SPAN 326: Treasures of Spanish-Language Literature and Culture

SPAN 326-001: Treasures Span-Lang Lit/Cult
(Fall 2021)

04:30 PM to 07:10 PM W

Horizon Hall 5008

Section Information for Fall 2021

SPANISH 326

Treasures of Spanish American

Language and History, Literature and Culture

 W 16:30 19:10 Horizon 5008

This course is presented as a quilt of images of the language, history, and cultural manifestations of the people of Latin America with a particular emphasis on idiomatic and cultural expressions, the ideals and identities born during the periods of national formations, the participation of all segments of society (writers, musicians, artists, sport figures) in the struggles for democratic self-determination and the failures of all political systems to really establish a solid socio-political leadership “of the people, for the people, and by the people.” The course is designed to familiarize students with the relationships in Latin America between History and Culture; Language and Literature; as well as race, gender, and diversity in the origins and development of Spanish American life. Although most of our interest is going to be the written word, we will also bring to our discussion texts of other mediums: visual, aural, moving, and introduce many different manifestations of artistic expressions: dance, filming, painting, cartooning, acting, sculpture. We will put emphasis on the exploration of the historical, linguistic, or ideological backgrounds that shaped Latin America with close readings of these cultural expressions and the evolution of different genres, themes, and motifs.

The course will enhance students’ oral and written skills in Spanish as well as boost their critical understanding of Latin America. Following the premise that cultural expressions are powerful forms of identity, the study of these mediums will be used to promote cross-cultural understanding, and to engage students with historical issues. Several topics will be of interest to our investigation and discussion: politics and reform; ethnicity and class politics; gender roles and relations; community and the individual; regionalism and nationalism; immigration; environmental concerns.

TEXTBOOKS:

Peter Weibel, The Big Red Book of Spanish Idioms. New York: McGraw Hill, 2004. ISBN: 978-007-143302-0
Carlos Fuentes, El espejo enterrado. Mexico: Taurus, 2007. ISBN: 978-968-19-0395-4  

[Check Blackboard for more info. Spanish will be the language of communication during class]

Course Information from the University Catalog