Critical Race & Ethnic Studies: US Latino Writers

Study of texts written by Latinos since the 1960s. Topics: construction of ethnic identities, representation of race/gender relations; writers and their communities. Prerequisite: Three hours in English numbered 1010 to 1990; minimum Sophomore standing. Cross-listed with: ENGL 2216.

PACE students with permission and override Minimum sophomore standing Crosslisted with ENGL 2216 A Total combined enrollment = 25

This course focuses on understanding and analyzing U.S. Latino literary and cultural production. An interdisciplinary approach to the analysis of these works leads to 1) an understanding of the development and characteristics of the U.S. Latino literary tradition, mainly using, but not exclusively, the narrative genre (short stories and novels). By additionally analyzing selected U.S. Latino films as visual and cultural narratives, students will gain a broader understanding of the development of the U.S. Latino literary tradition and culture. 2)Moreover, through the theoretical lens of Latina/o Critical Race Theory (LatCrit), a branch of Critical Race Theory that allows the examination of how multiple forms of oppression intersect with people, and how those intersections are manifested in the literary characters and the lives of the authors themselves. LatCrit permits the examination of experiences unique to the U.S. Latino experience; for example, the legacies of the Mexican-American War and colonization of the American Southwest, the spoils of the Spanish-American War (including Puerto Rico and Cuba), and U.S. foreign policy. Policies in Latin America (El Salvador, Guatemala, Dominican Republic, etc.) are critical in understanding the presence of U.S. Latinos, their claim to this country, and their struggle for acceptance as first-class citizens. By closely examining the intersectionality of “race,” ethnicity, gender, class, histories, language, and sexuality, amongst others, we will explore how Latino artists, and the characters in their works, construct their identities as U.S. Latinos by establishing alliances along racial, ethnic, gender, and sexual lines. The politics of language (Spanish, Spanglish, English), the challenge to traditional representations of American history and culture, and the construction of alternative spaces as ways of cultural and political resistance are some aspects this course will explore.

CLASS PARTICIPATION AND ATTENDANCE: Class attendance is required. As a rule, if you are absent more than twice during the semester, your final grade will be lowered: the more absences, the lower the grade. Each LATE arrival will count as 1/2 absence. All reading and writing assignments are REQUIRED and are due on the date indicated on the syllabus. Class participation is essential to a successful learning experience; hence, it is required of you as part of this learning community. Your grade in class participation will be based on the following criteria: To earn the maximum points in this category, you need to demonstrate through your ACTIVE involvement in class discussions that you have read and thought about the readings before coming to class. For example, suppose you never volunteer to participate in class discussions and do so only when asked by the professor. In that case, the maximum grade you may earn in this category is five-six points (primarily for attendance). Per university policy, faculty members are required to ask a minimum of two hours of outside work per course unit. Since this is a three-unit course, you are expected to spend six hours outside of the classroom preparing for this class. RELIGIOUS AND/OR VARSITY-RELATED ABSENCES: If you know you will be absent due to religious obligations or your participation in varsity teams, please send an email to your professor indicating the dates of your absence and the reason for it. You must notify your professor within the first two weeks of the semester for these absences to be excused. POP QUIZZES: There will be eleven pop quizzes during the semester. The pop quizzes will be based on the reading for the day. The lowest pop quiz grade will be dropped. Pop quizzes are not made up unless they are due to COVID-19. COMPOSITIONS: You will be required to write two analytical essays of six pages minimum, double-spaced, and font size 12. The composition is to be computer printed. Your essays will consist of a close reading of one of the literary works. Your analysis must include a discussion of key elements of the U.S. Latino literary tradition evident in the work you chose. EXAMS There will be two exams during the semester. Each exam will consist of historical, cultural, and theoretical questions, primarily based on the documentaries and short lectures. The second part of the exam will be close readings/analysis of passages of the works we have read in which you describe the significance of that passage in relation to artistic formation of the U.S. Latino literary tradition, identification of specific characteristics associated with the U.S. Latino literary tradition, and/or the analysis of the passage in relation to historical or societal issue discussed in class and based on reading of historical or cultural readings, the mini lectures, or the viewing of the historical documentaries. The first exam covers the first part of the semester, and the second exam covers the remaining part of the semester. Further detailed instructions will be provided to you one week before the scheduled exam date. WRITTEN ASSIGMENTS: You will be asked to write six written assignments during the semester. Each write-up is worth 3 points. A minimum of 2 pages, double-spaced, and 12-point font is required. These assignments must be computer-printed and submitted at the beginning of class on the due date. These assignments are mostly on films and documentaries related to the class. Of the six, three are historical documentaries, and the remaining three are films based on literary works. For the historical documentaries, I will provide you with a list of events, people, dates, policies, and other relevant information that I expect you to identify while viewing the documentary. This list will help guide our discussion of the documentary during class. The writing assignment from the historical documentaries may answer the following questions: 2)How is the history of the documentaries connected to some of the societal issues, problems, structures that have characterized the experience of U.S. Latinos reflected in the literary works and/or in society in general; that is, in the racialization and marginalization of U.S. Latinos.

CLASS PARTICIPATION AND ATTENDANCE: Class attendance is required. As a rule, if you are absent more than twice during the semester, your final grade will be lowered: the more absences, the lower the grade. Each LATE arrival will count as 1/2 absence. All reading and writing assignments are REQUIRED and are due on the date indicated on the syllabus. Class participation is essential to a successful learning experience; hence, it is required of you as part of this learning community. Your grade in class participation will be based on the following criteria: To earn the maximum points in this category, you need to demonstrate through your ACTIVE involvement in class discussions that you have read and thought about the readings before coming to class. For example, suppose you never volunteer to participate in class discussions and do so only when asked by the professor. In that case, the maximum grade you may earn in this category is five-six points (primarily for attendance). Per university policy, faculty members are required to ask a minimum of two hours of outside work per course unit. Since this is a three-unit course, you are expected to spend six hours outside of the classroom preparing for this class. RELIGIOUS AND/OR VARSITY-RELATED ABSENCES: If you know you will be absent due to religious obligations or your participation in varsity teams, please send an email to your professor indicating the dates of your absence and the reason for it. You must notify your professor within the first two weeks of the semester for these absences to be excused. POP QUIZZES: There will be eleven pop quizzes during the semester. The pop quizzes will be based on the reading for the day. The lowest pop quiz grade will be dropped. Pop quizzes are not made up unless they are due to COVID-19. COMPOSITIONS: You will be required to write two analytical essays of six pages minimum, double-spaced, and font size 12. The composition is to be computer printed. Your essays will consist of a close reading of one of the literary works. Your analysis must include a discussion of key elements of the U.S. Latino literary tradition evident in the work you chose. EXAMS There will be two exams during the semester. Each exam will consist of historical, cultural, and theoretical questions, primarily based on the documentaries and short lectures. The second part of the exam will be close readings/analysis of passages of the works we have read in which you describe the significance of that passage in relation to artistic formation of the U.S. Latino literary tradition, identification of specific characteristics associated with the U.S. Latino literary tradition, and/or the analysis of the passage in relation to historical or societal issue discussed in class and based on reading of historical or cultural readings, the mini lectures, or the viewing of the historical documentaries. The first exam covers the first part of the semester, and the second exam covers the remaining part of the semester. Further detailed instructions will be provided to you one week before the scheduled exam date. WRITTEN ASSIGMENTS: You will be asked to write six written assignments during the semester. Each write-up is worth 3 points. A minimum of 2 pages, double-spaced, and 12-point font is required. These assignments must be computer-printed and submitted at the beginning of class on the due date. These assignments are mostly on films and documentaries related to the class. Of the six, three are historical documentaries, and the remaining three are films based on literary works. For the historical documentaries, I will provide you with a list of events, people, dates, policies, and other relevant information that I expect you to identify while viewing the documentary. This list will help guide our discussion of the documentary during class. The writing assignment from the historical documentaries may answer the following questions: 2)How is the history of the documentaries connected to some of the societal issues, problems, structures that have characterized the experience of U.S. Latinos reflected in the literary works and/or in society in general; that is, in the racialization and marginalization of U.S. Latinos.