MALA 70953 Mayan Ritual and Drama: Pre-Hispanic Times to the Present
This course will examine the frequently intertwined traditions of ritual and drama among Mayan peoples of Southern Mexico and Central America, from pre-Hispanic times to the present. The course will combine a historical perspective beginning with pre-Columbian documents and Spanish colonial chronicles. Twentieth-century manifestations will be particularly highlighted, based on the instructor's first-hand research; special emphasis will be given to the work of performance groups based in Yucatan and Chiapas, Mexico. Extensive video material will complement textual analyses.