On Women and Witches: Latin American Writers, Artists, Activists

This course explores the relationship between gender and power through an analysis of "practices of craftsmanship" of so-called rebellious Latin American women who were seen as witches, traitors, even monsters, but also as enchanters, healers, and creators. We will examine women's skills, artistry, and agency, often dismissed as "malos saberes" (bad knowledge) in literature, performance, songs, and the visual arts. Starting with an exploration of witches in colonial times, our journey includes mythic, literary and cultural figures such as La Malinche, Frida Kahlo, Gabriela Mistral, and Doña Bárbara.