CALS 374, Chicano/Latino Literature (GE area C2)

Spring 2006

Dr. Elizabeth C-Martínez
Nichols 212, tel. 664-3161
Office hrs: W 2-4; Th 12-1, and by appt.

CULTURAL HISTORY THROUGH U.S. LATINA WRITERS

Required Texts: (available in the SSU bookstore)

Bitter Grounds, by Sandra Benitez
Song of the Hummingbird, by Graciela Limon
Sor Juana's Second Dream, by Alicia Gaspar de Alba
America's Dream, by Esmeralda Santiago
In the Time of the Butterflies, by Julia Alvarez
Let it Rain Coffee, by Angie Cruz

ALL OF THESE NOVELS MUST BE READ DURING THE SEMESTER,

IN ADDITION TO A SHORT PLAY , AVAILABLE ON RESERVE AT THE LIBRARY CIRCULATION DESK.

Objectives:

During this course, we will study several examples of works by Latina writers, from the perspective of how their works reveal history, social interactions, and cultural beliefs. These novels and a play were selected to provide a view of Salvadoran, Mexican colonial era and the Mexican Revolution, and contemporary Latino Caribbean society. The stories are particularly interesting for their representations of gender and class. Students are expected to have readings completed on the date they are discussed, and to participate actively in group work and in class.

Each student 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. When preparing the bibliography for the midterm/final papers, these may also include websites (acquired through search engines, i.e., not databases).

Students will work in groups to respond to the Questions (below) to guide reading comprehension, and for development of their ideas. Students should keep notes as this information will help them prepare for writing the two papers.

Course Grading:

Class participation and attendance, 20%
Presentation on author's life and work, 20%
Midterm and Final Papers w/bibliography: 30% each for a total of 60%

CALENDAR:

Jan. 31 -- First class, discussion of inception of a U.S. Latino/a literature

Feb. 7 -- Sandra Benítez's Bitter Grounds and Salvadoran history / Presentations on:

Sandra Benítez / Manlio Argueta / Demetria Martínez

Session in Library, 2d floor classroom at 5 p.m.

Feb. 14 -- more on Bitter Grounds / Presentations on early Chicano writers:

Maria Amparo Ruíz de Burton / Américo Paredes / Tomás Rivera / Rudolfo Anaya

Feb. 21 -- Náhuatl heritage and Graciela Limón's Song of the Hummingbird / Presentations on:

Victor Montejo / Graciela Limón

Feb. 28 -- more on Song of the Hummingbird / Presentations on dramatists:

Iván Acosta / Dolores Prida / Josefina López

Mar. 7 -- Discussion of Josefina Niggli play Soldaderas and on Mexican Revolution / Presentations on:

Josefina Niggli / Estela Portillo-Trambley / Luis Valdés

Mar. 14 --------------------- (class does not meet). Take-home Midterm

Mar. 21 -- Colonial history and Alicia Gaspar de Alba's Sor Juana's Second Dream / Presentations on:

Alicia Gaspar de Alba / Manuel Méndez / José Antonio Villarreal

Mar. 28 -- more on Sor Juana's Second Dream / Presentations on:

Helena María Viramontes / Tino Villanueva / Norma Elia Cantú / Arturo Islas

Apr. 4 -- Puerto Rican history and Esmeralda Santiago's América's Dream/ Presentations on:

Esmeralda Santiago / Judith Ortiz Cofer

Apr. 11 -- more on Améerica's Dream / Presentations on:

Aurora Levins Morales / Cristina García / Virgil Suárez

Apr. 18 ---------SPRING BREAK------------------------------------------

Apr. 25 -- film and Julia Alvarez's In the Time of the Butterflies / Presentations on:

Julia Alvarez / Sandra María Esteves

May 2 --Dominican history and more on In the Time of the Butterflies / Presentations on:

Junot Díaz / Miguel Piñero

May 9 -- Nuyorican-ness and Angie Cruz's Let it Rain Coffee / Presentations on:

Angie Cruz / Nelly Rosario / Loida Maritza Pérez

May 16 -- more on Let it Rain Coffee

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---------------Questions to guide reading and discussion:---------------

Who are the main characters in this story?

What is the setting and era?

What are some points of tension?

Is there a pattern or type of story being narrated?
i.e., traditional format, coming-of-age story, myth
(The process of 'becoming" is a recurrent theme in Latina literature)

Linguistic strategies?

Theme?

Are there myths or legends that are adapted into the story?

Discuss possible issues of gender and class, also cultural representations.

Does this story relate to the Latina writer's life or experiences?

Is the representation obvious or buried between the lines or under a superficial rendering?

Does the storyline attempt to go against history, mainstream or general thought?

Is there complicity and critique, or political ambivalence?

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This page last updated: 29 January 2006