Latina/Latino Studies 301: Advanced Composition
Policies Critical Essays Blog Groups Recommendations
Spring 2008
Prof. Rolando J. Romero
Office Hours: Mondays and Wednesdays 12-1 p.m.
Foreign Languages Building 4004
NET ID: rromero
Telephone: 217-367-4140
Cell: 217-778-8053
Course Description: This course seeks to recombine 19th century cultural interaction issues into a comprehensive cross-comparative approach to historical contact between the United States, on the one hand, and the Caribbean, Mexico, and Spain on the other. The course will focus on the literature of the 19th century that deals with the angst experienced by the loss of territory and as a consequence of the dominant political forces in the United States. The 19th century in the US is in fact the century in which definitions of “Latin America” and “United States” becomes problematic. The 19th century saw the doctrine of Manifest Destiny materialize into the dispossession of territories from Mexico (the whole US Southwest) and Spain (Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Philippines, and Guam). The U.S.-Mexico War which ended in 1848 with the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, and the Spanish American War which ended in 1898 with the Treaty of Paris are the pivotal 19th century events that will determine the status of the people of Caribbean and Mexican descent in the U.S. In Spain the loss of the empire led to the Generation of 98 angst regarding such issues as national sense of direction and purpose. The texts are representative of the issues to be addressed in the class.
Goals: Students taking the course will 1) acquire a solid background of the major cultural developments pertaining to the construction of US Latina/Latino cultures in the 19th century; 2) attain, through the reading of the literature, a solid theoretical understanding of Feminism, Gender Theory, Literary History, Autobiography, Historiography, and Deconstruction; 3) develop critical skills through writing; 4) become familiar with web-based technology.
Grading Criteria:
Midterm: 25%
Final: 30%
Critical Essays 30%
Attendance & Participation 15%
1/14/08
Introduction
Slavery
1/16/08
Romero, Rolando. "The Alamo, Slavery, & the Politics of Memory"
"Alamo and the Politics of Memory" Review Questions.
1/21/08
Martin Luther King Holiday: No Classes
1/23/08
Villaverde, Cecilia Valdés. 1-101
1/28/08
Villaverde, Cecilia Valdés. 102-201
1/30/08
Villaverde, Cecilia Valdés, 202-397
2/4/08
Villaverde, Cecilia Valdés, 401-end.
Listen to Gonzalo Roig's "Dulce Quimera" and "Pó Pó Pó Estánisla" from the Cecilia Valdés Zarzuela.
2/6/08
Ruiz de Burton, Who Would Have Thought It? 1-97
2/11/08
Ruiz de Burton, Who Would Have Thought It? 98-201.
2/13/08
Ruiz de Burton, Who Would Have Thought It? 202-298
2/18/08
Sánchez, and Pita. "Introduction." Ruiz de Burton, Who Would Have Thought It? Vii-lxv
Critical Essay 1 Due
1848: US MEXICO WAR & THE TREATY OF GUADALUPE HIDALGO
2/20/08
Griswold del Castillo, The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. Chapters 2 & 4.
2/25/08
Griswold del Castillo, The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. Chapters 5, 7, & 8.
2/27/08
Rollin Ridge, John. Life and Adventures of Joaquín Murieta. 7-80
3/3/08
Rollin Ridge, John. Life and Adventures of Joaquín Murieta. 81-159.
3/5/08
Rodriguez, Richard. "Ch.6: Head of Joaquin Murrieta." Days of obligation: Argument with my Mexican father. New York, NY : Viking, 1992. 133-148. E-Reserves.
Joaquin Murrieta: Los Madrugadores:Pts.1-2." Corridos & tragedias de la frontera: First recordings of historic Mexican-American ballads (1928-37). El Cerrito, CA : Arhoolie, 1994. 33-40. E Reserves
3/10/08
MIDTERM
Download Exam Review Sheet
3/12/08
Ruiz de Burton, Amparo. The Squatter and the Don. 55-99.
3/15/08 to 3/23/08
Spring Break
3/24/08
Ruiz de Burton, Amparo. The Squatter and the Don. 100-204.
3/26/08
Ruiz de Burton, Amparo. The Squatter and the Don. 205-296.
3/31/08
Ruiz de Burton, Amparo. The Squatter and the Don. 297-344
4/2/08
Sánchez and Pita, "Introduction." Ruiz de Burton, Amparo. The Squatter and the Don. 7-49.
4/7/08
Thoreau, Henry David. "A Concord Individualist." Heath anthology of American literature. Lauter, Paul (gen.ed.); Richard Yarborough (assoc.gen.ed.); Juan Bruce-Novoa 'et al' (eds.). Lexington, Mass. : D.C. Heath and Co., 1994. 2012-2029. E-Reserves.
Film: The Great Debaters
Critical Essay 2 Due
1898: The Spanish American War
4/9/08
Lea, Henry Charles; Arthur C. Howland (ed.). "Decadence of Spain." Minor historical writings and other essays. Philadelphia; University of Pennsylvania Press, 1942. 220-233. E-Reserve.
4/14/08
Melville, Herman. Benito Cereno.
4/16/08
Melville, Herman. Benito Cereno.
4/21/08
José Martí, "Our America." E-Reserve. José Martí, "Dedication of the Statue of Liberty". E-Reserve.
4/23/08
José Martí, "Indians in the United States." E-Reserve.
José Martí, "My Race" E-Reserve.
4/28/08
Martí, José. Selections from Versos sencillos/Simple Verses
Critical Essay 3 Due
4/30/08
Review
5/2/08
Final: LLS 301 Section A: 7-10 p.m.5/7/08
FINAL: LLS 301 Section B, 1:30-4:30
282 Bevier Hall, 905 South Goodwin Avenue Urbana, IL 61801 Corner of Goodwin and Gregory Drive in Urbana.
Rolando J. Romero
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.