Faculty:
Language Instructors:
Library Faculty:
Secretary: Mary Hansen. Lab. II 2250, ext. #6102
During the first half of winter quarter, we explored the fin de siècle artistic trends in France and their influence on the emergence and development of Latin American Modernism. In the second half of the past quarter, we focused on the surrealist movement in France and the corresponding interpretations and reactions in Latin America.
Spring quarter we will continue directly from winterÕs work, taking up Aimé CesaireÕs later poetry and Jorge Luis BorgesÕs short stories and essays as models and catalysts for the profoundly syncretic and experimental work in narrative and drama emerging in the last 3 decades of this century in the Caribbean and Latin America. Here, not only does language continue to work as a tool for defining reality and for shaping identity but also genre confines are ignored, and orality inflects literary narrative. The re-working of absurdist and existentialist stances toward art and life will offer further evidence of French-Latin American reciprocity of influence. For the first five weeks, our schedule will proceed as usual, as indicated in the time/space chart below. Beginning and advanced Spanish and French language modules will be taught to students interested in enhancing their Spanish and French skills.
Monday
AM 9:00 -12:00 Lecture LH 2
PM Spanish SE 3153 SE 3155
Beg. French Lib. 2101
Tuesday
AM 9:00-11:00SeminarL2218/2219
PM 12:30-3:00 Workshop L 1316
Wednesday
AM 10:00-1:00 Spanish SE 3151 SE 3153
10:00-2:00 French Conversation Lab II, 2nd Floor ÒFishbowlÓ
PM 1:00-5:00 French/Spanish Conversation SE 3161 L2129
3:00-5:00 Beg. French Lib. 2101
Students at the intermediate level should enroll in the evening part-time classes for four credits.
Seminars will focus on the analysis of the readings, enriched by the information provided in lectures and workshops. Students are expected to achieve a thorough understanding of the material and provide informed comments and questions for discussion during seminars. Each workshop will focus on specific texts and art examples. Students will work in groups and will be responsible for preparing readings and materials to accomplish activities during workshops. Aactive participation in discussions and workshops are important requirements for receiving full credit.
One formal essay combining all the material studied in class is one of the major written assignments for this quarter. The first essay is due on Friday of week 4, with the possibility of a rewrite which will be due on Friday of week 6. Students should turn in work on time; late essays will not be corrected or considered for credit.
After week 5, students will carry out their previously conceived and planned individual (or group) project activities related to program materials and will meet once weekly with faculty in smaller interest groups. Here students will report formally on their progress and share insights and advice with one another. These projects are to be planned in writing according to the description attached, by Monday of week 3. The final version project description should be revised and turned in by Monday of week 5. A 5-8 page written summary of the theoretical and methodological tenets of your project is due on Friday of week 8. During the last two weeks of the quarter, students will present their papers orally to the rest of the class.
All the activities mentioned above are absolutely required in order to receive full credit. Credits will be awarded in Latin American Intellectual History, French Intellectual History, Art History, French and Francophone Literature, Latin American Literature, and for those students enrolled in Spanish and French modules, Spanish language and French language.
If students have problems with any aspect of the programÕs contents or activities, it is their responsibility to contact the faculty immediately in order to face difficulties squarely instead of letting them worsen.
Reading list
1) Cesaire, Aimé. Collected Poetry
2) Borges, Jorge Luis. Labyrinths
Foulcault, Michel. The Order of Things. ("Preface" and "Man and His Doubles")
3) Maximin, Daniel. Lone Sun.
4) Gambaro, Griselda. Three plays.
5) Chamoiseau, Patrick. Solibo Magnificent.
During project preparation weeks, we ask you to read and prepare for a fishbowl discussion on The Witness by Juan José Saer (week6) and on either Bridge of Beyond or Between 2 worlds by Simone Schwarzbart (week 7).
Week 1
Monday, March 29
Lecture: Introductions. Cesaire and his poetry after Cahier du Retour.
Tuesday, March 30
Seminar: Cesaire's poetry.
Workshop: Students' performance of selected poems from last quarter. Poetry analysis.
Week 2
Monday, April 5
Lecture: Borges: The order of literary imagination.
Tuesday, April 6
Seminar: Jorge Luis Borges: short stories, essays, poems.
Workshop: Group work on Borges and Foucault. Analysis of selected short stories.
STUDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND THE PRESENTATION OF THE FILM SUGAR CANE ALLEY FOLLOWed BY A DISCUSSION WITH THE DIRECTOR EUZHAN PALCY ON MONDAY 5 AT 8 PM IN LECTURE HALL 1.
Week 3
Monday, April 12
Lecture: French Caribbean Narrative: Time, History, Myth.
Tuesday, April 13
Seminar: Maximin's Lone Sun.
Workshop: First sharing of projects. Work in groups.
First version of project descriptions due on Monday, April 12 in faculty mailboxes by 4 PM.
Week 4
Monday, April 19
Lecture: Griselda Gambaro: In Search of a New Theatrical Expression.
Tuesday, April 20
Seminar: GambaroÕs plays.
Workshop: Work on GambaroÕs plays: the absurd aspects of reality. Links to Artaud, surrealism and postmodernity.
Formal essay due on Friday, April 23.
Week 5
Monday, April 26.
Lecture: Orality and Creolity in Caribbean Narrative
Tuesday, April 27
Seminar: ChamoiseauÕs Solibo Magnificent
Workshop: Conclusions: from the beginning to the end.
Revised and final version of project descriptions due on Friday, April 30 in faculty mailboxes by 4 PM.
Week 6
Project preparation.
Tuesday, May 4
Morning: Fishbowl on SaerÕs The Witness.
Afternoon: Group meetings
Week 7
Project preparation
Tuesday, May 11
Morning: Fishbowl on SchwarzbartÕs Between Worlds or Bridge of Beyond.
Afternoon: Group meetings
Week 8
Project preparation
Tuesday, May 18
Group meetings
Rewrite of formal essay due on Friday, May 21. 8-page paper containing theoretical and methodological explanations of final project, plus bibliography, due on Friday, May 21.
Week 9
Monday, May 24
StudentsÕ presentations
Tuesday, May 25
StudentsÕ presentations
Week 10
Monday, May 31 Campus Holiday Memorial Day
Tuesday. June 1
SudentsÕ presentations.