Spanish Literature - Winter 1999

The course, taught in Spanish, will explore the relationships between literature and mass culture, modernization and globalization through the study of the so called Boom of Latin American narrative. Thus it will look at processes of consumption and canonization of literature. It will consist of close readings of now classical texts within Latin American fiction and it will also attempt to provide a historically grounded view of the Boom of Latin American literature by linking historical events and discourses such as the Cuban revolution, modernization and dependency theory with the development of mass oriented media, and in particular with mass printing. The technologization of literary means of production will be looked at as a result of such processes.

To read a number of classical literary works of the modern Latin American narrative tradition; to further develop student's abilities for close readings of literary texts in Spanish; to provide students with a solid historical understanding of the literature of the Boom as part of the modernization process in Latin America.

Note: Students with disabilities who may need accommodations please see me as soon as possible during office hours or make an appointment.

Revised 7/27/04.