SPAN 290 - Latin American Culture Through Literature (Spanish)

Credits: 5
Introduces the study of Latin American culture through important works of literature that explore the complex social relations and culture of the region. Analyzes how Latin American literature has reflected cultural changes throughout the history of the region such as the impact of the conquest and slavery; the influence of Patriarchy/Machismo and Marianism in gender relations; the problematic relations with the U.S., the history of dictatorship and social revolution in Latin America. Focuses on preparing students to understand Latin America to be able to function in our globalized world while practicing the Spanish language. Cross-listed with LAS 190

Enrollment Requirement: Eligible for SPAN& 223 or instructor consent.

Satisfies Requirement: Humanities/Fine Arts/English and Diversity
Course Fee: $5.00

Course Outcomes:
Students who successfully complete this class will be able to:

Comprehend the usefulness of literary works to understand Latin American societies, histories and their complex social mixture of African, European and indigenous American constructions.
Understand the main periods of the evolution of Latin American literature and their social and political contexts throughout the history of the region.
Connect the socio-political changes within different Latin American societies with the evolution of its literature.
Develop critical thinking tools in Spanish to analyze the multiple identities, histories, cultures, perspectives, contributions, knowledge and/or strategies of historically excluded groups in Latin America in some of the literature they produced.
Develop skills in Spanish to travel, work, understand, and be sensitive to our Latin American neighbors.

Program Outcomes
Analyze cultural perspectives and values of a multicultural world.

College-wide Outcomes

Critical Thinking - Critical thinking finds expression in all disciplines and everyday life. It is characterized by an ability to reflect upon thinking patterns, including the role of emotions on thoughts, and to rigorously assess the quality of thought through its work products. Critical thinkers routinely evaluate thinking processes and alter them, as necessary, to facilitate an improvement in their thinking and potentially foster certain dispositions or intellectual traits over time.
Diversity and Equity - In order to advance equity and social justice, students will be able to examine their own and others’ identities, behaviors, and/or cultural perspectives as they connect to power, privilege, and/or resistance.