Synopsis:
In this course, we will examine a variety of texts from the Americas, the United States and Latin America. (Canadian literature will not be included because it is not one of my fields of study.) In our approach we will concentrate on the issue of America, a term used to designate the US within the United States and used to designate the hemisphere in other nations in the Americas. By combining literatures of the Americas, we will explore the similarities and differences in literature and literary culture from distinct nations that nevertheless share a history of European colonization, struggles for independence, slavery, industrialization, and questions of indigenous peoples. This semester, we will focus on two overall themes, revolution and music.

Weekly Syllabus: (note reading assignments are to be completed by the first day of class assigned for which the specific text is assigned. If it becomes evident that reading assignments are not being completed on time, then we will have quizzes)

Books are available at The Book Stop, 931 16th Street.

Revolution: In the three following books, we will see three depictions of revolution in the Americas. None of these revolutions are for independence from European colonial power; rather, they are revolutions against the self-governments that replaced colonial rule. We will begin with Didion's well-known fantasy regarding a revolution in Central America, and we will concentrate on what this novel reveals about a US attitude toward "Latin American" revolution. Then we will move on to two depictions of the Mexican Civil War (sometimes referred to as the Mexican Revolution). What are the similarities and differences between these three books? Students are strongly encouraged to visit the library and read historical information about revolutions in Latin America in general and Mexico in particular.

Aug. 28 Intro

Sep. 2 Joan Didion. A Book of Common Prayer
Sep. 4 A Book of Common Prayer

Sep. 9 Carlos Fuentes. Death of Artemio Cruz
Sep. 11 Death of Artemio Cruz

Sep. 16 Death of Artemio Cruz
Sep. 18 Death of Artemio Cruz

Sep. 23 Ángeles Mastretta. Tear This Heart Out
Sep. 25 Tear This Heart Out

Sep. 30 Tear This Heart Out
Oct. 2 Mid-term exam

Music: Next, we will address the issue of music in the Americas. As you should be aware, music is yet another form of revolution, albeit more cultural and marginally less violent than governmental upheavals. In the following texts, we will consider first what it means to have a music that is specifically from the Americas, and to what extent this forms a revolutionary context for music. Then, we will consider music as a narrative vehicle to describe revolution or drastic cultural and/or political change. Finally, we will examine the issue of syncretism, the blending of historically distinct cultural forms or symbolic orders, and to what extent syncretism functions as an explantion of music and/or revolution in the Americas.

Oct. 7 W.E.B. DuBois. Souls of Black Folk
Oct. 9 Souls of Black Folk

Oct. 14 Souls of Black Folk
Oct. 16 Souls of Black Folk

Oct. 21 Willa Cather. The Song of the Lark
Oct. 23 The Song of the Lark

Oct. 28 Alejo Carpentier. The Lost Steps
Oct. 30 The Lost Steps

Nov. 4 The Lost Steps
Nov. 6 Oscar Hijuelos. Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love

Nov. 11 Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love
Nov. 13 Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love

Nov. 18 NO CLASS
Nov. 20 Sherman Alexie. Reservation Blues
Term Papers Due (no exceptions)

Nov. 25 Reservation Blues
Nov. 27 Thanksgiving

Dec. 2 Reservation Blues
Dec. 4 Conclusion

Final Exam
Assignments:
Term Paper will be 12 page research paper concentrating on one of the assigned class texts. Papers will cite at least five sources in addition to the primary text. Encyclopedias and dictionaries, whether bound, on-line, or on CD (while helpful and viable sources of information) will not count toward the five source citation requirement. Additionally, all sources of information will be cited using MLA format and MLA format only. Plagiarism will result in a failing grade for the assignment.

Grading:
Mid-term exam: 25%
(Quizzes, if necessary, will each be worth 5% deducted from the 25% mid-term exam percentage if they occur before the mid-term, or 5% deducted from the 35% final exam percentage otherwise.)
Final Exam: 35%
Term Paper: 30 %
Participation: 10%

Participation grades will be determined as follows:
Active participation and unfailing attendance: 10%
Frequent participation and constant attendance: 9%
Occasional participation and good attendance: 8%
Pleasant demeanor and quiet, persistent presence:7%
Scowling demeanor and spotty attendance: 6%
Talking to neighbors, reading newspaper: 5%
Belching in class, producing odors: 4%
Sickness in class, bleeding on floor: 3%
Dragging intestines, bones poking through skin: 2%
Death in class: 1%
Face and name utter mystery to Professor: 0%