ENGLISH 379L (0101)
US LATINO/LATINA FILM
WINTER 2008
M-F 1PM-4PM, ASY 3211
Professor Randy Ontiveros
randyo@umd.edu
301-405-3833
4135 Susquehanna Hall
Office Hours: By Appt.
CLASS O VERVIEW
This class will study the emerging tradition of US Latino/Latina film, which can be defined
roughly as films by, for, and/or about US Latinos. We will start in 1933 with Dolores Del Rio’s
Flying Down to Rio and end with the 2007 documentary The Short Life of José Antonio
Gutierrez. Along the way we will also screen Salt of the Earth, West Side Story, The Ballad of
Gregorio Cortez, La Bamba, Quinceañera, and quite a few others. Published essays and reviews
will help us accomplish the three major goals of the class: (1) to become acquainted with some of
the major themes, characters, and techniques in US Latino/a film; (2) to understand the history of
Latino/Latina inclusion and exclusion in the film industry; (3) to learn how US Latino/Latina film
intersects with US and Latin American history. Films are in English or in Spanish with English
subtitles.
Requirements include: four 3-4 page response papers; an oral final exam; regular attendance;
class participation.
MATERIALS
FILMS
 The films we will be screening for this class are shown on the schedule below.
They are available for viewing outside of class at Hornbake Library, except on the
day they are being shown in class and the day after.
RESERVES
 Additional course material will be placed on reserve in Blackboard under the
menu “Course Reserves”. Be sure to download and print a copy of all readings so
you can participate in class and prepare for the final exam.
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
REGISTRATION
Students should consult the UM Schedule of Classes for information about registration
policies, including drop deadlines.
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
Students in need of accommodations related to disabilities (e.g. physical, learning,
psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.) should make arrangements with the Disability Support
Services office in 0126 Shoemaker Hall. It is important that you notify me of these
accommodations early in the semester so I can help you meet your goals for this class.
T RANSFER S TUDENTS
Transferring from a community college or other 4-year college can be a difficult
experience. If you are a new or recent transfer student to the University of Maryland, I
urge you to meet with me at the beginning of the class so we can discuss resources that
are available at UM for your success.
ATTENDANCE
You are expected to come to keep up with the material, to attend every class meeting, and
to participate in class discussion. To this end, I will have a sign-in sheet each day. Your
grade drops 1/3rd for every unexcused absence after 1 (e.g. a B+ becomes a B, etc.). Bear
in mind that it is YOUR responsibility to ensure that you our signed in on the day class
meets. Absences will be excused only in the case of official university activities, a
religious observance (see below), or a documented personal emergency.
C LASSROOM E TIQUETTE
Out of respect for everyone in the class, students should arrive on time, wait until the end
of the class period to pack up belongings, listen attentively during lectures, screenings,
and discussions, and turn off all electronic devices. (Laptops can be used for note-taking
purposes only.)
RELIGIOUS O BSERVANCE
University policy states that “students shall be given an opportunity, whenever feasible,
to make up within a reasonable time any academic assignment that is missed due to
individual participation in religious observances.” Students who anticipate being absent
from class for religious reasons are required to inform me of their intentions no later than
January 4th.
ACADEMIC D ISHONESTY
UM Student Policy outlines four different types of academic dishonesty: cheating,
fabricating information, facilitating the academic dishonesty of other students, or
plagiarism. Any student found in violation of this policy faces the possibility of
disciplinary action, including a failing grade on the assignment, a grade of “XF” on their
permanent transcript, or, in the case of repeated violations, dismissal from the university.
Consult the academic handbook or www.studenthonorcouncil.umd.edu/students.html for
more specific information regarding the definition of academic dishonesty, possible
consequences, and your rights as a student.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Most plagiarism cases involve students who lack a good
understanding of when and how to cite outside sources. Do not hesitate to visit me during
office hours if you have any questions about these kinds of issues.
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COMMUNICATION
GETTING IN T OUCH WITH M E
There are three ways to contact me: in person, by telephone, or through e-mail. My office
hours, office location, and telephone number are provided on the first page of this
syllabus. I prefer to communicate in person, but students who wish to communicate with
me via email can do so at randyo@umd.edu. I check my messages only once a day,
which means that you are unlikely to get an immediate reply; I try to respond within 2448 hours. NOTE ABOUT EMAIL: E-mail should be used judiciously and should relate
only to academic issues. If you are unsure about email etiquette, there is a short and sweet
primer at the following website: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/636/01/
BLACKBOARD
We will be using Blackboard for reserve readings and for grades. You should login
throughout the term to download and print readings and to review your grades.
G UIDELINES FOR W RITTEN W ORK
All written assignments must be submitted in hard copy and with the following format:
1” margins on all sides, double-spaced, 12 point Times New Roman font, black ink,
stapled, with page numbering and no cover sheet. Late work will not be accepted.
Students are strongly encouraged to do frequent backups and to keep all graded materials
until the end of the term.
Written work will be graded on the basis of argumentation, organization, and language.
To do well, it is crucial that students revise and proofread their work before handing it in.
(Any essay with two or more errors on a page will be returned for proofreading and will
be docked by 1/3rd a letter grade.) No matter what your writing ability, whether you
struggle with writing or find that it comes naturally, you should consider taking
advantage of the services provided by the UM Writing Center (0125 Taliaferro Hall).
You might also consider taking a look at some of the print and internet resources listed
below:
 The Norton Field Guide to Writing (A good all-in-one reference for academic
writing)
 The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White (A classic on how to
fashion clear and concise prose)
 http://www.english.umd.edu/programs/WritingCenterWebsite/ (Home page
of the UMCP Writing Center)
 http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~wricntr/resources.html (Practical writing tips on
specific topics from Harvard’s Writing Center)
 http://grammar.qdnow.com/ (Grammar Girl: A fun and helpful blog/podcast that
answers the trickiest grammar questions)
 On Writing Well by William K. Zinsser (A fun guide to polishing your style and
writing with passion)
 They Say, I Say by Gerald Graff and Cathy Berkenstein (A useful book on how to
write persuasively)
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G RADING
ASSIGNMENTS
 Class goals (25 points): After the first day of class, students will submit on
Blackboard a brief (250 words or less) statement of their goal(s) in this class and
how they plan to accomplish it (or them).
 Short Essays (250 points each/750 points total): Students will write three
argumentative essays (4-5 pages each) in response to prompts that I will provide.
Students will be graded on their ability to make a clear and original argument and
to support their claims with evidence from class material.
 Oral Final Exam (225 points): The oral final exams for this class will take place
on January 22nd. Students will sign-up for a 15 minute meeting with me (in my
office between during class time) and will be examined on material from the
films, readings, and class discussions.
ATTENDANCE
Your grade drops 1/3rd for every unexcused absence after 2 (e.g. a B+ becomes a B,
etc.). Remember that it is YOUR responsibility to ensure that you our signed in on the
day class meets.
GRADING SCALE
The following scale will be used to calculate grades:
A: 96-100%
A-: 90-95%
B+: 87-89%
B: 83-86%
B-: 80-82%
C+: 77-79%
C: 73-76%
C-: 70-72%
D+: 67-69%
D: 63-66%
D-: 60-62%
F: 59% and below
COURSE S CHEDULE
*Supplementary critical readings are available on our Blackboard “Course Reserves”
**Readings are ASSIGNED for the day listed and should be read for the following class
meeting. The exception is January 18th.
***I reserve the right to make minor changes to the schedule as necessary.
Jan 2
Course Introduction
Screen: Flying Down to Rio (1933; 89 min.)
Read: “Flying down to Rio: Hollywood, Tourists, and Yankee Clippers”
Jan 3
Discuss: Flying Down to Rio
Screen: Salt of the Earth (1954; 93 min.)
Read: “Aztlán Film Institute´s Top 100 Films”
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Jan 4
Discuss: Salt of the Earth
Screen: West Side Story (1961; 150 min.)
Read: “West Side Story: a Puerto Rican Reading of America”
Jan 7
Discuss: West Side Story
Screen: Walkout (2006; 111 min.)
Read: “Legacy of the Chicano Movement”
RESPONSE PAPER #1 DUE
Jan 8
Discuss: Walkout
Screen: Ballad of Gregorio Cortez (1982; 106 min.)
Read: “With His Pistol in His Hand”
Jan 9
Discuss: Ballad
Screen: Born in East L.A. (1987; 84 min.)
Read: “Born in East L.A. and the Politics of Representation”
Jan 10
Discuss: Born in East L.A.
Screen: La Bamba (1987; 109 min.)
Read: “Chicano Cinema and the Horizon of Expectation”
Jan 11
Discuss: La Bamba
Screen: Mi Vida Loca (1994; 96 min.)
Jan 14
Discuss: Mi Vida Loca
Screen: My Family (1995; 127 min.)
RESPONSE PAPER #2 DUE
Jan 15
Discuss: My Family
Screen: Lone Star (1996; 135 min.)
Jan 16
Discuss: Lone Star
Screen: Selena (1997; 128 min.)
Read: “Selena Aside” and “Jennifer’s Butt”
Jan 17
Discuss: Selena
Screen: Quinceañera (2006; 90 min.)
Read: La Quinceañera: Making Gender and Ethnic Identities
Jan 18
The Short Life of José Antonio Gutierrez (2007; 89 min.)
Read: Text of S. 2205 (“DREAM Act”) & “The Dilemma of Double
Deportation”
RESPONSE PAPER #3 DUE
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Jan 21
MLK Holiday
Jan 23
Oral Final Exams
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