Introduction to Latin American & Caribbean Studies 101  Prof. Barnett, Tucker Hall 202 MW 10-11 others by appointment barnettj@wlu.edu  Description:  A multi-disciplinary, introductory course designed to familiarize students with the pertinent issues that determine or affect the concept of identity in Latin American and Caribbean societies through a study of their geography, history, politics, economics, literature, and culture. The purpose of the course is to provide a framework or overview to enhance understanding in the students' future courses in particular disciplines and specific areas of Latin American and Caribbean study.  The course material is intended as a basis of understanding that will enable students to acquire more specific methodology and disciplinary-related skills in subsequent courses at the upper levels and to continue to make interdisciplinary connections as they approach the capstone experience.  Approach / Organization:  This courses approaches the study of Latin America and the Caribbean through two diverse means: disciplinary breadth and geographic breadth.   As for disciplinary breadth, we will examine the diverse ways that the relevant disciplines approach the study of Latin America and the Caribbean.  Classes will entail discussions and lectures that reflect issues across the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities, in such areas as history, literature and culture, biology, social organization, and political economy.  In the first part of the course the readings and class organization build on the region’s historical context and its legacies.  In the second part we apply these concepts to specific socio-cultural issues.  In the final weeks of the semester we will examine how our disciplinary study is reflected and interwoven in one particular case study.   In terms of geographic breadth, the course aims to familiarize students with the principal geo-cultural regions: the Hispanophone sub-cultures of the Southern Cone, Mesoamerica, Andean Region, and the Antilles; the Lusophone culture of Brazil; the Francophone and Anglophone areas of the Caribbean; and the profound linkages between these regions, the United States, and the rest of the world.  To that end, each student will offer a brief oral report on one country or sub-area of the region.   Finally, a written research project will serve to allow the student to explore his/her own interests and at the same time to bring together both our disciplinary and geographic approaches.  Required Texts:  Americas: An Anthology, Rosenberg, Mark B., A. Douglas Kincaid (NY: 1992) Don’t Be Afraid Gringo: A Honduran Woman Speaks From The Heart: The Story of Elvia Alvarado. Benjamin, Medea. (Harper Perennial; 1989) Latin America: Cultures In Conflict, Williamson, Robert C. (Palgrave Macmillan, 2006)    Texts on Reserve:  Americas Video Series (WGBH-Boston).  On reserve in Leyburn and digitized in TMC Latin America: The World Today Series.  Buckman, Robert T. (Baltimore, 2006) The Buried Mirror.  [Text and Videos] Fuentes, Carlos.  (Boston, 1992) Understanding Contemporary Latin America.  . Hillman, Richard S., ed. (Boulder, 2005) Americas: New Interpretative Essays.  Stepan, Alfred, ed. (Oxford, 1992) Americas: The Changing Face of Latin America and the Caribbean. Winn, Peter.  (UC Press, 2006)    Resources: More will be added as the course progresses: Research W&L Leyburn Library: Latin American and Caribbean Studies Page LANIC  (Latin American Network Information Center UT Austin) Handbook of Latin American Studies (HLAS) Latin American Studies Network CIA World Fact Book Latin American and Caribbean Selected Economic and Social Data Latin American Historical Text Archive Maps Maps of the Americas -- courtesy of the C.I.A. Mapa de Sudamérica (Político) South American Interactive Map of Leyburn Holdings (by subject) Interactive Map of South America (with capitals) Interactive Map of Central America (with capitals) Map: South America Map: Central America News W&L Leyburn Library: "News Sources Latin America and the Caribbean" Hispanic News: Newspapers from Spain and Latin America (Prof. Barnett's 295 Collection) Latin American News and Newsgroups (by country)  Latino Community Border and Latin American Information Chicano-LatinoNet (CLnet) Chicanos and Latinos in Film and Television: A Bibliography of Materials (UC-Berkeley) Making Face, Making Soul: A Chicana Feminist Homepage Latin America and Caribbean Center Information (gopher) LatinoLink English and Spanish LatinoWeb Saludos Web: Hispanic mailing lists, newsgroups, web and gopher sites, and Puerto Rican web sites Tesoros del Web Regional / Country CubaWeb: The National Website of the Republic of Cuba English and Spanish Hemispheric Summit of the Americas Arts and Sciences Latino and Latin American Art and Culture Maya Adventure from the Science Museum of Minnesota   Grading Policy: Exam 1………………………………..15% Exam 2………………………………..30% Research Paper………………………..30% Final Essay: Case Study…………….…10% Class Performance…………………….15%   1) Exam 1 A non-cumulative, short test on material covered to date. Brief responses, identifications, short essays.  Tests for details, memorization and recall, familiarity with material.  Exam 1 will be taken in TMC outside of class. 2) Exam 2 Brief responses, identifications, short essays in addition to various long essays which require detailed knowledge of reading materials and lectures.  In addition to details, tests for analysis and synthesis of concepts, ability to make inter-connections with material, formulate theses and argue perspectives.  Exam 2 will be taken in TMC in lieu of class on the assigned date. 3) Research Paper: Topics: Papers may cover any aspect of LA/C but require prior approval from the Professor, no later than the end of Unit Two (see below) Format: Papers should be ~3,000 words (i.e., approximately 9-10 pages at 12pt TNR font) typed, double-spaced, one copy submitted to the class L:drive and one paper copy.  Use MLA Style sheet for questions of mechanics.  Be careful with proper citation and plagiarism. All submitted written work is considered to be your own unless, otherwise indicated, and should be pledged.  Papers will be judged on merit of content and writing quality. Deadlines: Topic approval, January 28th   Submitted no later than March 13th .  Papers turned on or before February 27th  will receive a 1/3 letter grade bonus. 4) Final Essay: Case Study Topic: A critical reaction to the material covered in our final case study.  Format: Papers should be ~1,500 words (i.e., approximately 4-5 pages at 12pt TNR font) typed, double-spaced, one copy submitted to the class L:drive and one paper copy.  Use MLA Style sheet for questions of mechanics.  Be careful with proper citation and plagiarism. All submitted written work is considered to be your own unless, otherwise indicated, and should be pledged.  Papers will be judged on your insight to the text; how well you can make connections among concepts; demonstrate an overall understanding of the complexities; Deadlines: Submitted at or before class on Monday of Week 12 (March 31).  No late papers accepted.  You must turn in your paper in order to be able to attend Tuesday’s discussion 5) Class Performance (Participation, Oral report…). A good to superior grade in class performance requires that you be in engaged in the material, lead and participate actively in discussions.  You are expected to attend every class unless ill or on a school-sponsored event. An excessive number of absences may result in a grade of F at the Instructor’s discretion. Oral Report: (part of Class performance grade) A very brief, 5-10 minute in-class, oral report on an assigned single country / area.  The purpose is to ‘introduce’ the country to your peers by signaling out the most pertinent descriptors and germane issues associated with the country today.  If you have a particular country that interests you, see me at the beginning of the term. Limit your report to 5-8 minutes (with 2 minutes for questions).  After 10 minutes, unfortunately, I'll have to stop you and the questions and move on.  Your responsibility as one who reports is to introduce’ the country to your peers by signaling out the most pertinent descriptors and germane issues associated with the country today.  (What would I want to know if I were about to go to this country: undergoing economic crisis, about to go through elections, etc.  What are the perennial issues that define it?  What defines this country sense of self? etc.)  Envision the report as a "debriefing"  of sorts.  Don't overstate the obvious, and don't dwell too long on just a few issues.  Finally, provide your classmates with a ONE page handout (nor more) in which you list the most salient facts that you are going to mention, are need to be remembered.  A bulleted list will be fine (include date of independence, capital, and Chief Executive).  It might help you to keep these, or others, in mind: Word association, Geography (People and Place), Who’s Who, What’s What  (Stereotypes, generalizations, misconceptions), and  the issues…. (historically, modern, today -- if the lead story on World News tonight dealt with this country, what would the story be?)  The handouts need to studied along with other class materials for exams (so ask questions if the person reporting isn't clear or leaves something out).   The Buckman book on reserve will provide you with almost most of the information you need, but you can use any reputable source.   Jan. 7     9 Argentina and Uruguay Barnett  21 Paraguay Colleen 21 Chile Jacob 23 Brazil Ellie 23 Bolivia Jenny 28 Peru Barnett 30 Ecuador Mary Febr. 4 Venezuela Christine 6 Colombia Ellie 6 Panama Collin 11 Guyanas Cathy 25 Lesser Antilles Jenny 27 Domincan Republic Sandile  Mar. 3 Haiti Sandile 5 Cuba Mitchell 10 Jamaica Collin 12 Trinidad Cathy 17 Costa Rica Christine 19 Honduras and Nicaragua Mary 24 El Salvador Jacob 26 Guatemala and Belize Coleen 31 Mexico Mitchell Apr. 2                             LACS 101, Winter, 2008 Prof. Barnett    M/7 – Intro to Course  Unit One: Peoples and Places W/9 – Heterogeneity / Homogeneity: The Region at a Glance Rosenberg, Chap. 1  – “Introduction” Williamson, Chap. 1 – “Latin America: Change and Diversity”   M/14 -- Physical and human geography Williamson, Chap. 2 – “Barriers and Challenges”   Unit Two: Historical Identity and Its Context W/16 -- Conquest, Colony, and Nationhood: The Backdrop of Change Williamson, Chap. 3 – “An Unfolding Heritage”   M/21 –  Emerging Identities / Imperial Hangovers Rosenberg, Chap. 2  – “Legacies of Empire”   W/23— The 20th Century as Crossroads Rosenberg, Chap. 3 and Americas Film – “Garden of Forking Paths: Dilemmas of National Development”    Unit Three: Tradition and Change M/28 – Elitiism and Egalitarianism Rosenberg, Chap. 4 and Americas Film – “Capital Sins: Authoritarianism and Democratization” *Paper topic due   W/30 – Power and Politics (Guest lecture: Prof. Dickovick) -- Start time of class = 8:00am Williamson, Chap. 4. – “Society, Economy, and Government”   M/4 – Demographics: Migration and Urbanization Rosenberg, Chap. 5 and Americas Film – “Continent on the Move: Migration and Urbanization”   W/6 – Ethnic Identities Rosenberg, Chap. 6 and Americas Film – “Mirrors of the Heart: Color, Class, and Identity”   M/11 -- *Exam 1 to be taken in TMC between M/11 and T/12 W/13 – Gender and Women’s Roles (Guest lecture: Prof. Mayock) Rosenberg, Chap. 7 and Americas Film – “In Women’s Hands: The Changing Roles of Women” Break M/25 – Reform, Revolution, and Evolution (Guest lecture: Prof. Carey) Rosenberg, Chap. 11 and Americas Film – “Fire in the Mind: Revolutions and Revolutionaries”   W/27 – * Window open  for early submission of Papers (bonus) W//27 – Political Legacies: Sovereignty and Nationhood (Guest lecture: Prof. Eastwood) Rosenberg, Chap. 10 and Americas Film – “Get Up, Stand Up: The Problem of Sovereignty”   Unit Four: Socializing Institutions  M/3 – Family Williamson, Chap. 7 – “Marriage and Family”   W/5 – Religion Rosenberg, Chap. 8 and Americas Film – “Miracles Are Not Enough: Continuity and Change in Religion”   M/10 – Education Williamson, Chap. 9 – “Education: A Continuing Challenge”   W/12 – View film outside of class (different films will be assigned per student interest) (R/13  – * Final deadline for Papers) M/17 – * Exam 2 to be taken in TMC between M/17 and T/18   Unit Five: Cultural Manifestations of Self-Identity  W/19 – Latin American Eyes: European Voices Williamson, Chap. 5 “Identity, Modernity, and the Arts”   M/24 – Caliban and Ariel Rosenberg, Chap. 9 and Americas Film – “Builders of Images: Writers, Artists, and Popular Culture”   Unit Six: New Frontiers   W/26 – Pt. I – “Security Relations” Pt. II -- The Forces of Change / Changes as Force Williamson, Chap. 11 “Social Structure and Change: Latin America and the World”   M/31 – Moving Borders: The Latino and Afro-Antillean Diaspora Rosenberg, Chap. 12 and Americas Film – “The Americans: Latin American and Caribbean Peoples in the United States”   Unit Seven: A Case Study   W/2 –  Discussion of Case Study: Essay due at class time Don’t Be Afraid Gringo: A Honduran Woman Speaks From The Heart