Module Code - Title:
SP4002
-
INTRODUCTION TO LATIN AMERICAN CULTURE/S
Year Last Offered:
2026/7
Hours Per Week:
Grading Type:
N
Prerequisite Modules:
Rationale and Purpose of the Module:
First year tudents majoring in Spanish need to have a general but solid knowledge of the main socio-political processes in Latin American history and their effects on and interaction with literary and film production, as well as other forms of culture, as background for further modules and as part of their overall achievement within this programme.
Syllabus:
The development of Latin American culture has been marked by its multicultural and multi-ethnic history. The arrival of the Spanish Conquistadors had a massive effect in Latin American cultures and civilizations. From 1492 onwards, the construction of Latin American identities are characterised by the encounter and interaction of indigenous and African cultures and the influence of the Hispanic tradition.
In order to explore the development of Latin American culture, the module will pay special attention to a number of themes, from the Amerindian civilizations to the literary boom of the 1960s, Magical Realism, and the importance of womenÆs artistic production.
Learning Outcomes:
Cognitive (Knowledge, Understanding, Application, Analysis, Evaluation, Synthesis)
On sucessful completion of this module, students should be able to:
Identify and relate to the major cultural movements in Latin America.
Assess the importance of key issues/events in the history of Latin America.
Analyse the relationship between socio-political and economic developments and cultural movements in Latin American countries.
Formulate a critical analysis of the literary and artistic production of Latin America in different historical periods.
Interpret and discuss the construction of Latin American identities as portrayed through literature, music and the visual arts.
Affective (Attitudes and Values)
On sucessful completion of this module, students should be able to:
Question and try to resolve conflicting issues between contradicting versions of historical events in Latin America relating them to their own previous knowledge of European and world hi
Psychomotor (Physical Skills)
N/A
How the Module will be Taught and what will be the Learning Experiences of the Students:
One lecture and two tutorials per week. The lecture will include a powerpoint presentation and will relate to aspects discussed in a brainstorm session at the very beginning of each class. A similar approach will be used in tutorials but the student will hace read or watched material on DVD beforehand, and also made use of internet resources. Then, discussion on various aspects related to the theme in question will be discussed and facilitated by the lecturer/tutor.
Prime Texts:
Bethell, L. (1998)
A cultural history of Latin America: literature, music and the visual arts in the 19th and 20th centuries.
, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
King, J., . (2004)
Cambridge Companion to Modern Latin American culture.
, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
García Márquez, G. (2006)
Cien años de soledad.One hundred years of solitude
, London: Penguin.
Other Relevant Texts:
Parkinson Zamora, L. and W. Faris (Eds), . (1995)
Magical Realism. Theory, History, Community.
, Durham and London: Duke University Press.
Elena, A. and M. Díaz. (Eds),. (2003)
The Cinema of Latin America.
, Wallflower Press.
Kuss, M., . (2004)
Music in Latin America and the Caribbean, An Encyclopedic History: Performing Beliefs: Indigenous Peoples of South America, Central America, And México.
, Austin: University of Texas Press.
Programme(s) in which this Module is Offered:
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN APPLIED LANGUAGES
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN EUROPEAN STUDIES
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN HISTORY, POLITICS, SOCIOLOGY AND SOCIAL STUDIES
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN LANGUAGES AND LITERATURE
BACHELOR OF EDUCATION IN LANGUAGES
Semester(s) Module is Offered:
Module Leader:
alba.p.perez@ul.ie