Současná mexická americká literatura

Anotace

OBJECTIVES

In recent years, scholars have traced the origins of Hispanic literature in the United States to the late 17th century. The interest in contemporary Chicano literature, however, has its roots firmly planted in the Chicano Movement for civil rights. Using this activist literature as our point of department, the class will establish the literary and social characteristics associated with Chicano literature. Once these norms are established, we will go back to the first Mexican American novel of the mid-twentieth century, Pocho, to contrast its literary and social outlook with the perspective of the literature associated with the Chicano Movement. Using this sense of synthesis and antithesis, we will next move to post-Chicano Movement literature, a literature which is closely recognized for its aesthetic as well as its ethical value.

MATERIAL

Our Reader will begin with terms of identity (Hispanic, Latino, Mexican American, Chicano), followed by articles that discuss the goals of the Chicano Movement and its literature. While the class will concentrate on short narratives, poetry, and drama, students will read two examples of the Chicano bildunsroman as well as a complete but short collection of poetry by celebrated Chicana poet, Lorna Dee Cervantes, and a collection of essays by the brilliant essayist, Richard Rodriguez.

Pocho by José Antonio Villarreal

Bless Me, Ültima by Rudolfo Anaya

Intaglio by Roberta Fernández

Empluma by Lorna Dee Cervantes

Brown by Richard Rodriguez

ASSESSMENT

Attendance will be recorded. No more than two absences will be allowed without penalty. Students must attend class and actively participate in class discussion. A fifteen-minute oral presentation will be required. In addition, students will write a 3,000 word essay. Topic to be determined in consultation with the professor. Two short essays will be required periodically.