Ethnic and Minority Cultures in North America
Subject code: AN33005BA 14, AN3308OMA 04
Introduction to Mexican Civilization II (Modern Art and Literature)
Agustín Cadena
agustincadena@yahoo.com
Tel. 204090081
Format: Seminar, 2 hours; graded.
Place: Room: 55
Time: Thursday 16:00 - 17:50 hrs.
Office Hours: Wednesday 16:00 - 18:00 hrs.
Description of seminar:
This seminar is directed preferably to those students who already took
Introduction to Mexican Civilization I, and therefore have a basic knowledge of
Mexican history and cultural diversity. In this second part, our aim is to introduce
students to present day Mexican culture, focusing mostly on artistic expressions:
literature, painting, photography, architecture, cinema, music, indigenous and
alternative art.
Course requirements:
The reading assignments are kept as reasonable as possible. Students will be
expected to attend class faithfully, to keep up with the readings, and to come to
class prepared with questions and comments for discussion. The classes will be
conducted in an atmosphere in which the instructor and the students take time to
discuss readings and share their insights.
In the first meetings, the instructor will give introductory lectures on
several topics, out of which the students will choose one for a one ten-minute
oral presentation, plus a different one for a research essay. Both topics will be
related to what was seen in class, and they have to be approved by the teacher
before the student starts working on them.
Class Attendance and Participation
Students may not miss more than three classes under any circumstances.
Tardiness, early departures, and/or disruption of the class will not be accepted. If
you have a compelling reason for arriving late or leaving early, make sure you
speak with me about the problem. If you regularly cut the beginning and/or end of
the class sessions, it can add up to full-class time absences.
Oral Presentation.
The topics will be assigned by the instructor in the first or second class. They are
expected to cover historical, anthropological, economic, social, and cultural
aspects.
Information can be taken from Internet sources. All presentations must
include graphic material (image files, Power Point documents, Youtube clips,
etc.) shown on the classroom screen.
Research Paper.
The topic will be chosen by the student, from the list given in class; it should be
different from that of the oral presentation, and the instructor has to approve it
before starting any work on it. The paper must be typed, double-spaced, in a 12
points ordinary font. 10,000 characters long, minimum.
Written Exam
It will include some short questions, plus two essay questions for students to
write a 200-250 word essay on a given topic.
Grading
Attendance and participation: 20%
Presentation: 20%
Research Paper: 40%.
Final test: 20%
Week-by-Week Description of Course
Class 1. February 18: Introductory lecture and assignation of topics.
Class 2. February 25: Aztec art. Mayan art. Huichol art. Mexican textile art.
Class 3. March 3. Muralist Movement: Diego Rivera, José Cemente Orozco,
David Alfaro Siqueiros.
Class 4. March 10: Non-muralist art: Rufino Tamayo. Manuel Rodriguez Lozano.
Class 5. March 17: Mexican women artists Frida Kahlo, María Izquierdo,
Leonora Carrington. Contemporary Art: Gunther Gerzso, Francisco Toledo.
Class 6. March 24: Mexican Pre-Hispanic Music, Mexican Classic Music:
Manuel M. Ponce, Silvestre Revueltas, Pablo Moncayo. Architecture of Mexico:
Pre-Hispanic, Colonial, 19th to 20th century, Juan O’Gorman, Luis Barragán.
Class 7. April 7: Film.
Class 8. April 14: Introduction to Mexican Literature, from Pre-Hispanic times to
the 20th Century. Laura Esquivel. Like Water for Chocolate.
Class 9. April 21: Juan Rulfo. Pedro Páramo.
Class 10. April 28: Film makers. Felipe Cassals, Alejandro González Iñárritu,
Guillermo Del Toro, Alfonso Cuarón.
Class 11. May 5: Final test.