Worldbuilding In this course we will critically examine fictional worlds in literature, cinema, and games. Worldbuilding synthesizes and transforms our understanding of reality into fantastic settings in literature, movies, and video games. We will critically examine the multidisciplinary use of origin stories, symbols and myths, invented histories, and imagined geographies in constructing new universes. Among the questions we will consider are: How do we conceive of coherent places and times? What real world consequences do fictional worlds have on popular beliefs and practices? Students will design their own well-researched and richly detailed worlds during the semester.

Introduction to American Studies: American Representations of Crime and Violence In this course we will offer an introduction to the interdisciplinary study of American culture and identity. Integrating a range of sources and methods, we will examine myths, symbols, values, and social changes that have been used to create and contest ideas of "Americanness." Sources for the course will include movies, fiction, political and religious tracts, advertising, TV shows, video games, music, and journalism. This year, we will focus on American portrayals of crime and violence in a wide range of texts and cultural artifacts that provide us with a larger sense of how these representations function in the formation of categories of gender and sexuality, race and ethnicity, ethics and religion, as well as socio-economic class in American society. Texts and films will likely range from true crime shows to Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction and from street to war photography.

Introduction to Latina/o Studies In this course we will undertake an interdisciplinary investigation of the unique experiences and conditions of U.S. Latina/os of Caribbean, Latin American, and Mexican descent. We will critically examine transnational cultures, patterns of circular migration, and intergenerational transformations from a historical perspective while also using methodologies from the humanities and social sciences. Topics will include the conquest of Mexico’s northern frontier, Chicana/o and Nuyorican movements, Latina feminist thought, Latina/o arts, Central American migrations in the 1980s, Latina/o religiosities, as well as philosophies of resistance and acculturation.

American Literature and Culture: Origins-1830 A study of literary and other cultural forms in early America, including gravestones, architecture, furniture and visual art.  We will consider how writing and these other forms gave life to ideas about religion, diversity, civic obligation and individual rights that dominated not only colonial life but that continue to influence notions of "Americanness" into the present day. Required for all majors and minors.

Worldbuilding and Worldmaking In this seminar we will survey and critically examine fictional worlds in literature, cinema, and games as well the invention of places, cultures, and shared beliefs in the real world. Worldbuilding synthesizes concepts and stretches our understanding of possible realities through fantastic settings such as Middle-Earth, the Star Wars universe, or Barbie-land. Worldmaking does the same thing in our lived world through the invention of origin-stories, shared symbols and myths, invented traditions, and imagined geographies. Among the questions we will consider are: How do we conceive of coherent places and times? What real world consequences do fictional worlds have on popular beliefs and practices? Students will design their own well-researched and richly detailed worlds during the semester.

American Pulp Fiction In this course we will consider how American pulp fiction has reflected cultural attitudes, represented categories of identity, and been regularly reimagined from the golden age of the genre in the 20th century to contemporary times. We will read stories by Jack Vance, Poul Anderson, and H.P. Lovecraft, as well as Chester Himes’ The Heat is On. We will also view Pulp Fiction, the Maltese Falcon, and Lovecraft Country.

Roberto Lint Sagarena

Reviews and ratings for Roberto Lint Sagarena at Middlebury College.Roberto Lint Sagarena teaches Worldbuilding, Intro to American Studies: Intro AmStudies Crime&Violence, Intro to Latina/o Studies and more.  Explore top rated instructors and find the best for you.Is Roberto Lint Sagarena good ? Find out on MiddCourses.

Very chill and easy class. He never kept us in through the whole class time, work was chill and he was a good grader. Only had three assignments all of J term, two due in the last couple weeks. Prof is very nice too

Professor Lint is amazing and genuinely cares about the material. We had several movie screenings (Pulp Fiction being one) and he bought everyone who came dinner. He is also accommodating with extensions.

This was a very easy class, very low commitment and only had 3 short papers. Reading quizzes were collaborative. Lint is very kind and cares a lot about students but can be a little disorganized, so lectures were a little boring.