LALS 387 - Latin American Seminar

Semester Offered: Fall and Spring
1 unit(s)

Topic for 2015/16a: The Poetics of Andean Literature: Form Colonial Times to the Present. In the Andes we can still experience the encounter between two different epistemologies, the Western and the indigenous Andean. In this sense, it is not by chance that Andean literature leads us to other cultural expressions, for instance, to dances, any form of performance, oral narratives, myths, and even historical events. We can find these expressions as being part of the structure of many literary texts in the region. This course is focused on Andean literature that contains this kind of intertextuality. In addition to the study of literary texts, we will become familiar with some fundamental tenets of Andean philosophy in order to explore more profoundly the literary works. Readings will include texts from Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador (narratives, poetry, and plays). By exploring images that either express strong emotions (such as grief, anger, hope, etc) and/or create forces to change the course of reality (such as resilience, memory, love, etc.), we will look for connections among different texts in order to study what this literature is moving, provoking or undermining in the Andes. Ms. Postigo-Guzmán.

Topic for 2015/16b: The Poetry of Pablo Neruda. In this seminar we examine the works of the man whom Gabriel García Márquez had once called “the greatest poet of the 20th century in any language.” In addition to studying selections from most of Neruda’s poetry, we read his autobiography Confieso que he vivido, his play Fulgor y muerte de Joaquín Murieta, his manifestos and essays, discuss the movie Il postino and study several documentaries about the poet’s life. By examining the different styles of Neruda’s poetry, we define the major poetic movements of twentieth century Latin America. Mr. Grünfeld.

Prerequisite: HISP 216  and one course above 216.

One 2-hour period.