SN1105 Culture and Identity in Latin America
2018-9: Term 1
Convenor: Jessica Wax-Edwards
Assessment:
Summative Coursework:
(10%) One Assessed Student Presentation in class.
(30%) Essay 1 in English (1,200-1,500 words)
(60%) Essay 2 in English (2,000 – 2,500 words)
Overview:
This course is intended to introduce students to some of the major works, artists, photographers and writers from the twentieth century in Latin America. It is taught over two terms with weekly one hour seminars. On this course we will look at some of the most important literary, visual and cinematic works from twentieth century Latin America. We will study a selection of writers from the Latin American Literary Boom which include Nobel Prize winning poets and novelists from the region. Students on this course will be introduced to some of the artistic wealth (both in styles and techniques) from artists and photographers across the Latin American continent. We will be paying particular attention to the question of identity as reflected in the cinemas of Cuba and Mexico; two of the most important film industries from Spanish speaking America.
Set Texts in the order they will be studied:
- Literature: Abel Posse’s Los perros del paraíso
- Paintings: Friday Kahlo
- Photography: Tina Modotti
- Latin American Film: The Motorcyle Diaries
- Poetry: Octavio Paz’s Piedra de sol
- Literature: Gabriel García Márquez’s Cien años de soledad
- Visions of Cuba part I, Film: Fresa y chocolate
- Cuba part II, Film: Azúcar amarga