COURSE SYLLABUS: LATIN AMERICAN LITERATURE

Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina

Partner Institution: University of Belgrano

Course Title (English): Latin American Literature
Course Title (Spanish): Literatura Latinoamericana

Sessions Offered: Fall Semester, Spring Semester

Instructional in: Spanish

Classroom Contact Hours: 45 contact hours

College Credit (Semester Credit Hours): 3 credit hours

College Credit (Quarter Units): 4.5 quarter units

Prerequisites: Intermediate II Spanish Level if taught in Spanish

Local Department: Programa de estudios argentinos y latinoamericanos (PEAL)

Course Code: PEAL 321

Course Description

The goal of this course is to learn about Latin American Literature through the study and discussion of answers from the literary and social fields to complex cultural and historic problems such as: the Conquest, nation, formation of national identities, trans-culturalization, vanguard, nationalism and cosmopolitanism, populism and authoritarianism. The Latin American literary system is studied in the general framework of literary and cultural debates from the 19th and 20th century.

Program Schedule

Week 1

Introduction to the  material. The Conquest and the genres. Literature and history. Fragments of Christopher Columbus’ journal.

Week 2

Chronicles and letters. Hernán Cortés, letters (selected fragments). The vision of the conquered, fragments of Aztec and nahuatl testimonies.

Week 3

Rewriting of the Conquest. Carlos Fuentes: Los Naranjos (selection). Octavio Paz: El Laberinto de la soledad (selection).

Week 4

19th century: romanticism, formation of nations, national identities. Palma: Peruvian traditions (selection)

Week 5

Towards a Latin American identity: Nuestra América, José Martí y Ariel, José Enrique Rodó (fragments)

Week 6

Narrative of the Mexican Revolution. Cartucho, de Nellie Campobello ó El Llano en Llamas, de Juan Rulfo.

Week 7

Poetic vanguards: Huidobro, Nerudo, Vallejo. Vanguard and revolution: José Carlos Mariátegui on Vallejo.

Week 8

Midterm

Week 9

The 1960s – revolution and social discipline. La Noche de Tlatelolco, Elena Poniatowska. Augusto Monterroso, selected stories.

Week 10

Transculturalization/aculturalization – language and identity. José María Arguedas, fragments of Los Ríos Profundos ó Todas las Sangres.

Week 11

State terrorism, memory, testimonies and fiction. Discussion on theoretical and critical articles.

Week 12

Uruguay, Cuando la Palmera se enamoró del viento. Genre and testimony (fragments of testimonies by Uruguyan women). Fragments from the testimonial film: Por esos ojos

Week 13

Chile. Fictions from memory. Roberto Bolaño, Nocturno de Chile.

Week 14

Chile. Fictions from memory. Roberto Bolaño, Nocturno de Chile. Final discussion.

Week 15

Final exam.

Note: Timelines and content are subject to change at the discretion of the Professor.

Course Requirements

The student is expected to read the assigned readings, participate actively in class and perform oral presentations. The student must attend 75% of class to pass the course. The system of control is electronic and the student must pass their card every class to be counted present. The final exam is written and oral. Part of the evaluation is considered: the midterm, presentations and class participation, as well as three research papers.

Course Evaluation

In agreement with the policies of the University of Belgrano the student can only have a 25% absence rate. The percentage of attendance that is required in order to take the final exam is 75%. Any trip or excursion that is not planned in the calendar is part of the 25% absence.

• Participation and attendance 10%
• Oral presentation (1) 10%
• Midterm 25%
• Final written and oral exam 25%
• Research papers (3) 30%

Bibliography (Texts and Materials)

• Cuadernillo del curso / Course Reader, ed. Liria Evangelista y Lara Mirkin.
• Mario Vargas Llosa. Los cachorros (comisión de Lara)
• Roberto Bolaños. Nocturno de Chile.

Contact Information:

SOL EDUCATION ABROAD

EMAIL: info@soleducation.com

WEB: www.soleducation.com

PHONE: 512.380.1003

FAX: 512.287.4886

MAIL: 503 Oakland Ave. Austin, TX 78703