LALS COURSE DESCRIPTIONS FALL 09
MONT – Art & Land in Latin America (Prof. Daniel Frost)
This class will consider how writers and other artists from Columbus forward have looked to the landscapes of Latin America to understand their culture, history, and identity. We will explore how artists from around Central and South America have drawn inspiration from the jungle, the sea, the pampa, parks, and gardens to establish a sense of self and national belonging. What protections does the land offer? What threats does it pose? We will focus mainly on Latin American short stories and poetry, with special attention to painting and film. All texts in English, with the option of reading in Spanish.
Prerequisite: None
Restrictions: 1st year students only
Common Requirement: Literary Studies
MONT – Latin-American Poets at the Cutting Edge (Prof. Jorge Valdés)
In Latin America, poets have played an important role in bringing about cultural and political change not only through their writing but also through their active participation in their country’s socio-political struggles. Poets such as Cuba’s Nicolás Guillén, Chile’s Pablo Neruda and Nicaragua’s Ernesto Cardenal find in history both the origins of present social injustices and the sources for envisioning a redeemed future society. Using poetry, non-fictional prose and films, this course explores each poet’s worldview including the function of poetry itself as an instrument of social transformation.
Prerequisite: None
Restrictions: 1st year students only
Common Requirement: Literary Studies
MONT – Self-Writing by U.S. Latinos (Prof. Isabel Alvarez-Borland)
In this course we will study autobiographical writings by Mexican-Americans, Dominicans, Puerto Ricans, and Cuban-Americans in order to explore how these authors find and invent themselves through the writing of autobiography. From our class readings we will develop our own practical definition of a poetics of autobiography as it relates to the memoirs and accounts written by these bicultural and bilingual writers. Particular attention will be given to the aesthetics of autobiography and to how Latino writers experiment with this genre in order to address changing constructions of immigration, language, exile, and identity.
Prerequisite: None
Restrictions: 1st year students only
Common Requirement: Literary Studies
HIST 126 - Colonial Latin America (Prof. Rosa Carrasquillo)
Provides an introduction to Latin American history from pre-Columbian to the late 18th century, emphasizing native cultures, the conquest of the New Worold, the creation of colonial societies in the Americas, race, gender and class relations, the functioning of the imperial system, the formation of peasant communities, and the wards of independence.
Prerequisite: None
Restrictions: 4th year HIST majors are not eligible to enroll in this course
Common Requirement: Cross-Cultural Studies or Historical Studies
Satisfies the one-course in history requirement for the LALS concentration
HIST 292 - Afro-Latin America (Prof. Rosa Carrasquillo)
Examines the African Diaspora in Latin America from the aftermath of slavery to the present. Studies the struggles of Afro-Latin Americans in establishing citizenship and a dignified existence, emphasizing topics such as liberation movements; gender and racial politics art; African religions in the Americas; national policies of “whitening”; and Afro-centric ideologies of the Caribbean. Includes a Community-Based Learning component.
Prerequisite: None
Common Requirement: Cross-Cultural Studies or Historical Studies
Satisfies the one-course in history requirement for the LALS concentration
LALS 101 – Perspectives on Latin America (Prof. Robert Hernández)
Entitled "Latinidad," the course examines Latino/a identity through philosophical, psychological, sociological, historical, political and linguistic lenses, combining reading, lectures, discussions and community-based learning. Latinidad is approached not as a static concept, but rather as the experience of Latin Americans and their descendants in the United States. In class and on-line, students are expected to participate actively in discussions about Latinidad, specifically as depicted through the news media. The dynamic of definition, between non-Latino/a and Latino/a and among different groups of Latino/as, is elaborated through work groups in which students undertake a community-based project. The workgroups might be: economics, gender, nationality, language, generation, religion or similar appropriate focus driven in part by class composition. In addition to discussions with guests, who have in the past included a judge and a union organizer, students are expected to interview diverse members of Worcester's Latino/a community better to understand the elements of perspective and the importance of oral history in academic inquiry. Course texts include: Bender, Greasers and Gringos; Gonzalez, Harvest of Empire; and DeGenova and Ramos-Zayas, Latino Crossings.
Prerequisite: None
Common Requirement: Cross-Cultural Studies
MUSC 255 - Music of Latin America (Prof. Osvaldo Golijov)
The discovery and exploration of the different cultures of Latin America through their music. The course focuses on five regions that are musically rich and representative of the variety of roots from which Latin American people have emerged—Brazil, Argentina, Andes, Mexico and Caribbean Islands.
Prerequisite: One previous MUSC course.
Common Requirement: Arts or Cross-Cultural Studies
POLS 251- Latin American Politics (Prof. Maria Rodrigues)
A comparative study of political institutions and processes in selected Latin American countries, and an analysis of theories that attempt to explain Latin American development and underdevelopment. Examination of Latin America’s experience with authoritarianism, democracy, revolution, and civil war, and of contemporary political challenges including drug trafficking, environmental degradation, human rights abuses, regional integration, and economic globalization.
Prerequisite: POLS 102
Common Requirement: Cross-Cultural Studies or Social Science
SPAN 301 – Composition and Conversation (Prof. Rocío Fuentes)
This course provides intensive composition and conversation practice while solidifying the student’s command of Spanish grammar and vocabulary. Though the main focus is on speaking and writing, the course also emphasizes listening, reading and the development of a better understanding of the Hispanic world. This course includes a mandatory practicum component.
Prerequisite: SPAN 202 or SPAN 216 or equivalent
Common Requirement: Language Studies
Note: This course satisfies the language requirement for LALS, but does not count as one of the six required coursesfor the concentration
SPAN 303 - Aspects of Span-Amer Culture (Prof. Cynthia Stone)
Devoted to the study of examples of Spanish-American culture from pre-Columbian times to the present, including the early civilizations, the colonial period, the struggles for independence, the modern period and Hispanics in the U.S. Includes a Community-Based Learning component.
Prerequisite: SPAN 301 or equivalent
Common Requirement: Cross-Cultural Studies or Language Studies
SPAN 305 - Intro to Literary Genres (Profs. Jorge Valdés and Bridget Franco)
Designed as an introduction to drama, poetry, and prose fiction of Spain and Spanish America, this course familiarizes students with literary analysis and further develops their oral and written skills.
Prerequisite: SPAN 301 or equivalent
Common Requirement: Language Studies or Literature
SPAN 314 - Spanish for Business (Prof. Josep Alba-Salas)
This introductory course in business Spanish aims at expanding the students’ overall language proficiency through intensive practice in a variety of professional contexts (e.g commercial transactions, travel arrangements, job interviews, imports, exports, and tax return preparation). The goal is not only to solidify the students’ command of Spanish grammar and vocabulary and to introduce them to some basic business terminology, but also to develop their pragmatic skills, their cross-cultural awareness, and their ability to interact successfully with native speakers in a variety of formal and professional settings.
Prerequisite: Span 301 or equivalent
Common Requirement: Language Studies
SPAN 315 - Advanced Comp & Conversation (Prof. Esther Levine)
This one-semester course provides practice in all the skills of advanced language through a wide variety of activities: the study of basic phonetics, in-depth review of difficult grammatical structures, conversations, readings, and discussions. Students are trained in analytical writing. This course includes a mandatory practicum component.
Prerequisite: SPAN 301 or equivalent
Common Requirement: Language Studies
SPAN 317 - Comp For Bilingual Speakers (Prof. Francisco Gago-Jover)
Designed for bilingual students who speak Spanish at home but would like to improve their reading and writing skills. Focuses on Latino issues through discussion and commentary of the works of contemporary Latino writers and filmmakers, with emphasis on using the language—reading and writing—rather than reviewing the grammar. Class is limited in size to enable students to receive individualized attention.
Prerequisite: SPAN 202 or SPAN 216 or equivalent
Common Requirement: Language Studies
Note: This course satisfies the language requirement for LALS in lieu of SPAN 301, but does not count as one of six required courses for the concentration
SPAN 408 – Gabriel García Márquez (Prof. Isabel Alvarez-Borland)
Provides a general introduction and overview of García Márquez’ writing career and analyzes some of his most notable novels. Learn to read works analytically to uncover the relationship between the aesthetic and historical dimensions of García Márquez’ literary universe.
Prerequisite: SPAN 305 and a semester of survey (preferably SPAN 313)
Common Requirement: None
SPAN 420 – Topics in Latin American Film (Prof. Bridget Franco)
Serves as an introduction to film analysis, studies the development of the medium in Latin America, and explores issues of cultural difference through discussion of the cinematic portrayal of representative historical periods, figures, and intellectual and political movements.
Prerequisite: SPAN 305 and a semester of survey
Common Requirement: Cross-Cultural Studies
