Special Topics in the Humanities (370-6-26)
Topic
Depictions of Criminality in Literature & Film
Instructors
Mauricio Javier Oportus Preller
Meeting Info
Kresge Centennial Hall 2-339: Tues, Thurs 12:30PM - 1:50PM
Overview of class
"Law and its Discontents: Depictions of Criminality in Literature and Film" will explore the ways in which the figure of the criminal has been represented across national traditions throughout the 20th and 21st century, with a special focus in the Latin American region. By carefully examining aesthetic depictions of the "outlaw" -from the American "Cowboy" to the Argentinian "Gaucho"- this course will address not only the role that these figures have played in the construction of national identities, but will also explore their potential for unsettling our conceptions of lawfulness, institutional justice, and ultimately, of the nation itself. Thus, in analyzing written and visual cultural practices that revisit the figure of the criminal, this course will explore topics such as the relationship between legal order and violence, criminality and popular justice, as well as of the (out)law and civil society. Primary readings for this course will include works from Roberto Bolaño, J. L. Borges, Angela Davis, Gabriela Cabezón Cámara, Franz Kafka, and others.
Learning Objectives
Students will be introduced to various literary texts and films, and will learn strategies for analyzing these materials in terms of themes, genres, historical context, and more. In addition, through the completion of short papers, students will progress in developing rhetorical skills through writing. Finally, this course culminates with a group project in the form of a podcast episode, which will be shared with the professor and the rest of the class. In doing so, students will have the chance to improve their oral skills, while also partaking in an exercise of collaborative learning.
Evaluation Method
In-class Participation: 15%
Short papers (3): 30%
Midterm paper: 25%
Final Project (Podcast): 30%
Class Materials (Required)
All assigned readings will be provided via Canvas in English.
Class Attributes
Literature & Fine Arts Distro Area