Introduction to Literary and Cultural Theory (401-0-1)
Topic
Latin American Literature in the Anthropocene: Cri
Instructors
Jorge Coronado
847/491-8277
3-135 Crowe
Meeting Info
Kresge 3535 Span & Port Sem Rm: Mon 2:00PM - 4:50PM
Overview of class
Latin American Literature in the Anthropocene: Criticism and Theory
What place has the colossal epistemic shift that we call the Anthropocene had in Latin American lettered practices? More than simply a look at the literary representations of nature, ecological transformation, and climate-driven catastrophes in the region, this course proposes to explore the significance of thinking beyond the Enlightenment notions of the human and its impact for conceptualizing the region in the world. In considering this issue, we will draw on eco-criticism, animal studies, indigeneity studies, thing theory, as well as critiques of the so-called new extractivisms and local and global capital. We will pay careful attention to notions of nature, animality, non-humanity, and geology in order to consider what the stakes are of thinking the region's history, society and culture outside of anthropocentric models and assumptions. We will be especially interested in the question of Latin Americanism in this context. A broad selection of authors from a variety of national literatures will be considered and may include Andrés Bello, José Eustasio Rivera, Horacio Quiroga, Jorge Luis Borges, Gamaliel Churata, Gabriela Mistral, Mário de Andrade, José Marín Cañas, Óscar Cerruto, Alejo Carpentier, Clarice Lispector, José María Arguedas, Giaconda Belli, Samanta Schweblin, Manuel Cornejo Chapparo, and Rigoberta Menchú. Students should have a reading knowledge of Spanish; familiarity with Latin American histories and cultures.
Learning Objectives
Students will be expected to have knowledge of literary and cultural practices that question Enlightment notions of the human in the colonial and Republican periods in Latin America
Class Materials (Required)
All course materials will be available on Canvas.
Enrollment Requirements
Enrollment Requirements: Please contact the department of Spanish & Portuguese to request a permission number, spanish-portuguese@northwestern.edu.