Latin American
and Caribbean Studies 101
 W&L   
 

 

Latin American and Caribbean Studies Webpage

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prof. Barnett,
Tucker Hall 202 – Office hours D (Mon) BC (Tue), D (Wed), B (Fri)
barnettj@wlu.edu

Description:

A multi-disciplinary, introductory course designed to familiarize students with the pertinent issues that determine or affect the concept of identity in Latin American and Caribbean societies through a study of their geography, history, politics, economics, literature, and culture. The purpose of the course is to provide a framework or overview to enhance understanding in the students' future courses in particular disciplines and specific areas of Latin American and Caribbean study.  The course material is intended as a basis of understanding that will enable students to acquire more specific methodology and disciplinary-related skills in subsequent courses at the upper levels and to continue to make interdisciplinary connections as they approach the capstone experience.

This course fulfills the introductory requirement for the Latin American and Caribbean Studies Minor.  For completion of the Minor, students must complete 15 additional hours with at least one course distributed among the Humanities, Literature, and Social/Natural Sciences listings (see website for related courses), followed by a senior capstone course.

 Approach / Organization:

 This courses approaches the study of Latin America and the Caribbean through two diverse means: disciplinary breadth and geographic breadth. 

 As for disciplinary breadth, we will examine the diverse ways that the relevant disciplines approach the study of Latin America and the Caribbean.  Classes will entail discussions and lectures that reflect issues across the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities, in such areas as history, literature and culture, biology, social organization, and political economy.  In the first part of the course the readings and class organization build on the region’s historical context and its legacies.  In the second part we apply these concepts to specific socio-cultural issues.  In the final weeks of the semester we will examine how our disciplinary study is reflected and interwoven in one particular case study. 

 In terms of geographic breadth, the course aims to familiarize students with the principal geo-cultural regions: the Hispanophone sub-cultures of the Southern Cone, Mesoamerica, Andean Region, and the Antilles; the Lusophone culture of Brazil; the Francophone and Anglophone areas of the Caribbean; and the profound linkages between these regions, the United States, and the rest of the world.  To that end, each student will offer a brief oral report on one country or sub-area of the region. 

 Finally, a written research project will serve to allow the student to explore his/her own interests and at the same time to bring together both our disciplinary and geographic approaches.

 
Required Texts:

Americas: The Changing Face of Latin America and the Caribbean. Winn, Peter.  (UC Press, 2006)

Americas: An Anthology, Rosenberg, Mark B., A. Douglas Kincaid (NY: 1992)

Don’t Be Afraid Gringo: A Honduran Woman Speaks From The Heart: The Story of Elvia Alvarado. Benjamin, Medea. (Harper Perennial; 1989)

  

Texts on Reserve:

Americas Video Series (WGBH-Boston).  On reserve in Leyburn and digitized in TMC

Latin America: The World Today Series.  Buckman, Robert T. (Baltimore, 2006)

The Buried Mirror.  [Text and Videos] Fuentes, Carlos.  (Boston, 1992)

Understanding Contemporary Latin America.  . Hillman, Richard S., ed. (Boulder, 2005)

Americas: New Interpretative Essays.  Stepan, Alfred, ed. (Oxford, 1992)

 

Resources: More will be added as the course progresses:

Research

Maps

News

Latino Community

Regional / Country

Arts and Sciences

Grading Policy:

Exam 1………………………………..15%
Final Exam .…………………………..30%
Research Paper………………………..25%
Final Essay: Case Study……………....10%
Class Performance…………………….20%

 

1) Exam 1

A non-cumulative, short test on material covered to date. Brief responses, identifications, short essays.  Tests for details, memorization and recall, familiarity with material.  Exam 1 will be taken in TMC outside of class.

2) Final Exam

Brief responses and long essays which require detailed knowledge of reading materials and lectures.  In addition to details, tests for analysis and synthesis of concepts, ability to make inter-connections with material, formulate theses and argue perspectives.  Three hour exam during final exam week.

3) Research Paper:

  • Topics: Papers may cover any aspect of LA/C but require prior approval from the Professor, no later than the date indicated  below
  • Format: Papers should be 2000 – 2,500 words (i.e., approximately 7-9 pages at 12pt TNR font) typed, double-spaced.  Use MLA Style sheet for questions of mechanics.  Be careful with proper citation and plagiarism. All submitted written work is considered to be your own unless, otherwise indicated, and should be pledged.  Exceptional papers should be submitted to the Latin American Studies conference in April or the Science, Society, and Arts symposium on campus.
  • Deadlines: Topic approval, Oct. 9th   Submitted no later than November 20th .  Papers turned on or before Nov 2nd  will receive a 1/3 letter grade bonus.

4) Final Essay: Case Study

  • Topic: A critical reaction to the material covered in our final case study. 
  • Format: Papers should be ~1,500 words (i.e., approximately 4-5 pages at 12pt TNR font) typed, double-spaced.  Use MLA Style sheet for questions of mechanics.  Be careful with proper citation and plagiarism. All submitted written work is considered to be your own unless, otherwise indicated, and should be pledged.  Papers will be judged on your insight to the text; how well you can make connections among concepts; demonstrate an overall understanding of the complexities;
  • Deadlines: Submitted at or before class on Friday of Week 12 (December 11).  No late papers accepted.  You must turn in your paper in order to be able to attend Friday’s discussion

5) Class Performance

A good to superior grade in class performance requires that you be in engaged in the material, lead and participate actively in discussions.  You are expected to attend every class unless ill or on a school-sponsored event. An excessive number of absences may result in a grade of F at the Instructor’s discretion.

 

Class Calendar: Fall, 2009

PRINTER FRIENDLY VERSION -- Original copy (updates / revisions forthcoming here)

UPDATED COPY -- Class Calendar: Fall, 2009 (updated 9/9/2009)

UPDATED COPY -- Class Calendar: Fall, 2009 (updated 11/09/2009)

F/ Sept. 11--Introduction

M/14—Winn, Chap. 1; Rosenberg, Chap. 1  – “Introduction”

W/16 – Winn, Chap. 1; Rosenberg, Chap. 1  – “Introduction”

F/18-- Winn, Chap. 2 – “Legacies of Empire”

M/21-- Rosenberg, Chap. 2  – “Legacies of Empire”

W/23—Winn, Chap. 3, “The Perils of Progress”

F/25-- Americas Film– “Garden of Forking Paths

M/28-- Guest lecture – Prof. Dickovick  /Winn, Chap. 4 “A Second Independence””

W/30-- Rosenberg, Chap. 3 “Garden of Forking Paths: Dilemmas of National Development”

F/2-- Winn, Chap. 5, “Capital Sins”

M/5— Rosenberg, Chap. 4 and Americas Film “Capital Sins: Authoritarianism and Democratization”

W/7-- Winn, Chap. 6 and Americas Film–“Continent on the Move”

F/9-- Rosenberg, Chap. 5 “Continent on the Move: Migration and Urbanization”

*Paper topic due

M/12— Winn, Chap 7 “Children of the Sun”

W/14-- Exam 1 to be taken in TMC between

F/16 – Reading days

M/19— Winn, Chap. 8 “A Question of Color”

W/21— Rosenberg, Chap. 6 and Americas Film “Mirrors of the Heart”

F/23-- Winn, Chap. 9 “In Women’s Hands”

M/26-- Rosenberg, Chap. 7 and Americas Film – “In Women’s Hands: The Changing Roles of Women”

W/28— Winn, Chap. 10 “The Power and the Glory”

F/30-- Rosenberg, Chap. 8 and Americas Film – “Miracles Are Not Enough: Continuity and Change in Religion”

M/2— Winn, Chap. 12 “Endangered States” and Rosenberg, Chap. 10 – “Get Up, Stand Up: The Problem of Sovereignty”

 * Window open for early submission of Papers (bonus)

W/4-- Americas Film – “Get Up, Stand Up”

F/6—to be announced

M/  9— Guest lecture -- Prof. Eastwood

W/11-- Winn, Chap. 13 “Making Revolution”

F/13-- Americas Film – “Fire in the Mind”

M/16-- Guest lecture – Prof. Carey / Rosenberg, Chap. 11 – “Fire in the Mind: Revolutions and Revolutionaries

W/18—Lecture -- Perceptions of Reality: the Latin American Artist

F/20 -- Will discuss papers/findings in class * Final deadline for Papers due at beginning of class)

Nov. 23-28 Thanksgiving

M/30— Winn, Chap. 14 “North of the Border”

W/2-- Americas Film “The Americans”

F/4— Winn, "The Epilogue"

M/7—Film: “Crossing Arizona”  (part one in class)

W/9— Film: “Crossing Arizona” (part two in class)

F/11–Case Study Essay Due
   
Latin American and Caribbean Studies Program

Washington and Lee University
Tucker Hall
Lexington VA 24450
fax: 540-458-8479

Last Updated on 11/09/09
By Jeffrey C. Barnett