Span 135
Fall 2000
Required text:
Castellanos, Rosario. (1996) Ciudad Real . Alfaguara, México.
Castillo, Ana. (1994) Massacre of the Dreamers; essays on xicanisma. Plume, Penguin Boocs USA Inc., 375 Hudson, Street, New York, NY 10014.
Fuentes, Carlos. (1998). El espejo enterrado. Taurus, México.
García Márquez, Gabriel (1996) Noticia de un secuestro. Grupo editorial Norma. Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Martínez, Tomás Eloy. (1995) Santa Evita. Vintage Español. Random House Inc. New York.
Menchú, Rigoberta (1998) Rigoberta: La nieta de los mayas. Aguilar. México.
Sandoval, Manuel Lucena (1998) La América precolombina. Anaya, Madrid, España.
Santiago, Esmeralda (1994). Cuando era puertorriqueña. Vintage Español. Random House, Inc. New York.
Prerequisites: Completion of Spanish 100 and 101.
COURSE CONDUCTED ENTIRELY IN SPANISH
OVERVIEW AND OBJECTIVES:
In this course, we will explore the basic factors that have molded and continue to shape the life and institutions of the Spanish-speaking peoples of the Americas. Ciudad Real, El espejo enterrado, Rigoberta: La nieta de los mayas, La América precolombina, Historia de un secuestro, Cuando era puertorriqueña, Santa Evita, Massacre of the Dreamers,will be used to examine different aspects of the dynamic life of contemporary Latin America.
The principal objectives of the course are four:
To gain an understanding of the multifaceted nature of the people who inhabit Latin America today.
To examine the process by which the traditions and institutions that govern them have developed.
To develop a sense of solidarity with the hopes, dreams and struggles of the people in Latin America and Latin Americans in the United States.
To question tradition as a jail to identity.
Readings, lectures, videos, presentations and constant reflection on what it is and what it ought to be will stress the interrelationships of the humanities and the social sciences. Thus, the course content will be presented from a dual perspective. The aim is to root cultural achievements in their historical settings and to analyze some of the minority groups in these times and their role in society. This will be done by analyzing the interplay between social, political, economic events, and contemporary developments in philosophy, religion, arts and literature from a critical perspective.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Class attendance and participation in discussions
Two three-page papers,
Oral presentation
One final paper.
PAPERS:
?Students will write a three-page paper based on the information discussed in class about pre-Columbian times, and the actual situation of the Native Americans in the Americas. The paper must discuss the following:
1.Discuss what is it that motivated different cultures and civilizations to invent a creation story?
2.Explain how did life start in the Americas?
3.Mention some of the great contributions of the Native Americans to the world?
4.Explain what are the main characteristics of the three mostly known Native American civilizations, the Aztec, the Maya, and the Incas?
5.Explain what do you think now when you read about the conquistadors?
6.Who do you think are the ones that are oppressing Native Americans today?
Students will write a three-page paper based on the information in El espejo enterrado. According to Fuentes:
1.Who are the Latin Americans?
2.What has shaped them that way?
3.What should Latin Americans be proud of?
4.What is shaping the people of Latin America today?
5.How should be the relationship between South and North?
6.What are you going to do to change your view and the way you treat Latin Americans?
In the end of the quarter, every student will present a two-page paper based on what he/she learned from the Eastside Project and how does this knowledge relate to what classmates have presented in class. Students will keep a journal of their work in the Eastside. Every student will take notes of his/her classmates' presentations. Journal and notes from the presentations must be included in the final paper.
The final paper should answer the following questions:
1.What did you know about Latin America before this class?
2.How did the people you meet in the Eastside Projects change your view of Latin America?
3.What are the main concerns of the people in the Eastside Projects?
4.What are their hopes and dreams?
5.How do your observations relate to the books presented by your classmates?
6.What are you going to do to help others see Latin America differently?
Don't forget to include a copy of your journal and the outline of your own presentation.
EASTSIDE PROJECT (SL)
Students will participate in two of the Eastside project sites. CET and The Law Clinic. Students in these sites will be able to do simultaneous translation for clients of the Law Clinic and teach adults how to read and write in CET. Both places will provide students with the opportunity to dialogue with Latin American people who have come to the United States. Students will serve the community at the same time that they learn through direct contact about the reasons for Latin Americans to leave their country and about their struggles to fit in a new culture.
Papers will be written following the guidelines outlined in the MLA Handbook.
ORAL PRESENTATION:
Every student will give an oral presentation that will be based on one of the books read during the quarter. This presentation will include:
Information about the author.
A short summary of the themes discussed in the book.
A short information on the historical context of the book.
An explanation on how this book helps us understand the life of Latin Americans today.
?Students must write an outline of their presentation, which will include in their final paper.
GRADING
Final course grades will be computed as follows:
Two three-page papers................................... 40%
One final paper.................... ....................... 20%
Oral presentation......................................... 30%
Class participation........................................ 10%
Grading scale:
100-90 A (100-97 A+; 96-94 A; 93-90 A-)
89-80 B ( 89-87 B+; 86-84 B; 83-80 B-)
79-70 C ( 79-77 C+; 76-74 C; 73-70 C-)
69-60 D ( 69-67 D+; 66-64 D; 63-60 D-
CLASS SCHEDULE
La América Precolombina
SEPTIEMBRE
Lunes, 18 Bienvenida explicación del curso
Miércoles, 20 Pags. 4-31 Los primeros invasores, Los períodos Arcaico y Formativo, El período Clásico mesoamericano y peruano.
Viernes, 22 Pags. 32-53 Los misteriosos mayas. El período Posclásico
Leer Rigoberta: la nieta de los mayas
Lunes, 25 Discusión en grupos sobre los mayas.
Miércoles, 27 Pags. 54-71 Los aguerridos aztecas.
Viernes, 29 Discusión en grupos sobre los aztecas.
OCTUBRE
Lunes, 2 Pags.72-90 Los efímeros incas.
Miércoles, 4 NO HAY CLASES
Viernes, 6 Discusión en grupos sobre los incas.
El espejo enterrado
Lunes, 9 Pags. 1-110 Introducción, La virgen y el toro, la conquista de España, La reconquista de España.
Miércoles, 11 Discusión en grupos sobre Video I
Leer Ciudad Real
Viernes, 13 Pags. 111-209 1492: El año crucial, Vida y muerte del mundo indígena,La conquista y la reconquista del Nuevo Mundo.
Lunes, 16 NO HAY CLASES
Miércoles, 18 Discusión en grupos sobre Video II
Viernes, 20 Pags. 210-330 La era imperial, El siglo de oro, El barroco del Nuevo Mundo, La época de Goya.
Lunes, 23 Discusión en grupos sobre Video III
Leer Santa Evita
Miércoles, 25 Pags. 331-408 Hacia la independencia: Múltiples máscaras y aguas
turbias, El precio de la Libertad: Simón Bolívar y José de San Martín, El tiempo de los tiranos.
Viernes, 27 Discusión en grupos sobre Video IV
Lunes, 30 Pags. 409-511 La cultura de la independencia, Tierra y Libertad,
Latino- América, La España contemporánea, La hispanidad norteamericana.
Leer Noticia de un secuestro
NOVIEMBRE
Miércoles, 1 Discusión en grupos sobre Video V
Ciudad Real
Viernes, 3 Presentación del libro Ciudad Real.
Rigoberta: La nieta de los mayas
Lunes, 6 Presentación del libro Rigoberta: La nieta de los mayas.
Leer Cuando era puertorriqueña
Santa Evita
Miércoles, 8 Entrega del primer ensayo.
Presentación del libro Santa Evita
Viernes, 10 No hay clase. (conferencia en Seattle)
Historia de un secuestro
Lunes, 13 Presentación del libro Historia de un secuestro.
Cuando era puertorriqueña
Miércoles, 15 Presentación del libro Cuando era puertorriqueña
Leer Massacre of the Dreamers
The Eastside Project
Viernes, 17 Discusión sobre el Eastside
Lunes, 27 Entrega del segundo ensayo
Miércoles, 29 Evaluaciones de Eastside y clase
DICIEMBRE
Massacre of the Dreamers
Viernes, 1 Presentación del libro Massacre of the Dreamers.
Jueves, 7 Ultimo día para entregar ensayo final.