ritual practices, representations of colonialism and cultural contact, indigenous knowledge systems, modern social movements, and Andean-Amazonian interactions.

Enrollment Requirement: Eligible for ENGL 99 - Introductory Composition or instructor consent.

Satisfies Requirement: Humanities/Fine Arts/English
Course Outcomes:
Students who successfully complete this class will be able to:

Familiarize students with key aspects of Andean and Amazonian cultures, including cultural practices, historical narratives, and contemporary social issues.
Understand the impact of social and cultural processes on Andean and Amazonian communities, recognizing influences of indigenous knowledge and environmental adaptations.
Critically analyze continuity and change in Andean and Amazonian social and cultural contexts, with the ability to assess how historical dynamics impact present-day issues.
Interpret the relationships between cultural practices and environmental contexts in the Andes and Amazon, recognizing how these interactions shape worldviews, cosmologies, and social structures within indigenous communities.

Program Outcomes
Analyze cultural perspectives and values of a multicultural world.

College-wide Outcomes

Critical Thinking - Critical thinking finds expression in all disciplines and everyday life. It is characterized by an ability to reflect upon thinking patterns, including the role of emotions on thoughts, and to rigorously assess the quality of thought through its work products. Critical thinkers routinely evaluate thinking processes and alter them, as necessary, to facilitate an improvement in their thinking and potentially foster certain dispositions or intellectual traits over time.
Quantitative and Symbolic Reasoning - Quantitative Reasoning encompasses abilities necessary for a student to become literate in today’s technological world. Quantitative reasoning begins with basic skills and extends to problem solving.
Written Communication - Written Communication encompasses all the abilities necessary for effective expression of thoughts, feelings, and ideas in written form.
Diversity and Equity - In order to advance equity and social justice, students will be able to examine their own and others’ identities, behaviors, and/or cultural perspectives as they connect to power, privilege, and/or resistance.