Topics in Latin American and Caribbean Studies (391-0-21)
Topic
Testimonial Narrative in Latin America
Instructors
Lucille Kerr
847/467-6698
3-131 Crowe
Meeting Info
Kresge Centennial Hall 2-440: Tues, Thurs 11:00AM - 12:20PM
Overview of class
Course title: Testimonial Narrative in Latin America
What is testimonial narrative and how are we supposed to read it? Should we read testimonial texts as historical documents? Or as literary texts? Or as both? And what about testimonial cinema? Does that category refer only to documentary film? Or can feature films also be read, as it were, as testimonial narrative? What's the difference between one way of reading or seeing and the other? What do we expect--or even demand--by reading one way or the other? As it turns out, these are the sorts of questions that Latin American testimonial narrative--which has been among the most prominent (and also controversial) currents in Latin America since the "post-Boom" era--urges us to pose, even if we can't come up with definitive answers. Moreover, the testimonial genre pushes us to think more broadly--that is, about how we understand the term "literature"; how we think about "the author"; how we read texts or view films as "telling the truth" (or not); and more. Together, we will consider such questions and concepts in our reading/viewing of well-known works representing different models of testimonial narrative: Rigoberta Menchú's Me llamo Rigoberta Menchú y asi me nació la conciencia (1983), presents a first-person account of the indigenous human-rights activist's story and struggles; Jacobo Timerman's Preso sin nombre, celda sin número (1981), offers the author's account of his imprisonment during Argentina's military dictatorship; Gastón Biraben's Cautiva (2004; feature film), dramatizes how the daughter of Argentine desaparecidos uncovers her true identity; Patricio Guzman's Nostalgia de la luz (2010; documentary), juxtaposes astronomers searching the skies for the origins of the universe and Chilean citizens searching the earth for the remains of their family members in the post-Pinochet years. Secondary historical and critical materials, as well as discussion of testimonial concepts and terms, will help us to frame and analyze our primary materials.
Reading & discussion mainly in Spanish.
Prerequisite: 1 course from SPANISH 250-0, SPANISH 251-0, SPANISH 260-0, or SPANISH 261-0.
Literature Fine Arts Distro Area
Registration Requirements
Prerequisite: 1 course from SPANISH 250-0, SPANISH 251-0, SPANISH 260-0, or SPANISH 261-0.
Learning Objectives
At the end of the course, students will have: gained an understanding of the testimonial tradition in Latin America; mastered essential critical vocabulary and concepts; acquired substantial knowledge about representative testimonial works (their authors/directors, subjects, thematic and structural and discursive features, relation between verbal and visual materials ); developed further their ability to read and analyze works independent of class discussion; and begun to think critically about the ways in which testimonial topics permeate contemporary culture and discourse.
Teaching Method
Lecture
Readings
Group work
Class participation
Writing assignments
Presentations
Discussion
Evaluation Method
Presentations
Attendance
Class participation
Group work
Quizzes
Readings
Writing assignments
Class Materials (Required)
Me llamo Rigoberta Menchú y así me nació la conciencia ISBN: 9789682313158 Preso sin nombre, celda sin número ISBN: 9780299200442 Other primary works, as well as all secondary materials, will be made available through Canvas.
Class Notes
Pre-requisites. Letter grade. The prerequisite for 346 is one course from Span 250, 251, 260 or 261. The course may be taken only for a letter grade (i.e., No P/NP). Major/Minor/Concentration credit (Spanish, CompLit, LACS, Journalism); Distro Area VI credit Spanish minor: Span 346 may be counted as one of the three required 300-level courses Spanish major: Span 346 may be counted as one of the seven required 300-level courses or as one of the three required elective courses CompLit major: Span 346 may be counted as one of the required courses (see CLS advisor) Latin American & Caribbean Studies minor: Span 346 may be counted as one of the required courses Journalism: Span 346 may be counted as one of the courses required for an outside concentration Distro Area VI (Literature & Fine Arts): Span 346 may be counted as Area VI required course