Bruce Matthews | 50 seats available
Mondays, 4:00pm — 5:00pm
October 30 — December 4 (5 sessions, no class Nov. 13)

Like many parts of the world in the early 20^th century, Mexico faced huge political and economic crises, which in turn produced some remarkable creative personalities who still resonate in our times. Among these are the great artist Frida Kahlo (1907-54) and her close friend and likely lover, the deposed former Bolshevik general Leon Trotsky (1879-1940), who sought refuge in Mexico until Stalin’s ruthless purges eventually caught up to him. These two figures tell us much about the mundo vigentes or political and cultural times in which they lived, and their lasting influence in our world today.  The course involves three lectures and two films for a total of five sessions.