Hispanic Studies 451: Maid in Latin America: The Image of the Domestic Worker in Contemporary Cinema

Can cinematic representations of the domestic worker (maid, nanny, butler), once merely a disparaged stock character relegated to supporting roles, embody the complex intersectionality of gender, racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic differences? This course examines the degree to which contemporary films from Hollywood and Latin America reinforce, challenge, or subvert traditional stereotypes of the subservient and docile housekeeper in depicting complex subjectivities that expose and contest outdated tropes, calling into question both social and cultural conventions. Together we will examine structural and aesthetic devices that accompany this shift in representation from marginalized invisibility to an increasingly empowered, independent subject under the scrutiny of the camera’s gaze. Students can expect to discuss recurring thematic issues including classism, sexism, ethnic bias, strained family dynamics, repressed conflicts, and clashing class expectations. We also will consider how these films, while centered on the ways in which individuals navigate hierarchical power dynamics within the intimate confines of the private home, critique social and economic inequalities within the broader context of a society or nation. Potential works under study include those produced in countries with rich cinematic histories including Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, and the United States alongside recent productions from Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Peru; genres under study include filmic shorts, fictional features, and documentary films. Coursework in Spanish. Evaluation will be based upon class participation, formal oral presentations, written responses, and a final research project. May be applied to the Visual Cultures requirement for the major in Hispanic Studies. Satisfies the 400 level requirement for the Hispanic Studies minor. May be taken for credit toward the Indigeneity, Race, and Ethnicity Studies major or minor, Film and Media Studies major or minor, or Gender Studies major or minor. May be elected as Global Literatures 351 with no prerequisites.