Spa 113: "Hybrid Nations: Hispanic Cultures and Civilizations" (In
Translation).
LC F: "Borderlands: The Construction of Nations and Identities"
*The class counts towards the
Spanish Minor and Major
Professor Margarita Sánchez Languages and Literatures
e-mail:margasanchez@aol.com(home) Fall/2002
msanchez@wagner.edu
Office
Hours: Mon. 3:00-4:00 p.m.
Tue. 1:30-2:30 p.m.
Th 1:30-2:30 p.m.
Parker Hall 113. (ext. 4133)
I. Course Description:
Contemporary Hispanic societies have defined themselves as "Hybrid
Cultures." In pursuing this idea, this course will focus on the concept of
borderlands in Latin America and among Latinos in the US, giving students the
opportunity to analyze official and alternative versions of history with
respect to country-city relationships, religious hybridization, development and
marginality. We will reexamine the long history in Spanish America of defining
"culture" and "civilization" in terms borrowed from
"developed" countries. Among the writers to be considered are
Columbus, de las Casas, Neruda,
Cortázar, Donoso, García Márquez, and Menchú. Films, slide projections and performers' Web Sites will be used
to illustrate the artist's point of view on different socio-political
issues. No Pre-requisites. This class counts towards the Spanish Minor*
and Major. Offered fall semester for
three years.
*Only one
class in translation counts towards the Minor.
II. Requirements
1. Attendance
A significant portion of your grade
will depend on oral participation. Attendance is therefore mandatory. Three class absences will lower the course
grade by 10%; more absences will lower
it proportionally. Three late arrivals
will count as an absence.
2. Assignments
Classwork: As the purpose of this course is to discuss and reflect in class, students are expected to participate actively and will have a
grade for participation in every class. Every student has to read and prepare
every assignment before class.
Exams:
There will be one exam (one hour), one
midterm exercise (take home) and
one final comprehensive exercise (one hour). The exams will test your
understanding of the readings.
Compositions:
There will be two compositions (3 pages).
They must be typed on a computer, double-spaced. Use a dictionary. Careless mistakes are
inexcusable. You will also be asked to
write very short essays in class on topics relevant to the readings.
Presentations:
There will be one formal
presentation. The students should
consider choosing an interesting and controversial subject. It is recommendable to use visual materials
and to design interactive exercises to maintain the audience's attention.
Readings:
When preparing reading assignments, you should be ready to analyze the texts,
to discuss their form and content, and to use the new vocabulary introduced in
each lesson.
Make-ups: As a general rule, no late work will be
accepted and no make-up tests will be given. Coordinate your activities with
the syllabus.
Grades: Final Grades will be computed as follows:
Midterm exam ___________________ 15%
Exams __________________________ 25%
Class participation/Presentation______ 20%
Papers __________________________ 20%
Final Exam______________________ 20%
III. Calendar
Week 1
Aug. 26-30
*National
Identities:
“The Hispanic
Condition” by Ilan Stavans. (Package)
“Warrior for
Gringostoika” by Gómez Pena. (Package)
Week 2
Sep. 4 and 6
*National
Identities:
Drown by Junot Díaz (Bookstore)
Week 3
Sep. 9-13
*National
Identities:
Borderlands/La frontera by Gloria Anzaldúa(Package)
Presentations
Week 4
Sep 16-20
*National
Identities:
Borderlands/La frontera by Gloria
Anzaldúa(Package)
Documentary
“The City”
Week 5
Sep 23-27
“Teenage
Zombie” and “Women Suffer More Than Men” (Package)
First Exam (Friday)
Week 6
Sep 30-Oct 4
*Heading
South:
“The Nobel Address” by Pablo Neruda (Package)
Presentations
“Literature and Exile” by Angel
Rama (Package)
Week 8
Oct 15-18
*Heading
South:
Heading South, Looking North by Ariel
Dorfman (Library)
“House Taken
Over” and “Graffiti” by Julio Cortázar (Package)
Movie: “Red”
(outside class)
*Africans in
Latin America:
Of Love and Other Demons by Gabriel
García Márquez (Library)
Midterm Exercise (Take home)
Week 10
Oct. 28-29
Fall Break
*Africans in Latin
America:
Week 11
Nov. 4-8
*Africans in
Latin America:
Week 12
Nov. 11-15
*Gender and
Sexuality:
Hell Has no Limits by Jose Donoso
(Library)
Play: Bash: A gaggle
of Saints (exact date to be announced)
Gate House Lounge.
Harbor View.
Nov. 18-22
*The
Indigenous Voice and Columbus:
Rigoberta Menchú (Selection/Package)
Sub-Comandante Marcos (Package)
Nov. 25-27
*The
indigenous Voice and Columbus:
Columbus
Journal (Selection/Package)
Bartolomé de
Las Casas (Selection/Package)
Week 15
Dec. 2
Last day of
classes.
Final Comprehensive Exercise.