SPAN 472 The Contemporary Spanish American Novel

SPAN 472 is dedicated to examining the genre of the Latin American novel and the social context in which such works have been produced in the 20th and 21st centuries. Students will practice close, critical reading of the assigned texts, analyze and discuss them in class, and complete written reflections based on what they have read and learned throughout the course. Particular attention will be paid to the history and cultural background that informs Latin American authors' perspectives, including issues such as race, colonialism, war, and politics. The course will contrast novels with shorter novellas and whenever relevant, other forms of media such as graphic novels will be examined. Students will hone their skills of identifying theses, interpreting historical and social themes, synthesizing arguments, and comparing the assigned readings to their own cultural experiences in class discussions and written essays; in the process they will refine their written and spoken proficiency in Spanish.