Nationalism and the Novel in Latin America

                                            Spring 2007

                                         Masaryk University

                                    Instructor: Laura Bunt, PhD

                Email: LauraBunt@yahoo.com, Office Number: 3.57, Phone: 549.491.942

                        Office Hours: 6-7 PM Wednesdays (or by appointment)

   

   

   Course DESCRIPTION

   It is often forgotten that novel is, in and of itself, a political and cultural document.  The
   literary works of Latin America's premier novelists articulate modern cultural identities by
   narrating the imaginary lives of iconic figures and persistent ideologies from both the
   colonial past and contemporary era.  In Latin America in particular, the rise of the modern
   novel is intrinsically tied to political debates on national identity, inspiring radical
   experiments with narrative form among modernist writers.  Far from abandoning political
   concerns, the genre of novel writing in Latin America emphasizes individual consciousness to
   explore ways in which the modern nation-state shapes the psyches of its subjects.  Thus, the
   goal of this course is to examine Latin American literature within the cultural constructions
   of:  nation, identity (i.e. ethnicity, race, gender), authority, and tradition.

   

     ·         Secondary literature covering debates on nationalism and fiction-writing will be
interwoven with two primary novels by Gabriel García Márquez: One Hundred Years of Solitude and Love
                                       in the Time of Cholera



   

                                          COURSE READINGS

   Primary Texts (Novels)

                              ·         One Hundred Years of Solitude

                               ·         Love in the Time of Cholera

   

   Selections from Secondary Sources:

     o Imagined Communities: Reflections on the Origin and Spread of Nationalism, By Benedict
       Anderson

 ·         Latin American Fiction: A Short Introduction, By Philip Swanson

 ·         Foundational Fictions: The National Romances of Latin America, By Doris Sommer

     o Myth and Archive, By Roberto González Echevarría

   

   Course Requirements

   Students must produce TWO 4-5 page essays based upon the reading and class discussions. 
   Instructor will assign essay questions in advance of due dates.  Student are also required to
   write TWO 1 page response papers.

   

   

COURSE RULES

   Students are expected to come to class having already read the readings cited on the syllabus
   for that day. ATTENDANCE IS MANDATORY, ROLE WILL BE TAKEN IN EVERY CLASS.  Students are
   allowed only TWO undocumented absences.  Any student missing more than 3 classes without a
   documented (i.e. medical or family) emergency will be dropped from the class without
   exception. (Students observing religious holidays are excused from class, but please inform
   instructor in advance).

   This course is intended as a seminar, rather than a lecture course. Students’ work consists of
   intensive reading of required texts and active participation in the class discussions.
   Students are graded on the basis of their performance in class, the quality of their oral
   presentation, and the writing of  assigned essays.



COURSE GRADING POLICY

   50% Essay Assignments

   50% Class Attendance

   

   

Course READINGS & OUtline

   All reading is available online through the university system, please come to class with a
   copy of the reading materials printed for discussion.

   

   WEEK 1           INTRODUCTION

   

   WEEK 2           Latin American Fiction pgs. 1-81

                           Unfinished Communities, pgs. 1-23

                           One Hundred Years of Solitude

   

   WEEK 3           Latin American Fiction, pgs. 82-126

   Nationalism’s Dirty Linen, pgs. 1-23

   One Hundred Years of Solitude

   

   WEEK 4           FIRST RESPONSE PAPER DUE IN CLASS

                           Foundational Fictions, pgs. 1-30

                           One Hundred Years of Solitude

                          

   WEEK 5           Foundations Fictions, pgs. 30-51

                           One Hundred Years of Solitude

   

   WEEK 6           NO CLASS

    FIRST ESSAY QUESTION ON IS

                          

   

   WEEK 7           NO CLASS 

        READING WEEK

   

   WEEK 8           NO CLASS

   EASTER MONDAY

   

                         

   WEEK 9           FIRST ESSAY DUE IN CLASS

                           Foundational Fictions, pgs. 83-113

                           One Hundred Years of Solitude             

   

   WEEK 10         Foundational Fictions, pgs. 172-203

                           Love in the Time of Cholera

             

   WEEK 11         Myth and Archive, pgs. 1-42

   Love in the Time of Cholera

   

   WEEK 12         SECOND RESPONSE PAPER DUE IN CLASS

   Myth and Archive, pgs. 43-92

   Love in the Time of Cholera

                         

   

   WEEK 13         Myth and Archive, pgs. 93-141

   Love in the Time of Cholera

                         

   

   WEEK 14         SECOND ESSAY QUESTION HANDED OUT

   Myth and Archive, pgs. 142-186

   Love in the Time of Cholera

   

   



                             SECOND ESSAY DUE AT END OF EXAMINE PERIOD