For those with a passion for art, northern New Mexico is an idyllic retreat, a place to experience (and even purchase) a slice of Americana that is steeped in the mystique of the area’s many Indigenous nations. Settler dynamics of occupation, tourism, and commerce are often in tension with artistry and creativity in this part of America. In this course, we will explore these dynamics as we read together the New Mexico works of Indigenous writers and filmmakers, especially from Oklahoma, considering the unique arts cultures that inform them.

We will read and interpret poems, essays, and films from writers including Lynn Riggs, N. Scott Momaday, Joy Harjo, Leslie Marmon Silko, Simon Ortiz, and Sterlin Harjo. Our time together will include visits to sites including the D.H. Lawrence House (and adjacent Kiowa Trail); the Mabel Dodge Luhan House; and the Taos Pueblo, including a visit to its Dawn Butterfly Café, which honors the memory of a prolific Taos Pueblo poet.