Span 396: The Cuban Story

This course examines the unfolding of XXth century Cuba as a “story” as seen through its prose, poetry, film, and non-fiction discourses. Beginning with the first European account of Columbus, to insights from slaves, through works which memorialize the nation's birth, to finally more recent writers who question its future, our selected readings attempt to show the development of Cuban society as its own narrative.  Major readings by Francisco Manzano, Miguel Barnet, José Martí, Alejo Carpentier, Fidel Castro, Che Guevara, Cristina García, and Alejandro Hernández Díaz among others.  Shorter anthologized works by: Guillén, Lezama Lima, Valdés, Novás Calvo, Cabrera Infante, Sarduy et al.  Films by Gutiérrez Alea, Vega, Solás, and Tabío, among others.  Students are required to write extensively, read critically, lead discussion in Spanish, and report on related authors beyond the Latin American canon.

[Readings Alphabetical]    [Readings by Units]   [Resources in Leyburn]

 [Supplemental Materials]    [Daily Class Lectures]     [Class Calendar]  

[Course Requirements]     [Back to Barnett's Page] 

     Readings (alphabetical order by author) 

§ = .pdf file available on L:drive B = Bookstore
F = Films in TMC, Leyburn, or Commons depending on film W = Web
* Title: Author: (alphabetical) Genre
W  Carta a Harry Potter Anónimo prosa
B Historia de un cimarrón Barnet, Miguel  prosa: no  ficción
  "Estatuas sepultadas" Benitez Rojo prosa
W "Viaje a la semilla" Carpentier, Alejo   novela
F Buena Vista Social Club Cooder, Ry  película
W “La historia me absolverá" Castro, Fidel  prosa: no  ficción
W  Selected speeches Castro, Fidel   prosa: no  ficción
§

Primer Viage  /  Segundo Viage

 Colón, Cristobal crónica
B Memoria del silencio de Aragon, Uva prosa
F Memorias de subdesarroloo Desnoes, Edmundo película
B Dreaming in Cuban García,Cristina   novela
F Our Man in Havana Greene, Graham película
W  Selected speeches Guevara, Che  prosa: no  ficción
W

  Poesía escogida

Guillén, Nicolás  poesía
F

La ultima cena

Gutiérrez Alea, Tomás  película
F Muerte de un burócrata   Gutiérrez Alea, Tomás  película
F Hasta cierto punto Gutiérrez Alea, Tomás  película
F Fresa y chocolate Gutiérrez Alea, Tomás  película
§

Autobiografía de un esclavo

 Manzano, Francisco   prosa: no  ficción
B

Versos Sencillos

Martí, José   poesía
W "Nuestra América" Martí, José   ensayo
§  “Out on the town with the Mob”   Ragano, Frank   prosa: no  ficción
B Cuba : A Traveler’s Literary Companion Bardach, Louise cuento
F Lucia   Solás, Humberto   película
F Lista de espera  Tabío, Juan Carlos  película
F Retrato de Teresa Vega, Pastor   película
F Our House in Havana Olsson, Stephen película: documentario

For information on films see Barnett's Cuban Film Page

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     Readings (by Units) 

If you look at these works as "chapters" in the Cuban story we'll read them in this order.....

El encuentro: Colón y Cipango  

  • Colón: Primer Viage

La colonia: Azúcar y esclavitud

  • Miguel Barnet, Historia de un cimarrón
  • Tomás Gutiérrez Alea, La última cena (film)

Independencia: ¿por fin?

  • José Martí, Versos Sencillos
  • José Martí, "Nuestra América"
  • Selections* (cf. Bardach, ed.)
  • Frank Ragano “Out on the town with the Mob”
  • Graham Greene, “Our Man in Havana” (film)

La búsqueda de la voz nacional

  • Nicolás Guillén, Poesía escogida  
  • Benitez-Rojo "Estatuas sepultadas"  
  • Alejo Carpentier, "Viaje a la semilla"

¡La muerte o el socialismo!

  • Fidel Castro “La historia me absolverá"  and (Selected speeches)
  • Che Guevara (Selected speeches)
  • Selections* (cf. Bardach, ed.)
  • Our House in Havana (film)  
  • Tomás Gutiérrez Alea, Muerte de un burócrata (film)
  • Tomás Gutiérrez Alea, Hasta cierto punto (film) 
  • Tomás Gutiérrez Alea, Fresa y chocolate (film)
  • Tomás Gutiérrez Alea Memorias del subdesarrollo  (film)
  • Juan Carlos Tabío, Lista de espera (film)

!...Y el próximo año en Havana...!

  • Humberto Solás, Lucía (film)
  • Cristina García, Dreaming in Cuban
  • Uva de Aragón, Memoria del silencio
  • Selections* (cf. Bardach, ed.)
  • Carta a Harry Potter

Epílogo

  •   Selections* (cf. Bardach, ed.)

*Cuba : A Traveler’s Literary Companion

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Resources in Leyburn and TMC


Cuban Films in Leyburn (on Reserve)

Films produced by ICAIC (Instituto Cubano De Arte E Industria Cinematografica)

  • Tomás Gutiérrez Alea; Fresa y Chocolate
  • Tomás Gutiérrez Alea: Muerte de un burócrata
  • Tomás Gutiérrez Alea: La última cena
  • Tomás Gutiérrez Alea: Hasta cierto punto
  • Tomás Gutiérrez Alea: Guantanamera
  • Humberto Solás: Lucia
  • Juan Carlos Tabío, Lista de espera
  • Pastor Vega: Portrait of Teresa
  • Eduardo Desnoes: Inconsolable memories (Memorias del subdesarrollo)
  • Buena Vista Social Club
  • Our Man in Havana

Other items on reserve

Cuban Films in Leyburn (not on Reserve)

  • Reinaldo Arenas:  Before Night Falls
  • Oscar Hijuelos: The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love

 
Films in TMC:

  • Our house in Havana, by Stephen Olsson
  • Interview with Castro (MSNBC)

Other suggested readings not on reserve:

  • Fernandez, Damian: The Politics of Passion
  • Franklin, Jane: Cuba and the United States , A Chronological History
  • Horowitz, Irving Louis and Jamie Suchlicki: Cuban Communism
  • Luis, William: Culture and Customs of Cuba
  • Miller, Tom: Trading with the Enemy
  • Ryan, Alan, ed: Reader’s Companion to Cuba
  • Suchlicki, Jaime: Cuba : from Columbus to Castro and beyond
  • Historical Dictionary of Cuba , by Jaime Suchlicki.  
  • Journey to the Heart of Cuba : Life as Fidel Castro, by Carlos Alberto Montaner.
  • Real Life in Castro's Cuba , by Catherine Moses.
  • Cuba , the Elusive nation: Interpretations of National Identity, Damián Fernández
  • The Voice of the Turtle (anthology)

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Course Requirements

4 Unit Essays*....................................55%
Final Essay........................................25%
Participation / Attendance**..........20%

*Essays: a 3 to 4 page, critical, subjective reaction to the works for units II, III, IV, and V.  The purpose of the essay is to let you posit your opinions about the unit in an organized fashion.   For example, What did YOU get out of the works in this unit?  To get you started,  you may want to ask yourself  " What do they reveal about the theme of the unit?  Why are these works considered to be so important? What do they reveal about Cuba?  What is it that we don't see? Are they unique or representative? In what ways were they appealing to you? etc"  Once you have written an essay for each unit, the compilation will serve to guide you through the final (take-home) essay.

Remember, although these are subjective opinions, your essay should have organization and not just be a random series of observations and dislikes / likes, etc..   Especially remember that this is not a regurgitation of class discussion.  By the time I finish reading your essay, I should know how carefully you read the work.

Mechanically, papers must be written in Spanish, typed, double-spaced, and stapled, with pages numbered or may be returned.  Don't shy away from using quotes when appropriate but avoid lengthy citations (cite PAGE numbers).  You may use automated dictionaries, but not automated translators.  You may use Spell Check and Grammatik in Spanish as well as El Corrector.

**Although "Participation" grades are somewhat subjective, I use the following criteria to assess performance: 

  • A to B: = an active role; leads or guides discussion; initiates conversations and questions; can expound on topics; offers rebuttal; present for all class discussions; 
  • B to C: = a more passive role; occasionally initiates discussion; responds well; is prepared when called on, but only responds when called on; good knowledge of topic but doesn't always relate topic beyond today's discussion; present for all discussions; willing to converse but not always able.
  • C to D: = passive participation; typically interacts only when called upon; preparation lacking; not always present; quality of conversation would indicate a sub-performance in other 300-level classes.
  • F = oral difficiencies that would prohibit the student from continuing in other 300-level courses; excessive absences

Attendance is mandatory and expected.  Each unexcused absence may result in the lowering of your grade by one letter grade.  

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Last Updated on 10/15/07
By Jeffrey C. Barnett
Washington and Lee University