Fall 2006
Nichols 245, tel. 664-3161
Office hrs: Wed. 6:00-6:30 and by appt.
email: marciaford@comcast.net
Required Text
U.S. Latino Literature Today
Editor: Gabriela Baeza Ventura
The anthology for this class is not in the bookstore; it needs to be purchased
at this site: www.latambooks.com
(Click on box "Back-to-School System", and then "select institution"
(ignore password request), and click on CALS 374. Yes, the professor listed
is Martínez) This is a very reliable, secure site, and has the best prices.
Objectives:
Through the use of the anthology, we will study works by Latino writers from the perspective of three different categories: Native, Exile and Transcultural We will be looking at the underlying common themes these diverse groups encounter while living in the United States. The sections look at the literary genres of poetry, prose, drama and essay. Students are expected to have readings completed on the date they are to be discussed, and to participate actively in class.
Students working in pairs will prepare a presentation on the life and work of an author, providing a one-page handout highlighting the author's themes and bibliography of works to the other students. It is REQUIRED that students consult the Contemporary Authors/BGMI database or Latino Literature database online in the library and one other resource (not a website), in order to compile this information.
Students will view one film, presentation or exhibition on their own and turn
in a one page review. Choices include easily accessed movies such as: Yo soy
Boricua pa’que tú lo sepas, Real Women Have Curves or the current
Chicano exhibition at the deYoung Museum in San Francisco.
In addition, there will be three long answer take home essay exams during the
semester, and a final of the same length.
All work to be done in MLA format. Late papers will not be accepted.
Course Grading:
Class participation and attendance 15%
Film/exhibition review 5%
Presentation on author's life and work, 20%
Discussion questions after each section: 3X15= 45%
Final : 15%
CALENDAR
August 23 First class: Intro to Chicano/Latino literature
August 30 Native--Drama
Discussion of the life and work of Luis Valdez. View the movie Zoot Suit
Sign up for author presentations
Sept 6 Session in Library, 2d floor classroom at 7 p.m.
Native: Poetry by: Alurista, Victor Hernandez Cruz, Mandara Maria Esteves, Tato
Laviera, Pat Mora, Rosario Morales and Aurora Levins Morales, Miguel Piñero,
Tomás Rivera.
Presentations: Miguel Piñero, Tomás Rivera
Sept 13 Native—Prose by:Américo Paredes, Patricia Preciado Martín, Miguel Piñero, Tomás Rivera, Nelly Rosario, Rosaura Sánchez, Piri Thomas, Helena María Viramontes, Richard Yáñez
Presentations: Sandra María Esteves, Tomás Rivera,
Sept 20 NO CLASS MEETING Students will view a movie outside of class
Sept 27 Native—Essay by: Benjamín Alire Sáenz
Presentations: Tato Laviera, Tino Villanueva, Benjamín Alire Sáenz
Oct 4 First essay exam due: Native
Intro to Exile—Poetry by:
Richard Blanco, Tomás Borge, Victor Montejo, José María
Heredia,
Gustavo Pérez Firmat
Presentations: Tomás Borge,
Oct 11 Exile—Prose by: Alicia Alarcón, Julia Álvarez, Arturo
Arias, Virgil Suárez, Aurora Levins Morales Victor Montejo, Alicia Partnoy,
Presentations: Julia Álvarez, Arturo Arias, Victor Montejo
Oct 18 Exile—Essays by: Claribel Alegría, José Martí
Presentations: Claribel Alegría, José Martí (me?)
Oct 25 Exile—Drama by Iván Acosta
Presentations: Iván Acosta
Nov. 1 Second essay exam due: Exile
Intro to Transcultural—Poetry by: Carolina Monsiváis, Sandra Cisneros,
Alicia Gaspar de Alba Brenda Cárdenas, Nancy Mercado, Luis J. Rodríguez,
Frank Varela, robertkarimi,
Presentations: Alicia Gaspar de Alba
Nov 8 Transcultural—Prose by: Junmot Díaz, Ramón Pérez, Roberro Quesada
Presentations: Sandra Cisneros
Nov 15 Movie/exhibition review due
Transcultural—Essay Guillermo Gómez Peña
Presentations: Guillermo Gómez Peña
Nov22 Thanksgiving break
Nov 29 Transcultural—Drama Josefina López
Presentations: Josefina López
Dec 6 Last day of instruction
Third essay exam due: Transcultural
Dec 13 turn in finals
film How does the film or exhibition fit in to the themes discussed in class?
essay exams
1. p299#5,7
final p299#3, 300#5 301#8