ENG 236-004 Ethnic American Literature
Latina/o Literature: Communities



Fall, 1995
MWF 10:10 - 11:00
McKee 253
Professor Marcus Embry

In this course, we will examine various textual and filmic representations of Latina/o communities in the US. We will begin with texts that helped establish the Chicano movement in the US, and then we will address texts that interrogate Latina/o communities and identities, expanding the category of Latina/o beyond the boundaries formed by Chicanismo. We will explore issues of race, class, immigration, and language differences both between Latina/o and Anglo communities, and also within Latina/o communities. Our focus will be hilos, threads, that link these various representations of community, identity, race, and difference, while still allowing for the diversity of peoples and places that are included in the term, Latina/o.

Note: at the beginning of each Wednesday class meeting, each student must hand in a two- page essay that discusses the assigned reading.

I. Classic Chicano: The Construction of Voice. History of the Chicano movement, and the world historical setting of 1967 and 1968. How do these texts establish a narrative of the history of the Southwest and the people who live there? What are the representations of society and community in these texts?

Week 1: Introduction. Lecture on Chicanismo
Rivera, Tomas. Y no se lo trago la tierra (And the Earth did not Devour Him)

Week 2: Rivera

Week 3: Lecture on styles of Writing, Chicanos and the US armed forces.
Hinojosa, Rolando. Dear Rafe

Week 4: Lecture on Teatro Campesino
Valdez, Luis. Zoot Suit and Other Plays

Films: Zoot Suit, The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez


II. Other Voices. Although some of these texts address the same geographical regions and the people who live there, they are substantially different in emphasis and representation from the previous group of texts. What are these differences? Are themes of immigration, exploitation, and racism central in these texts? What are the differences and similarities between and within these Latina/o communities?

Week 5: Lecture on Chicana/o
AnzaldŁa, Gloria. Borderlands/La Frontera

Week 6: Anzaldua
Mid-term Exam

Week 7: Islas, Arturo. The Rain God

Week 8: Fort‚-Escamilla, Kleya. Storyteller with Nike Airs

Week 9: Cisneros, Sandra. House on Mango Street
Proposals for research paper due.

Films: Border Brujo, episodes of House of Buggin'


III. Latinidad. How do we compare these communities with those we have examined previously? What is this term, "Latina/o"? What is the difference between race and ethnicity? How do issues of difference and class relate to issues of language and race? To what extent do these authors appeal to a sense of national identity that is not available to Chicanos?

Week 10: Alargin, Miguel and Bob Holman (eds.) Aloud: Voices from the Nuyorican Poets Cafe

Week 11: Rodriguez, Abraham. The Boy Without a Flag

Week 12: Garcia, Cristina. Dreaming in Cuban

Week 13: Garcia
Research papers due, 10-12 pages.

Week 14: Wrap up

Films: Fresh, Carmelita Tropicana

Assignments: Weekly essay on readings and/or film, mid-term exam, research paper.
Grading: weekly essays (20%), exam (30%), paper (40%), class participation (10%)

All readings will be in English. Some of the films will be subtitled.