Syllabus

Imagining the Latin America Other: Crossing Cultural Borders

Dr. Manuel F. Medina
Fall 2015
ML 260 Class Number 5928
E-mail: manuel.medina@louisville.edu
Time: MW 12:00 - 12:50 pm. Hum 207

Office Hours: M 1:00 - 1:50 p.m. and Th 1:00 - 1:50 p.m. and by appointment

Class website: http://medina502.com/classes/ml260_2015

Pre-requisites:This section is restricted to students eligible for the Honors Program.

Description
An introduction to Hispanic culture and ethnicity within a global context.

Goals:

The class will study Hispanic literature, film, music and art within a global context.
The students will examine selected readings to familiarize themselves with the main historical topics and contexts prevalent in the Hispanic cultural production, including an understanding of how race, ethnicity and gender are socially constructed.
The students will learn critical theory related with border theory and ideological construction of texts to learn to examine assertions for relevance, bias, stereotyping, manipulation, and completeness.
The class will identify the multiple dimensions of reasoning, assumptions and perspectives generally excluded from these forms of cultural and ethnic expression.
The course will emphasize student collaboration, in-class discussion and lectures.

Objectives

Upon successful completion, the students will be able to accomplish the following tasks:
Discuss key point associated with Hispanic culture and ethnicity within a global context.
Discuss and identify ideologies and perspectives present in the Hispanic cultural production.
Locate, evaluate, and creatively answer questions about Hispanic culture and ethnicity within a global context.
Identify how race, ethnicity and gender are socially constructed within the context of the Hispanic cultural production.
Communicate an understanding that Hispanic culture may hold different views of the same issues.
Apply border theory to identify the validity of assertions for relevance, bias, stereotyping, manipulation, and completeness.

General Education requirements fulfilled by this course: This course fulfills a General Education requirement in Humanities CD 1. One goal of the course will be to understand and appreciate cultural diversity. Key elements related to this goal include the following: recognizing ways that culture shapes our behaviors and attitudes, demonstrating an understanding of the relationship between culture and environment, recognizing the diversity within cultural groups, and analyzing the impact of cultural diversity on problems and societal issues. In part, this understanding will be (explicitly) modeled during course discussions and/or group presentations. Your progress in this area will be assessed with several writing assignments, culminating in a final research paper focused on an assigned literary text and topic.

Required textbooks/films

Books:

Cisneros, Sandra. The House on Mango Street. Any edition. (No available from the campus bookstores)

Films available from the reserve area in the Ekstrom Library (also available from different streaming services).

Films:

Film: Even the Rain, (Icíar Bollaín, Spain, 2010) Video Call Number: DVD PN1997.2 .E946 2012
Streaming video available from Netflix Amazon Prime & DVD available from Netflix (DVD)

Film: Men with Guns, (John Sayles, USA, 1997) Video Call Number: DVD PN1997 .M43445 2003
DVD available from Netflix (DVD)

Film: The Great Match, (Spain. Gerardo Olivares, 2006) Video Call Number: DVD PN1997 .M43445 2003
Streaming video available from Amazon Prime & DVD available from Netflix (DVD)

Film: Undertow, (Javier Fuentes León, Peru,2009 ) Video Call Number: DVD PN1997.2 .C667 2011<
Streaming video available from Amazon Prime

Film: The City (US, David Riker, 1998) Video Call Number: DVD PN1997 .C518 2005
Streaming video available from Netflix, Amazon Prime & DVD available from Netflix (DVD)

Film: Blood of my Blood (USA/Argentina, Christopher Zalla, 2007) Video Call Number: DVD PN1997.2 .S264 2008
Streaming video available from Netflix & DVD available from Netflix (DVD)

Film: Sleep Dealer (US, Alex Rivera, 2008) Video Call Number: DVD PN1997.2 .S5766 2009
Streaming video available from Amazon Prime, Hulu (plus)& DVD available from Netflix (DVD)

Additional materials:

And additional materials made available via website and Blackboard.

Grading Policy and Distribution

Grades are final and not negotiable

Class participation, quizzes, attendance and assignments 20%
Oral Presentation 15%
Handout and visuals for the presentation 5%
Term Paper 20%
Midterm Exam 20%
Second Exam 20%

Grading scale:
95.5%-100% A+
92.5%-95.4% A
89.5%-92.4% A-
85.5%-89.4% B+
82.5%-85.4% B
79.5%-82.4% B-
75.5%-79.4% C+
72.5%-75.4% C
69.5%-72.4% C-
65.5%-69.4% D+
62.5%-65.4% D
59.5%-62.4% D-
0%-59.4% F

Letter Grade Definitions

100 to 90 A+, A, A- Exceptional

Student strongly exceeds all requirements as provided by the instructor. The work product not only meets the requirements of the project but also goes above and beyond the scope of work.

89 to 80 = B+, B, B- Above Average

Student completes all requirements as provided by the instructor. Student is well prepared for every class, with daily assignments as requested by the instructor and participates in class discussions. Written work demonstrates good craft with acceptable attention to detail.

79 to 70 = C+, C, C- Average

Student completes all requirements as provided by the instructor. The work products reflect basic comprehension of class objectives and work is completed to meet requirements only. Student is prepared for most class sessions with assignments as requested by the instructor.

69 to 60 = D+, D, D- Poor

Student does not complete all requirements as provided by the instructor. The work products fail to reflect basic class principles and demonstrate lack of comprehension of course material. Student is often ill-prepared for class sessions. Written work and assignments are incomplete, poorly crafted and show a lack of attention to detail.

59 to 0 F, Failing

Student completes a small portion of requirements as provided by the instructor. The work products fail to reflect basic class principles and demonstrate lack of comprehension of course material. Student is generally ill-prepared for class sessions. Written work and assignments are incomplete, poorly crafted and show a lack of attention to detail.

Student Academic Rights and Responsibilities:

Every student is expected to be thoroughly familiar with the University's Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities and Student Conduct which can be found in the General Information section of the Undergraduate Catalog.
Along with preparing for and attending class, each student has the responsibility of promoting high academic standards. Students are expected to cooperate in all classes with the instructor to achieve an optimal learning environment. The College of Arts and Sciences does not tolerate cheating, fabrication, falsification, multiple submission, plagiarism, or complicity in academic dishonesty. The College of Arts and Sciences has a statement of academic discipline for action against students who cheat or plagiarize.

University Policy on Discrimination and Sexual Harassment:

Title IX/Clery Act Notification

Sexual misconduct (including sexual harassment, sexual assault, and any other nonconsensual behavior of a sexual nature) and sex discrimination violate University policies. Students experiencing such behavior may obtain confidential support from the PEACC Program (852-2663), Counseling Center (852-6585), and Campus Health Services (852-6479). To report sexual misconduct or sex discrimination, contact the Dean of Students (852-5787) or University of Louisville Police (852-6111).

Disclosure to University faculty or instructors of sexual misconduct, domestic violence, dating violence, or sex discrimination occurring on campus, in a University-sponsored program, or involving a campus visitor or University student or employee (whether current or former) is not confidential under Title IX. Faculty and instructors must forward such reports, including names and circumstances, to the University’s Title IX officer.

For more information, see the Sexual Misconduct Resource Guide

(http://louisville.edu/hr/employeerelations/sexual-misconduct-brochure).

Student Academic Rights and Responsibilities:

University Policy on Discrimination and Sexual Harassment:

Title IX/Clery Act Notification

For more information, see the Sexual Misconduct Resource Guide

(http://louisville.edu/hr/employeerelations/sexual-misconduct-brochure).

Policy on Instructional Modifications or accommodations:

I encourage students who have a disability or other educational, physical or mental limitations or conditions which may impair their ability to complete assignments or otherwise satisfy course criteria to meet with me to identify, discuss and document any feasible instructional modifications or accommodations. Please notify me no later than the end of the second week of the semester or no later that the end of the second week after you get diagnosed with a disability or condition, whichever occurs first. You may contact the Disabilities Resource Center for information and auxiliary aid.

The University of Louisville is committed to providing access to programs and services for qualified students with disabilities. If you are a student with a disability and require accommodation to participate in and complete requirements for this class, contact the Disability Resource Center (852-6938) for verification of eligibility and determination of specific accommodations.

Note: The instructor reserves the right to make changes in the syllabus when necessary to meet learning objectives, to compensate for missed classes, or for similar reasons.

Reading and Assignment Schedule

See Reading and Assignment Schedule page for a list of assignments and links to readings and additional materials.