SPAN-4391. SPECIAL TOPICS

  Institutions and Social Groups in Hispanic Literatures and Films

 

 

Dr. Bladimir Ruiz

Office: NH-234

Phone: 999-7530

E-mail: bladimir.ruiz@trinity.edu

 

Schedule:

 

MW:     2:30-3:45 pm. NH 219

                         

Office Hours:           

 

                                    MWF:   10:30-11:30 pm.

            W:       4-5pm

                                    T:         10:30-12:30 pm.

 

Required texts:

 

1) Tres sombreros de copa                             Miguel Mihura (Espa–a)

2) La cruz invertida                                         Marcos Aguinis (Argentina)

3) Querido Diego, te abraza Quiela.               Elena Poniatowska (MŽxico)

4) San Manuel Bueno, M‡rtir                           Miguel de Unamuno (Espa–a)

 

The instructor will photocopy the rest of the materials that students will need to read.

 

Movies:

 

ÒNazar’nÓ (Spain)

ÒGolpes a mi puertaÓ (Venezuela/Chile).

 ÒEstacion CentralÓ (Brasil)

ÒFridaÓ (Mexico)

ÒOrianaÓ (Venezuela)

ÒTodo sobre mi madreÓ (Spain)

 

Course description and goals.

 

A fourth year seminar for major and minors, this course is aimed to study some of the social, economical, political and cultural forces that have shaped the history and the culture of Spain and Latin America in the last two centuries. We will examine the literary and cultural representation of different institutions and social groups in texts of various sources and genres. Therefore, materials may include newspaper articles, poetry, dramas, novels, short stories, essays, critical readings, films, music, and art.

 

From the analysis of the literary and cultural materials presented in class we should gain an understanding of the role of institutions such as the church, marriage, and family in Spanish and Latin American societies. We will also analyze the representation of social groups and gender roles to see how this representation can be interpreted as either a compliance with the hegemonic system or a transgressive act.

 

From a different perspective, it is also a very important goal in this class to stimulate individual and analytical thinking, to promote close reading of texts directed by argumentation and rational and well-structured insights.

 

In this seminar, the in class setting will be highly interactive, with emphasis on listening, speaking, writing, and on engagement in student-centered activities, involving work in pairs or small groups on weekly basis.

 

Absences:

 

After a third unexcused absence, 10% points will be subtracted from your final grade for each additional absence. Attendance will be taken daily. If you are absent, it is your responsibility to find out what you missed so that you can prepare what is asked for any particular day.

 

Academic Integrity:

 

Academic dishonesty in any from is unacceptable, because any breach in academic integrity, however small, strikes destructively at the UniversityÕs life and work. Any form of cheating on quizzes or exams is in violation of academic integrity standards. You must write your own assignments (compositions, papers, etc.) without direct help from friends, tutors, websites, etc.  It is also a violation to copy, translate or transcribe any portion of your compositions and or essays from any source.

 

Calendario de clases.

 

SEMANA 1:

 

1/16     Introducci—n.

 

SEMANA 2:

 

1/21     Sociedad y religi—n: San Manuel Bueno, m‡rtir.

1/23     Sociedad y religi—n: San Manuel Bueno, m‡rtir

 

La pel’cula ÒNazar’nÓ ser‡ vista el jueves por la noche.

 SEMANA 3:

 

1/28     Sociedad y religi—n: Discusi—n de ÒNazar’nÓ

1/30     Sociedad y religi—n: La cruz invertida

 

 SEMANA 4:

 

2/4       Sociedad y religi—n: La cruz invertida

2/6       Sociedad y religi—n: La cruz invertida

  

SEMANA 5:

 

2/11     Sociedad y religi—n: La cruz invertida

2/13     Sociedad y religi—n: La cruz invertida

 

                        La pel’cula ÒGolpes a mi puertaÓ ser‡ vista el jueves por la noche

 

SEMANA 6:

 

2/18      Sociedad y religion: Discusi—n de ÒGolpes a mi puertaÓ

2/20     Sociedad/familia/matrimonio: Tres sombreros de copa

 

SEMANA 7:

 

2/25     Sociedad/familia/matrimonio: Tres sombreros de copa

2/27     Sociedad/familia/mujer: Cuarto de azotea de Cristina Pacheco

 

La pel’cula ÒEstaci—n CentralÓ ser‡ vista el jueves por la noche.

 

SEMANA 8:

 

 

El profesor asistir‡ a una conferencia en la Ciudad de MŽxico.  Preparar y entregar dos tareas especiales (Una para cada d’a).

 

3/3       Sociedad/familia/mujer: Discusi—n sobre ÒEstaci—n centralÓ. Entregar tarea especial

3/5       Sociedad/familia/mujer: Proyecci—n de la primera parte de ÒAmores perrosÓ.

 

                                                            3/9 Ð 3/17       SPRING BREAK

SEMANA 9:

 

3/18     Sociedad/mujer: Querido Diego

 3/20    Sociedad/mujer: Querido Diego

 

SEMANA 10:

 

3/25     Sociedad/mujer: la pel’cula ÒFridaÓ

3/27     Sociedad/mujer: Frida Khalo. Presentaci—n.

 

SEMANA 11:

 

4/1       Sociedad/mujer: la pel’cula ÒOrianaÓ

4/3       Sociedad/mujer: Discusi—n de ÒOrianaÓ. Presentaci—n

 

 SEMANA 12:

 

4/8       Sociedad/Mujer: Cuentos

4/10     Sociedad/Mujer: Eva Per—n. Presentaci—n

 

 SEMANA 13:

 

4/15     Sociedad/Mujer: La telenovela latinoamericana. Presentaci—n

  4/17   Sociedad y mujer: Poes’a contempor‡nea de mujeres. Presentaci—n

 

SEMANA 14:

 

4/22     Rompiendo moldes: sociedad y sexualidad. ÒLa cuenta de los d’asÓ de Luis Zapata (Ese amor que ayer nos quemaba)

 4/24   Rompiendo moldes: sociedad y sexualidad. Film:  ÒTodo sobre mi madreÓ

 

 

SEMANA 15:

 

4/29     Rompiendo moldes: sociedad y sexualidad. Discusi—n de ÒTodo sobre mi madreÓ

 

5/1, 5/2           Reading Days.

 

 

Evaluaci—n:

 

 

* Preparaci—n / participaci—n / asistencia:                  20%

 

* Ensayos (3)                                                              50%

 

* Presentaci—n                                                            10%

 

* Tareas especiales (5)                                               20%