Introduction to european and latin american fiction

Lectures: 2 sessions / week, 1.5 hour / session

This subject serves as a broad introduction to the field of European and Latin American fiction. It is taught in an historical manner—beginning with the first picaresque novel, Lazarillo de Tormes, and ending with contemporary European fiction. It is designed to help students acquire a general understanding of major fictional modes-from 18th century epistolary fiction, Liaisons dangereuses, to 20th century avant-garde fiction: Cosmicomicsi and Aura. Attention is paid not only to the literary movements these works represent, but also to the subtle interplay of history, geography, language and cultural norms that gave rise to specific literary forms. While the reading load is heavy, the books are compelling.

This course is designed for a variety of students. Some will be taking a literature course for the first time, others may have taken literature but may not have had experience with the kinds of approaches to texts that characterize this subject.

This subject is a "communication intensive" class. That means that in our work together, students will have the opportunity to refine their written and oral communication skills. Each student will write three 7-8 page papers in the course of the term. Students will submit drafts which will be corrected and discussed individually before the final paper is due. The assignments will be varied and designed to strengthen writing skills. Feedback on every draft will be given within the week in which papers are submitted so that students can use corrections in producing the final essays. Students will also participate in teaching groups which will afford the opportunity for oral presentations. These presentations will be critiqued by peers and by the instructor. Students will also submit journal entries on each reading. These journals are due in class the day of class discussion on that work. While they are not graded, failure to submit the journals on the appointed day will lower the grade.

The final grade in the course will be based on the following activities:

Film: Cruel Intentions. Directed by Roger Kumble.

Cruel Intentions and Les Liaisons Dangereuses

Teaching Group on Cruel Intentions

Film: Les Liaisons Dangereuses. Directed by Josée Dayan.

Notes From the Underground

Teaching Group on Notes From the Underground

Response due

Final version of first paper due 1 day after Ses #9

Therese Raquin

Teaching Group on Therese Raquin

Film: Doña Flor and her Two Husbands. Directed by Bruno Barreto.

Metamorphosis

Teaching Group on Metamorphosis

The Back Room

Teaching Group on The Back Room

Film: Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown. Directed by Pedro Almodóvar.

Kiss of the Spider Woman

Teaching Group on Kiss of the Spider Woman

Film: The Cat Woman. Directed by Alfred Shaughnessy.

The Cat Woman and Kiss of the Spider Woman

Teaching Group on the film and the roles of films in Kiss of the Spider Woman

Film: Kiss of the Spider Woman. Directed by Hector Babenco.

Accident: A Day's News

Teaching Group on Accident: A Day's News

Cosmicomics

Teaching Group on Cosmicomics

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