Contemporary Latin American story

Course description:

The seminar consists of critical reading and thematic and formal analysis of Latin American stories that best represent the diversity of gender in the XIX, XX and XXI centuries. On the one hand, we will explore the story as a literary genre in Latin America through the theory, techniques and production of so-called "masters of the short story" Quiroga, Cortazar, Borges, Rulfo, Donoso and García Márquez. On the other hand, we analyze the story in direct relation to the literary tradition, social context, the historical moment and specific literature search of each author and movement. We pay special attention, but not exclusively, the writers of the baroque and neo-baroque -Alejo Cuban Carpentier, Jose Lezama Lima, Reinaldo Arenas and Virgilio Piñera for this generation be a turning point in Latin American literature in general. In addition, we will dedicate the last part of the course to the study of short stories written by women Luisa Valenzuela, Cristina Peri Rossi and Zoé Valdés, among others to evaluate the concept of -individual and social identity and multiple masks. The stories will be approached from a historical and social perspective stylistic, aesthetic and structural -aspects theoretical, technical, literary and. In turn, in some specific cases, we adapt the text to the screen in order to open a dialogue between literature and cinema.

Objectives:

The main objective of this course is to give students the social base, the historical framework and the relevant aesthetic movement for critical reading of texts. In addition to training them in the techniques of textual analysis, the seminar aims to encourage the production of personal opinions and comments for the development of critical thinking.

Components of the final grade:

• Attendance and participation in class 35%
• oral presentation and leadership 20%
• Creative work (writing and commentary) 10%
• Final exam 35%

Lessons:

Classes have a theoretical and practical approach. In them, critical perspectives, theoretical and analytical stories, movies and assigned topics will be discussed. The student responsible for the oral presentation of the day will be responsible for the socio-historical / aesthetic introduction of the subject / author in question and direct the exchange of ideas. The discussion and analysis of the stories and read articles, and films tary views or class, will have different formats: talks, debates, quizzes, reading guides and production, application exercises, etc. The key to the success of the classes is the group interaction, based on the individual contributions of the students, who will read the material before coming to class to incorporate ideas, opinions, views and comments to enrich reading and analysis in each case. The methodology will be interactive, communicative, comprehensive and critical, in order to facilitate mainly active student participation.

Teacher: Prof. Clara M. Albertengo, PhD