LAS 111 Introduction to Latin America

COURSE CALENDAR

Week 1 January 20:  Latin America – Present, Past & Future
3:00   Review of Course Mechanics
3:15   W. Culver: Overview of 20 Countries
4:15   Video: Conflict of the Gods (Buried Mirror Series)
5:15   Discussion Question of the Week: What do you already know about Latin America?

Week 2  January 27: The America’s as a "Pioneer" Global Society: Threat or Promise
3:00    W. Culver: Neo-Liberalism, Liberal Democracy, Diversity, Social Justice, & Ecology
3:30   Video: Get Up, Stand Up (Americas series)
5:00   W. Culver: U.S. Foreign Policy
5:30   Discussion Question of Week: What has been the impact of the United States on the peoples of the Latin American countries?

Reading:
Beezley/Ewell:
Hart, "Leticia: A Nicaraguan Woman's Struggle,"  pp. 255-271
González:
Arenas, "The Parade Ends,"  pp. 443-461
Hillman:
Fraser, "International Relations,"  pp. 151-176
IDB América (25:11-12)
"Two Families, Two Futures,"  pp. 2-4
"Unequal from Any Angle,"  pp. 4-5
"What Can be Done About Inequality?," pp. 6-7
Ward:
"Introduction," pp. 1-17
"Latin America and the Wider World,"  pp. 32-47

Links:
Organization of American States
Latin American Studies - Washington University

Week 3 February 3: Explanations and Theories About Latin America
3:00 MAP QUIZ
3:30 W. Culver: Structuralism, Modernization, Development, Dependency & Culture
4:15 Video: Fire in the Mind (Americas series)
5:15 Discussion Question of the Week: What is your theory about how the Latin American countries got to be as they are today?

Reading:
Beezley/Ewell:
Ewell & Beezley, "Introduction," pp. xv-xxx
Joseph & Wells, "The Rough-and-Tumble Career of Pedro Crespo,"   pp. 131-146
González:
Palma, "Fray Gómez's Scorpion," pp. 85-88
Palma, "Where and How the Devil Lost His Poncho,"  pp. 89-94
Güiraldes, "The Braider,"  pp. 141-143
Henriques de Lima Barreto, "The Man Who Knew Javanese,"  pp. 144-152
Hillman:
Hillman, "Introduction," pp. 1-8
Pelletier, "Latin America: A Geographic Preface," pp. 9-26
Voss:
"The Physical Environment" (handout)
Ward:
"Chronology,"  pp. 108-112

Links:
Center for Latin American Studies - University of Pittsburgh
LANIC - University of Texas
Latin American Studies Association
LatinWorld

Week 4 February 10: Latinos and Latino Culture as Part of the USA
3:00 W. Culver: Whose Hemisphere? Who Are Americans?
3:30 Video: The Latin American & Caribbean Presence in the U.S. (Americas series)
4:30 Exchange Students: The Concept of Latino and Latina
5:15 Discussion Question of the Week: How is Latino immigration transforming the United States of America?

Reading:
González:
Bombal, "The Tree," pp. 233-241
Quiroga, "The Decapitated Chicken,"  pp. 118-124
Arévalo Martínez, "The Man Who Resembled a Horse,"  pp. 131-140
Voss:
"The Hispanic Presence in the United States" (handout)
Class Handouts:

Links:
Hispanic Online
Hispanic Magazine
¡Latinas!
Latinworld-USA (mostly Spanish)

Viewing:
See Week 15 for films to see over the semester.  All are in video stores and some are available on campus.

Week 5 February 17: European Conquest of the Amerindian Peoples
3:00 S. Voss: The Conquest as a Historical Phenomenon
3:30 S. Voss: The Amerindian Past, The European Future -- Consequences of the Contact
4:15 Video: The Virgin and the Bull (Buried Mirror Series)
5:15 Discussion Question of the Week: How does today's Mexico, Guatemala, Peru, and Bolivia reflect the continued unfolding of the Conquest?

Reading:
González:
Lugones, "Yzur," pp. 111-117
Cortázar, "The Night Face Up," pp. 337-344
Hillman:
Pedraja, "The Historical Context," pp. 27-50
Guimarães, sections from "The Environment, Population and Urbanization,"   pp. 177-186
Voss, "The Conquest as an Historical Phenomenon" (handout)

Week 6 February 24: European Colonization of the Americas
3:00 S. Voss: The Colonial Period Through Time
3:30 S. Voss: The Legacy of the Conquest
4:15 Video: The Age of Gold (Buried Mirror Series)
5:30 Discussion Question of the Week:  Why did some regions of Latin America emerge with leading cities and others not?  Identify the leading colonial cities.

Reading:
Beezley/Ewell:
Van Young, "Agustín Marroquín: The Sociopath as Rebel," pp. 3-25
Chasteen, "Maria Antônia Muniz: Frontier Matriarch,"  p. 27-35
González:
De las Casas, "Plague of Ants," pp. 34-38,
De la Vega, "Pedro Serrano," pp. 39-42,
Villarroel, "The Adventurer  Who Pretended That He Was a Bishop,"   pp. 43-45
Erauso, "Amourtous and Military Adventures,"  pp. 46-49
Rodríguez, "A Deal with Juana García," pp. 50-56
Carpentier, "Journey Back to the Source," pp. 221-232
Asturias, "The Legend of 'El Cadejo,' " pp. 242-246
Voss:
"The Colonial Period From a Historical Perspective" (handout)
"The Legacy of the Iberian Conquest" (handout)

Links:
Saguier - Argentina

Week 7 March 3: Frustrations of Nationhood & Modernization: 19th Century
3:00 S. Voss: The Latin American Predicament -- The 19th Century
4:15 Video: The Price of Freedom (Buried Mirror series)
5:15  MIDTERM.  Length minimum of 750 words.  For this week only email DEADLINE is March 5 at 7:00 p.m..  I will be in La Serena, and at 7:00 I will download all email.   Discussion Question of the Week:  What are the central components of national identities by 1850?  How widespread were these identities after independence?  (Give examples from at least five countries.   Use all course readings in you essay.)

Reading:
Beezley/Ewell:
Meznar, "Carlota Lucia de Brito: Women, Power, and Politics in Northeast Brazil," pp. 41-52"
Whigham, "Rosa Dominga Ocampos: A Matter of Honor in Paraguay," pp. 53-61
Beezley, "Mexican Sarte on the Zócalo: Nicolás Zúñiga y Miranda,"  pp. 65-76
Guy, "Emilo and Gabriela Coni: Reformers, Public Health, and Working Women," pp. 77-92
Langer, "Mandeponay: Chiriguano Indian Chief in the Franciscan Missions,"   pp. 93-108
González:
Echeverría, "The Slaughter House,"  pp. 59-72
Sarmiento, "The Tiger of the Plains,"  pp. 73-75
Gorriti, "He Who Listens May Hear - To His Regret: Confidence of a Confidence,"   pp. 76-84
Machado de Assis, "Midnight Mass,"  pp. 95-102
Do Rio, "The Baby in Pink Buckram,"  pp. 125-130
Amorim, "The Photograph,"  pp. 201-204
Hillman:
D'Agostino, sections from "Latin American Politics,"  pp. 51-60
Zagorski, sections from "The Military,"  pp. 95-100
Voss:
"The Latin American Predicament -- The Frustrations of Nationhood and Modernization" (handout)
"The Underlying Forces at Work in Nineteenth Century Society"   (handout)

Week 8 March 10: Frustrations of Nationhood & Modernization: 20th Century
3:00 S. Voss: The Latin American Predicament -- the 20th Century
4:00 Video: The Garden of Forking Paths: Dilemmas of National Development (Am. ser.)
4:30 Discussion Question of the Week:  Rate the overall success of the region's countries to improve the "common person's" life chances.  What kinds of obstacles did the common people face? (Be specific as to which countries you have in mind.)

Reading:
Beezley/Ewell:
Peloso, "Juan Esquivel: Cptton Plantation Tenant,"  pp. 113-130
Stein, "Miguel Rostaing: Dodging Blows on and off the Soccer Field," pp. 147-159
Besse, "Pagu: Patrícia Galváo - Rebel,"  pp. 161-180
Stoner, "Ofelia Domínguez Navarro: The making of a cuban Socialist Feminist,"   pp. 181-204
González:
Darío, "The Death of the Empress of China," pp. 105-110
Rulfo, "Tell Them Not to Kill Me!,"  pp. 284-289
Donoso, "The Walk,"  pp. 367-382
García Márquez, "Balthazar's Marvelous Afternoon," pp. 383-389
Hillman:
D'Agostino, sections from "Latin American Politics,"  pp. 60-80
Voss:
"Traditional Institutions Caught Up in Revolutionary Change"   (handout)

SPRING BREAK

Week 9 March 24:  The Continuing Presence of Latin America’s Past
3:00 I. Arredondo: Capturing the Past with Pen, Note and Brush
4:00 Video: Builders of Images – Latin American Cultural Identity (Americas series)
5:15 Discussion Question of the Week:  How does literature help us to gain insight into people's lives, dreams and fears?  Identify the two best stories you have read until now.  Justify your choice.

Reading:
Beezley/Ewell:
Parra Jahn, "The Blonde with the Revolver,"  pp. 205-221
González:
"Preface," & "Introduction,"  pp. xi-22
Hernández, "The Daisy Dolls,"  pp. 165-200
Borges, "The Garden of Forking Paths,"  pp. 211-221
Fuentes, "The Doll Queen,"  pp. 354-366
Hillman:
Bost & Ekstrom, "Latin American Literature,"  pp. 321-343

Week 10 March 31: The Countryside
3:00 W. Culver: Tradition and Modernity in the Village
3:30 Film: Todos Santos Cuchumatan
4:30 Discussion Question of the Week:  To what extent does Latin America's countryside constitute a reserve of each country's "authentic" culture?  Include comments on what we know about Guatemala's culture from Rigoberta Menchu.

Reading:
González:
Levinson, "The Clearing,"  pp. 205-210
Bosch, "Encarnación Mendoza's Christmas Eve,"  pp. 247-255
Hillman,
Fleet, "Religion in Latin America,"  pp. 295-320

Links:
Rigoberta Menchu - Chronicle of Higher Education  (You must read this before class!)

Week 11 April 7: The City
3:00 W. Culver:  The City's Evolving Role in Latin America
3:30 Video: Continent on the Move - Migration and Urbanization (Americas series)
4:45 C. Simpson: Urban Problems and Realities
5:15 Discussion Question of the Week:  Why have most Latin Americans become city dwellers?  What are the consequences of this trend for the future?

Reading:
González:
Ribeyro, "The Featherless Buzzards,"  pp. 318-337
Vargas Llosa, "The Challenge,"  pp. 390-399
Onetti, "The Image of Misfortune,"  pp. 261-283
Hillman:
Guimarães, sections from "The Environment, Population and Urbanization,"  pp. 186-207

Week 12 April 14: Market Economies and Prosperity-Poverty
3:00 E. Fitzpatrick: Basics of Economic Development
3:30 Video: Capital Sins (Americas series)
4:45 W. Culver: The Politics of Development
4:30 Discussion Question of the Week:  What has the debate over state distribution of resources versus the market system been so intense in the 20th century?

Reading:
González:
Gallegos, "Peace on High,"  pp. 153-158
Arreola, "The Switchman,"  pp. 312-317
Piñera, "Meat,"  pp. 327-329
Hillman:
Harper & Cuzán, "The Economies of Latin America,"  pp. 119-149
Arnove, et. al., "Education and Development,"  pp. 271-294
Ward:
"Economic Development," pp. 18-31
"The Natural Environment,"  pp. 90-100

Links:
AmericasNet

WK13 April 21: Social Change
3:00 Video: Mirrors of the Heart (Americas series)
4:10 W. Culver: The Church, Sects and the Military
4:30 Video: Miracles Are Not Enough (Americas series)
5:30 Discussion Question of the Week:  Has social change constituted human progress in most countries of Latin America?  Explain with reference to specific examples. 

Reading:
González:
Andrade, "The Christmas Turkey,"  pp. 159-164
Rosa, "The Third Bank of the River,"  pp. 256-260
Castellanos, "Cooking Lesson," pp. 345-353
Ferré, "When Women Love Men," pp. 462-472
Hillman:
Yelvington, "Patterns of Ethnicity, Class, and Nationalism,"   pp. 209-236
Tiano, "The Role of Women," pp. 237-269
Ward:
"Social Welfare,"  pp. 63-77
"Women," pp. 78-89

WK14 April 28: Politics and Government
3:00 W. Culver: Politics and Political Parties
3:45 Video: In Women's Hands (Americas series)
4:30 Discussion Question of the Week:  Which Latin American political ideology (political party) seems most sensible to you?  Why?

Reading: 
Beezley/Ewell:
Agosin, "Irma Muller," pp. 225-238
Hewitt, "Maria Ferreira dos Santos," pp. 239-254
González:
Lispector, "The Crime of the Mathematics Professor,"  pp. 400-405
Benítez Rojo, "Buried Statues," pp. 406-418
Trevisan, "Penelope,"  pp. 433-437
Hillman:
D'Agostino, sections from "Latin American Politics,"  pp. 80-94
Zagorski, sections from "The Military,"  pp. 106-117
Ward:
"Socierty and Politics,"  pp. 48-62

Links:
Amazonian Parliament (Spanish)
Andean Parliament (Spanish)
Central American Parliament (Spanish)
Inter-Parliamentary Union
Latin American Parliament
Political Database of the Americas - Georgetown University

WK 15 May 5: Americas in the 1990s
3:00 C. Madariaga: Latinos and Latino Cultural Portrayal in Film
Over the semester please view the following films:
             I. Independent Cinema
                     El Norte (1986)
             II. The Latino Boom
                    Born in East LA (1987)
            III. Latino Directors
                     Gregorio Navas
                            My Family  (1995) or
                            Selena (1997)
                      Robert Rodriguez
                             El Mariachi or
                             From Dust to Dawn
            IV. New Faces
                     Any Jennifer Lopez film
4:15 Video: Unfinished Business (Buried Mirror series)
5:15 Final Review and Discussion Question of the Week:  What is the likely place of Latin American and Latinos in the 21st century Western hemisphere? 

Reading:
González:
Poma de Ayala, "Tocay Capac, The First Inca,"  pp. 31-33
Hillman:
Hillman, "Trends and Prospects," pp. 345-350
Ward:
"Latin America in the 1990s: Problems and Potential," pp. 101-107

Links:
Latino Movie Links

WK15 FINALS Two Hour Essay Comprehensive Examination
Preliminary date: Thursday May 13, 2:20-4:20 p.m.