(Trans)Gendered Voices in Spanish American Literature

Span 531: Spanish American Novel

Section G

Spring 2003

TuTh 3-4:15

Professor Dara E. Goldman

Department of Spanish, Italian and Portuguese

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

• Course Description and Objectives

This course will examine salient articulations of gender in contemporary Spanish American & Caribbean literature from the perspective of Gender and Sexuality Studies. As with most literary traditions, gender has always been a significant issue in Spanish American writing: from the feminized characterization of the landscape by early European explorers to the complex representations of transgendered subjectivity in contemporary novels, gender has constituted a mechanism of both empowerment and counter-hegemonic criticism. Through the careful assessment of gender in contemporary narratives, drama and films, we will analyze how and to what extent the articulation of gendered subjectivity within these works problematizes, subverts or lays claim to a legitimacy (and, by extension, an authority) that is presumably not found within traditional models of normativity.

• Requirements and Evaluation

Prerequisites: This course is a graduate level seminar that offers an in-depth examination of the role of gender in contemporary Spanish American and Caribbean literature. It presupposes a basic familiarity with significant 20C. authors, movements and historical events. Hence, Span 227 and Span 456 (or equivalent) are prerequisites for this course.

General requirements and graded assignments: As always, the principal requirement of the course will be (reasonably) flawless attendance, preparation and active participation in class discussions. You will also be expected to prepare 5 critical response to the assigned readings. For your final assignment, you will write a slightly longer paper (12-15 pages) that presents an in depth analysis of issues of gender and/or sexuality in a 20C. Spanish American narrative text. This paper should incoporate class discussions and materials as well as further research.that you conduct independently.

• Required Texts and Materials

I. The following books will be available for purchase at Illini Union Bookstore:

Bombal, María Luisa. La última niebla.

Castellanos, Rosario. El eterno femenino.

Gallegos, Rómulo. Doña Bárbara

Marqués, René. Los soles truncos.

Puig, Manuel. El beso de la mujer araña

Sánchez, Luis Rafael. Quíntuples.

Obejas, Achy. Memory Mambo

Vega, Ana Lydia & Carmen Lugo Filippi. Vírgenes y mártires.

Valenzuela, Luisa. Cambio de armas.

II. Additional readings will also be available through the Undergraduate Library.

III. The following films will be on reserve at the Media Center in the Undergraduate Library and/or via internet streaming

La historia oficial
Fresa y chocolate
Frida

IV. Additional materials will also be made available via the Illinois Compass for this course.

Please check for current announcements, assignments and other course materials.

Access to Blackboard is restricted to UIUC students. If you are a registered student in Span340 and are not able to access Blackboard, please contact Professor Goldman or CITES Educational Technologies.

other courses taught by Professor Goldman: