New Courses
New Course - Spanish 183 - Fall 2024
New Course - Spanish 130 - Spring 2023
New Course - Spanish 102 - Spring 2018
Introduction to Latin American Cultural Studies
Spring 2018. Tuesday and Thursday, 2:45-4 p.m.
Kravis 161
The main area of inquiry of this course is the symbolic production and cultural and social phenomena in present-day Latin America, from visual culture (photography, art, and comics) to music (Afro-Reggae, Funk, Salsa, Selena, Shakira) and cinema (Cantinflas, Tin Tan). We will read essays by prominent Latin American practitioners of cultural studies such as Néstor García Canclini, George Yúdice, Carlos Monsiváis, among others. Students will be able to work on improving their spoken and written Spanish through active class discussions and assignments that include short papers, in-class presentations, and a final essay.
No previous study of Latin America is required, although students should have completed SPANISH 44 or have permission from the instructor.
Prof. Salvador Velazco
Contact: svelazco@cmc.edu
New Course - Portuguese 100 - Fall 2017
Introduction to Brazilian Literary and Cultural Studies
(In English)
Fall 2017. Monday and Wednesday, 1:15-2:30 p.m.
PONT 100 is an introductory course designed to give students a general view of Brazilian literature and culture, from Colonial times to the present. We begin each historical period with a general background that will allow us to analyze different cultural expressions, such as classic literary texts (by Machado de Assis, Lima Barreto, João Guimarães Rosa, Graciliano Ramos, and Clarice Lispector), films, architecture (with an emphasis on Oscar Niemeyer and Lúcio Costa’s work in Brasilia), plastic arts and photography (O Aleijadinho, Sebastião Salgado, the “Morrinho Project”), music (Samba, Bossa Nova, Brazilian popular music in the 1960’s), and sports (specifically soccer) in their original context. Since Brazil has such a vast territory, we will also focus on different regions and their contributions to the country’s cultural richness. Finally, given Brazil’s recent political turmoil, we will end the course with an exploration of the country’s most important recent events, including the rise of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and the Partido dos Trabalhadores (PT), Dilma Roussef’s controversial impeachment, the sweeping investigation on corruption known as the “Operação Lava-Jato” (Carwash Operation), and the way they have been portrayed in film, TV, and political cartoons.
Instructor: Norman Valencia
Contact: nvalencia@cmc.edu