Spanish W3300
Advanced Spanish through Content
Spring 2012
Section Topics
Section 001
Versions and Perversions: Translation in Contemporary Hispanic Culture
Jane Losaw
MW 9:10am-10:25am
An exploration of literary translation in theory, in practice, and above all, as a theme in contemporary cultural production in Spanish. We will examine different ways of conceptualizing translation and its role in the interactions between languages, cultures, and media through a close look at essay, narrative, and various translative cultural practices (such as adaptation). The course will be student-oriented, incorporating collaborative work, oral presentations, compositions, and a translation project directed toward developing the students’ advanced language skills.
Section 002
Politics and the Art of Storytelling: Modern Latin American Narrative
Elise Arnold-Levene
MW 4:10pm-5:25pm
This course explores narrative traditions in Latin America from the end of the 19th century to the start of the 21st. We will examine literary works, including short stories and novels, memoirs and poetry by some of the great modern Latin American writers, as well as contemporary film and art movements. We will pay special attention to the narrative techniques employed and developed in various literary movements, from Modernismo through the Boom and into the present, and to the social and political implications of both style and content. An emphasis will be placed on classroom discussions and on advanced grammar and composition.
Section 003
Strange Horizons: Science Fiction from Latin America and Spain
Sarah Goldberg
MW 11:00am-12:15pm
Artificial men, journeys to the edge of the universe, alien invasions, and sinister diseases… just a few of the topics Latin American and Spanish science fiction have touched upon in the past century and a half. This course aims to introduce students to the genre through short fiction, films, and comics by authors such as Angélica Gorodischer, Alex Rivera, and Héctor G. Oesterheld, as well as discussion of theoretical approaches to the genre. Students will be evaluated on written compositions and in-class participation, both of which aim to develop students' written and oral communication skills in Spanish.
Section 004
Caribbean Identities: Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic
Perla Rozencvaig
MW 4:10pm-5:25pm
Course description: An examination of the cultural history of each national society as reflected in literature, journalism, film and music. Particular emphasis will be placed on the political and socioeconomic differences of each country. Readings include interviews, speeches, texts from and about the historical political context, poetry and short stories
Section 005
Ten Pages, Ten Minutes: The Art of Short Fiction in Latin America
Craig Epplin
TR 9:10am-10:25am
In this course, we will read and view a number of short fictional
pieces by Latin American writers and filmmakers. The short story has
long been a staple of Latin American literary culture, and the short
film is increasingly central to its visual culture. The upper limit of
the works we read will be ten pages or ten minutes, depending on the
medium, and we will be attentive to the questions of genre and style
that this limitation imposes. Throughout the semester, students will
write short papers, do oral presentations, and complete a final
research project.
Section 006
Two Cultures, One Country: Islamic and Christian Influences Across Time in Spain
Reyes Llopis-Garcia
TR 2:40pm-3:55pm
Granada in the south, Santiago de Compostela in the north, both cities are impressive bastions of culture and witnesses to the century-long pull between the Christian and Islamic worlds.
Through the exploration of these two cities as setting for the course, we will examine architecture, literature, religion, culture, and tourism to consider the repercussions of both cultures in today's Spain.
There will be a varied range of materials used, such as videos, newspaper articles, classic literary works, architectural essays, or music. Collaborative work and in-class discussions will be constant throughout the semester.
Advanced grammar usage, further development of writing skills and fluency in oral interaction will be integrated goals within the course’s content.
Section 007
Cultura: An Online Cross Cultural Dialogue
Jesús Suárez-García
MW 10:35am-11:50am
The course is based on an online cross-cultural exchange with students from from the University of León, Spain, focusing on an exploration and comparison of the values, attitudes and assumptions of Spanish and US societies. Students analyze diverse materials, films, articles, blogs, social media, and discuss their findings. It aims to provide students with the skills and tools to understand other cultures so that they can communicate more effectively across cultures. The course will also attend to the development of advanced language skills: acquisition of more sophisticated vocabulary expressing opinions, forming hypotheses, arguments, etc. The course will have active oral and written components.
Section 008
Gay Culture in Contemporary Spain
Javier Pérez Zapatero
TR 2:40pm-3:55pm
The course we will examine the following questions:
1. How can we define the concepts of /queer/ and /culture /in contemporary Spain?
2. What kind of social conditions determine queer culture in contemporary Spain?
3. How did this new situation create a new gay-queer sensibility if there is such?
4. What kind of documents would represent this new culture?
5. What methodology of analysis can we use to interpret with accuracy queer communication in contemporary Spain?
Section 009
Contemporary Art Museums in Latin America and Spain
Joaquín Barriendos
TR 1:10pm-2:25pm
This course examines the social role of well-known museums and contemporary art centers in Latin America and Spain. By analyzing their collections, temporary exhibitions, and public programs, this course elaborates on the differences between Modern Art Museums, Contemporary Art Museums, and Art Centers. Instead of proposing an all-embracing overview, the course focuses on those museums and contemporary art centers that better reflect the diversity and challenges that this kind of institutions are facing today in the Hispanic world. During the course we will read different texts produced by curators, artists, art critics, architects, theoreticians, and etcetera. At the same time, students will analyze diverse audiovisual materials, such as interviews with museum directors and institutional broadcasts. In-class discussions and activities have been prepared having in mind the following two goals: to improve student’s general expression and to offer the specialized grammar of contemporary art museums.