MANHATTANVILLE COLLEGE

SPANISH DEPARTMENT/LATIN AMERICAN STUDIES PROGRAM

 

PROF. GEORGE CASTELLANOS                          

 castellanosg@mville.edu                                                              

(914) 323-7147 

                                              

OFFICE HOURS:  BY APPOINTMENT: REID 405

 

 

SPN 3034/5034/LAS 3034  LATINO LITERATURE IN THE UNITED STATES

Course Description:  The course explores and analyzes the emergence of a literature expressing Latino traditions, conflicts, and transformations. This genre is defined as literature written in Spanish, English, or Spanglish, by authors of Hispanic descent who presently reside in the United States on a permanent basis, and/or which has a Hispanic focus.

Required Texts:

Eduardo R. del Rio, The Prentice Hall Anthology of Latino Literature, 2002

 

Julia Alvarez, How the García Girls Lost Their Accent

 

Sandra Cisneros, The House on Mango Street

 

Cristina García, Dreaming in Cuban

 

Oscar Hijuelos, The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love

 

Esmeralda Santiago, When I Was Puerto Rican

 

Piri Thomas, Down These Mean Streets

 

 

Course Objectives:

 

1.      To explore the contemporary experience of Latino culture-in-transformation in the United States.

 

2.   To analyze in-depth the literary works of Latino writers who reflect and define the

      Latino experience in the United States.

 

3.   To review historical and theoretical aspects in order to understand Latino literature.

 

Course Requirements:

1.   Students are to read assigned texts and present an oral analysis in each class.

 

2.      At the end of the semester students will make an oral presentation on a literary work by a Latino writer and then submit an in-depth written paper on the work chosen.

 

3.   There will be a final exam.

 

 

Weekly Course Topics:

WEEK:

 

1.      Introduction: Latino Literature

 

2.      Julia Alvarez, How the García Girls Lost Their Accent.  Autobiography.

 

3.      Sandra Cisneros, The House on Mango Street.  Autobiography and Identity.

 

4.      Oscar Hijuelos, The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love.  Impact and influence of Latin rhythms/Nostalgia.

 

5.      Cristina García, Dreaming in Cuban.  Identity and Self-esteem.

 

6.      Esmeralda Santiago, When I Was Puerto Rican. Social Determinism.

 

7.      Piri Thomas, Down These Mean Streets.  “Puertorriqueños” in New York, Discrimination.

 

8 – 14. Oral presentations and class discussion.  Submission of final paper and exam.

 

 

Recommended Bibliography:

 

Augenbraum, Harold, and Margarite Fernández-Olmos, Eds. 1997. The Latino Reader: An American Literary Tradition from 1542 to the Present.  New York: Houghton Mifflin.

 

Broadsides: Literature of the United States Hispanos. Tempe, Arizona: Bilingual Review Press, 1990.

 

Bruce-Novoa, Juan.  Retrospace: Collected Essays on Chicano Literature. Houston: Arte Público Press, 1990.

 

Flores, Juan.  Divided Borders: Essays on Puerto Rican Identity. Houston: Arte Público Press, 1993.

 

 

Vigil-Piñon, Evangelina, ed. Woman of Her Word: Hispanic Women Write.  Houston: Arte Público Press, 1983.

 

Zimmerman, Mark. “U.S. Latino Literature: History and Development.” Literature and Its Writers.  Ed. Anna and Samuel Charters.  Massachusetts, 1997.

 

 

 

 

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