CTSJ 170 Diasporic Los Angeles: Cultural Narratives of Migration and (Un)Belonging
This course explores cultural narratives of migration, identity, and (un)belonging in Los Angeles, focusing on underrepresented diasporic communities from the second half of twentieth century to the present. Through the study of film, literature, memoirs, and other cultural texts, students will examine how stories of immigration and displacement shape understandings of race, gender, sexuality, class, and nationality in a city defined by continual movement and transformation. Emphasizing close cultural, political, and historical analysis, the course investigates how representations of migration both document and challenge dominant narratives of Los Angeles as a heterogeneous and contested urban space. Topics include undocumented storytelling, borderland narratives, queer and intergenerational storytelling, and cultural responses to state violence.