30081 - Spanish-American Literature 1 (LM)

Learning outcomes

Students possess in-depth knowledge of the history and development of Latin American literatures in Spanish, with particular attention to the relationship between literary texts and the historical, artistic and linguistic context. Students are also able to apply practical methodologies to the analysis and interpretation of a literary text.

Course contents

Latin American Cultural Studies and Decoloniality: Diversity and Inclusion in Latin America.

The course aims to address the study of the thought of the major scholars of decolonial theory (Aníbal Quijano, Walter Mignolo, Edgardo Lander, Enrique Dussel, Ramón Grosfoguel, Santiago Castro-Gómez) developed in the border area between sociology and Latin American Cultural Studies at the end of XXth century. After an introduction, which will focus on the main conceptual nodes of post-colonial studies and Latin American cultural studies, the course will focus on decolonial theory by examining questions such as, for example, the coloniality of knowledge and power and the necessity ( both for the South of the world and for the North) to consider the alternative epistemologies that emerge in culturally marginalized contexts, as fundamental places of reflection for the exit from the current ecological crisis and the construction of more just and inclusive societies

Readings/Bibliography

Castro Gómez, Santiago, & Ramón Grosfoguel. El Giro Decolonial: Reflexiones Para Una Diversidad Epistémica Más Allá Del Capitalismo Global. Siglo del Hombre Editores, 2007.

Lander, Edgardo. La Colonialidad Del Saber: Eurocentrismo Y Ciencias Sociales: Perspectivas Latinoamericanas. Clacso, 1993.

Mignolo, Walter. “Posoccidentalismo: las epistemologías fronterizas y el dilema de los estudios (latinoamericanos) de área.” Revista Iberoamericana, vol. 176-77, 1996,

Quijano, Aníbal. “Colonialidad Del Poder, Eurocentrismo Y América Latina.” La Colonialidad Del Saber: Eurocentrismo Y Ciencias Sociales. Perspectivas Latinoamericanas, edited by Edgardo Lander, Clacso, 2000.

Rivera Cusicanqui, Silvia. Sociología De La Imagen: Miradas Ch’ixi Desde La Historia Andina. Tinta limón, 2015.

Santamaría, Ramiro Ávila. La Utopía Del Oprimido: Los Derechos De La Naturaleza Y El Buen Vivir En El Pensamiento Critico, El Derecho Y La Literatura. Ediciones AKAL, 2019.

Intelectuales Indígenas Piensan América Latina. Edited by Claudia Zapata Silva, Editorial Abya Yala, 2007.

Bibliografia aggiuntiva per non frequentanti:

Diccionario De Estudios Culturales Latinoamericanos. Siglo Veintiuno Editores, 2009 (selezione di lemmi)

La bibliografia è da ritenersi provvisoria. Anche in considerazione dell'emergenza sanitaria la reperibilità dei testi potrebbe non essere assicurata. Il materiale, nei limiti del possibile, sarà reperibile anche su virtuale.unibo.it. Ulteriori indicazioni saranno fornite all’inizio del corso

Teaching methods

Due to the restrictions imposed by the current health emergency, more detailed information on teaching methods will be provided in due course.

Assessment methods

The exam will be divided into two parts: (a) preparation of a critical essay (essay) of ca. 15 records and (b) oral interview.
(a) Regarding the term paper (which must be delivered to the teacher at least one week before the date on which they intend to take the exam) it will be an analysis of a topic or a text addressed during the course. (Non-attending students are strongly encouraged to contact the teacher for useful information on this aspect).

An essay coherently developed, well written, not without a certain interpretive perspicacity will lead to an evaluation of excellence; the lack of one or more qualities mentioned, will lead to evaluations that will result in discrete or sufficient evaluations; an incoherent essay, insufficiently developed, scarcely or at all relevant to the subjects touched in the course, or manifestly the result of copying and pasting, will not allow to be admitted to the oral exam.

(b) The oral examination will consist of an interview which will cover the topics of the course. As for the first year, the interview will have the purpose of evaluating the critical and methodological skills acquired by the student who will have to demonstrate an appropriate knowledge of the contents of the texts examined and of the proposed bibliography. The student's achievement of an organic vision of the topics dealt with in a joint lesson with their critical use, the demonstration of an expressive mastery and specific language will be evaluated with marks of excellence.
The mostly mnemonic knowledge of the subject, in-depth synthesis and analysis skills and a correct but not always appropriate language will lead to discrete evaluations.
Approximate knowledge, superficial understanding, poor analytical skills and not always appropriate expression will lead to evaluations between sufficiency and little more.
Training gaps, inappropriate language, lack of orientation within the contents and bibliographic materials proposed in the program can only be evaluated negatively.

Teaching tools

Mainly, the video projection of images, texts and slides will be used. For a better organization of the materials and contents, the online platform of the course will be used, the materials made available are an INTEGRAL and NECESSARY (but not sufficient) part of the exam program.

Office hours

See the website of Edoardo Balletta