Latin American
and Caribbean Studies 101
 W&L   
 

 

Latin American and Caribbean Studies Webpage

 

 

 

 

 

Prof. Barnett,
Tucker Hall 202 – Office hours 10-11 MWF
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 counts as a FDR in the HU category.

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. 

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)

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

 Recommended Text:

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

Texts on Reserve:

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

Other useful resources:

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)

Grading Policy:*

Exam 1………………………………..20%
Final Exam .…………………………..30%
Research Paper………………………..25%
Final Essay: Case Study…………….......5%
Class Performance…………………….20%

*Since I average grades on a weighted scaled, the above percentages are approximate

1)      Exams

The mid-term and final exams test for your ability to analyze and synthesize our readings and discussion as the pertain to overriding concepts that define the Americas.  You will be given several, broad study questions for each chapter.  Your success will be determined in large part with how well you master these questions.

The first exam coincides with mid-semester and tests all materials covered to date. Brief responses, identifications, short essays.  Tests for details, memorization and recall, familiarity with material, ability to begin synthesizing concepts.  Exam 1 will be taken outside of class.

The Final Exam may include brief responses and long essays which require detailed knowledge of reading materials and lectures.  In addition to details, it 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.

2) 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 approximately 8-9 pages (at 12pt TNR or similar font) typed, double-spaced, and stapled.  You must include your name and page number on every page..  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 must be pledged.  Your grade will be reduced for failure to comply with details/instructions.  If you write an exceptional paper I will encourage you to submit it to an appropriate conference and help you secure funding. 
  • Deadlines: Topic approval, Oct. 8th   Submitted no later than November 17th .  Papers turned on or before Nov 1st  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.  Respond by writing a subjective commentary on how the case study reinforces, contradicts, supplements, and/or alters the views put forth by Winn and Rosenberg.  (1st person is acceptable and encouraged.)
  • Format: Papers should be approximately 3-4 pages (at 12pt TNR or similar font) typed, double-spaced, stapled, and include your name/page number.  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 must be pledged. 
  • Deadlines: Submitted at or before class on Friday of Week 12 (December 10).  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.  You are welcome to use your laptop in class for taking notes but,  please, absolutely no facebooking, tweeting, texting, emailing or other electronic distractions during class (and it goes without saying, please turn off your cell phone).

 

Research

Maps

News

Latino Community

Regional / Country

Arts and Sciences

Class Calendar: Fall, 2009 (updated 8/25//2010)

 

f/  10 Sept – Introduction

 

m/ 13 – Rosenberg, Introduction.pdf; + Winn, Chap. 1 “A View from the South”

w/ 15 – Winn, Chap. 1 (cont.) 

f/   17– Rosenberg, Legacies.pdf; + Winn, Chap. 2 “Legacies of Empire”

 

m/ 20 –Winn, Chap. 2 (cont.); + Popul Vuh (pdf) + Aztec Poetry.pdf

w/ 22 – Winn, Chap. 3 “The Perils of Progress”

f/   24 – to be announced

 

m/  27 – Rosenberg, Garden.pdf;  + Americas Film– “Garden of Forking Paths; + Vargas.pdf

w/  29 – Winn, Chap. 4 “A Second Independence”

f/ 1 Oct. –Winn, Chap. 5 “Capital Sins: Authoritarianism and Democratization”

 

m/  4 – Rosenberg, Capital.pdf ; + Americas Film “Capital Sins”; + Kennedy.pdf + Lula.pdf

w/  6 – Winn, Chap. 6 “Continent on the Move”

f/   8 – Rosenberg, Continent.pdf;  + . Americas Film–“Continent on the Move”; + Rio.pdf  +  Mexico.pdf

*Paper topic due before f/8

 

m/  11 – Lecture: Discovering Columbus; + Manyarrows.pdf

w/  13 – Exam 1 to be taken outside of class

f/   15 – Reading days

 

m/ 18 – Winn, Chap 7 “Children of the Sun”

w/  20 – Winn, Chap. 8 “A Question of Color”

f/   22 – to be announced

 

m/  25 – Rosenberg, Mirrors.pdf; + Americas Film “Mirrors of the Heart”; + Llosa.pdf  + Cesaire.pdf

w/  27 – Winn, Chap. 9 “In Women’s Hands”

f/   29 – Rosenberg, Womens.pdf; + Am. Film “The Changing Roles of Women”; + Menchu.pdf  + Favela.pdf + Macho.pdf

 

m/  1 Nov. – Winn, Chap. 10 “The Power and the Glory”

* Window open for early submission of Papers (bonus)

w/  3 – no class but responsible for:  Rosenberg, Miracles.pdf; + Americas Film – “Miracles Are Not Enough: Continuity and Change in Religion”

f/   5 – no class but responsible for: + Liberation.pdf + Religion.pdf

 

m/   8 – Winn, Chap. 12 “Endangered States”

w/  10 – Rosenberg, Getup.pdf; + Americas Film – “The Problem of Sovereignty”; Monroe.pdf + Opposition.pdf + Manley.pdf

f/   12 – Winn, Chap. 13 “Making Revolution”

 

m/  15– Rosenberg, Fire.pdf; + Am. Film – “Fire in the Mind: Rev. and Revolutionaries”; + Castro.pdf

w/  17–Discuss papers/findings in class

 * Final deadline for Papers due at beginning of class

f/   19– Lecture -- Perceptions of Reality: the Latin American Artist; + Solitude.pdf

 

Nov. 22-26 Thanksgiving

m/  29 – Winn, Chap. 14 “North of the Border”

w/  1 Dec.. – Rosenberg, Americans.pdf; + Americas Film “The Americans” (+ other?

f/   3 – Winn, "The Epilogue"

 

m/  6 – Film: “Crossing Arizona”  (part one in class)

w/  8 – Film: “Crossing Arizona” (part two in class)

f/  10 – 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 09/08/10
By Jeffrey C. Barnett