Immersion into the rich, dynamic world of the Argentine and Latin American cultures, sensing the close relationship between literature, arts, journalism, and modern media and the strenthening of civil society in the continent. The commitment of intellectuals and artists to Latin American revolutions, the novelists of "realismo mágico", the brave journalists in a violent reality, the rich school of cinema and video directors and their influence on the perception of reality in Argentine and Latin American modern societies. This class is worth three semester credits.
Course Description
This course considers fiction as a resourceful tool to access the study of cultural
history. Drawing mainly on the close reading of four novels –Sarmiento´s Facundo,
Arlt´s The Seven Madmen, Martínez´s Santa Evita and Osorio´s My Name Is Lightthe
course will discuss how the notion of civilization, as opposed to barbarism, has
guided Nation-Building narratives in the Nineteenth Century and continues to be
central in the fictions of the Twentieth century. The impact of immigration policies,
the rise and fall of Peronismo, Eva Peron's role and legacy, the Dirty War and how
these texts work to shape social memory are some of the topics we will discuss in
class. By the end of the course, the student will get a general picture of the
historical and cultural contexts in which these books were written and an
understanding of the close links between history, politics and literature in Argentina.
Course Requirements
Following the UB policy, students need a minimum of 75% of attendance to be in
good standing for the final exam. Sliding the ID card is the only way to track record
of attendance. Classes missed for national holidays will be recovered on Fridays. No
excuse will be granted to students for traveling. Students are expected to do close
readings, participate in class, and do one oral presentations in groups. During the
semester, students will write a short position paper. The requirements also include a
midterm and a final exam. In addition to this, each student will be expected to
make a significant contribution to the classroom dialogue.
Grading Policy
In-class Participation and Attendance 10 %
Oral Presentation 10 %
Position Paper (2 page long) 10 %
Midterm Exam 20 %
Final Exam 50 %
For a better understanding of the comparable table for grading: check the
international student handbook (see orientation kit packet).
Required Textbooks (available at UB Bookstore)
Santa Evita by Tomás Eloy Martínez
ISBN 0-679-76814-9
The Seven Madmen by Roberto Arlt
ISBN 185242592X
Facundo by Domingo F. Sarmiento
ISBN-13: 9788498167771
My Name is Light by Elsa Osorio
ISBN 1582341826
Academic Calendar
Week 1: Unit 1
Introduction to course. History and Fiction. The 1810 Revolution and its aftermaths.
Domingo Faustino Sarmiento. Barbarism and Civilization.
Bibliography: Felix Luna, "A Short History of the Argentinians" (Chapters 3-7).
Week 2: Unit 1
Domingo F. Sarmiento´s Facundo: Text, context and pre-text.
The "Dictator Novel" in Latin America. Literature and History
Facundo Discussion (Chapters 1-8)
Week 3: Unit 1
Different readings of Facundo by contemporaries.
Required reading: Facundo (Chapters 9-13)
Week 4: Unit 1
Facundo read from abroad. Changes in the titles of the four different editions.
Required reading: Facundo (Chapters 14-15)
Week 5: Unit 1
Oral presentation on Facundo
Week 6: Unit 2
Roberto Arlt´s The Seven Madmen: Historical context. The impact of Immigration. A
Refoundation of Argentina. Literary Context. Boedo and Florida.
Required reading: The Seven Madmen (Chapters 1-2)
Recommended reading: Romero´s A History of Argentina in the Twentieth Century
(1-58).
Week 7: Unit 2
The Seven Madmen. Topics. Discussion on the topics.
Required reading: The Seven Madmen (Chapter 3).
Week 8: Unit 2
Oral presentation on The Seven Madmen.
Week 9: Unit 3
The Seven Madmen and its Correspondence with the Political Movements in the
1940s.
Introduction to Tomás Eloy Martínez´s Santa Evita.
Week 10: Unit 3
Santa Evita. Historical context.
Evita: vida pasión y muerte (screening in class w/ English Subtitles).
Week 11: Unit 3
Santa Evita: Topics. Reality versus Fiction. Story and Discourse.The writer's craft.
Required reading: Santa Evita (Chapters 9-16).
Assignment: Visit Museo Evita.
Week 12: Unit 4
Assign Position Paper (In-class written outline).
Paper Topic: compare Evita's representation as watched in the video, read in the
novel and presented in the museum, analyze differences and similarities.
Introduction to Elsa Osorio´s My Name is Light
Week 13: Unit 4
Due date Position Paper
My Name is Light
Week 14: Unit 4
My Name is Light
Week 15
Final exam
Bibliography
Luna, Felix. A Short History of the Argentinians. Buenos Aires: Planeta, 2000.
Nietzsche, Friedrich, On the Advantage and Disadvantage of History for Life, Hackett
Publishing Company, Inc. Indianapolis, Cambridge
Luis Alberto Romero, "A History of Argentina in the Twentieth Century". Buenos
Aires: Fondo de Cultura Económica. 2006.
Foster, David William. "Buenos Aires: Feminine Space". Buenos Aires: Perspectives
on the City and Cultural Production. Gainesville: Florida UP, 1998. 101-31.
Taylor, J.M. Eva Perón. The Myths of a Woman. Chicago: U of Chicago P, 1979.
Halperin Donghi, Tulio Ivan Jaksic, Gwen Kirkpatrick, and Francine Masiello Ed.
Facundo Author of a Nation. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1994.
Shumway, Nicholas. The Invention of Argentina. Berkeley: University of California
Press, 1993.
Sorensen, Diana. Facundo and the Construction of Argentine Culture. Texas: U of
Texas P, 1996.
National Holidays
Class missed on April 1 will be made up on April 9.
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