Beyond the Cartels: Communicating Casualties of the War on Drugs

The U.S.-led War on Drugs and Latin American drug “cartels” have captivated the popular imagination since the 1970s. However films, television series, and news articles that center these topics do little to increase understanding of the causes and human costs of violence. This course explores the problem of how to convey the drug-related violence in Latin America to general audiences. Students will hone their skills by developing op-editorials, film reviews, and other public-facing pieces of writing.