Introduction to Latino Cultural Studies
WCL 3351 Section 35961/WCL 6398.1 Section 37816
Agnes Arnold 203
Tuesdays – Thursdays 2:30 – 4:00
Professor Marie-Theresa Hernández
437 Agnes Arnold, 713 743 3074
mthdz@uh.edu (email preferred)
office hours: Tues. 1:00 – 2:00, 4:30-5:30
and by appointment
This a course about the many aspects of U.S. Latino culture. Using fiction and film, and
journalism, the class will explore the different representations of Latinos from different
countries, how the history of their home country has molded narratives, and how the
present socio-political situation and shifting transnational boundaries are affecting the
lives of U.S. Latinos.
U.S. Latino populations of Mexican, Puerto Rican, South American, and Central
American origin will be discussed.
Readings
Arreola, Daniel. Hispanic Spaces, Latino Places Community and Cultural Diversity in
Contemporary America. University of Texas Press. 2004.
Bartra, Eli and John Mraz. “Las dos fridas: History and Transcultural Identity.” ReThinking History. Vol. 9, No. 4. December 2005. pages 449-457.
“Bedtime for Gonzo,” Washington Post. July 27, 2007.
Bost, Suzanne. “Women and Chile at the Alamo: Feeding U.S. Colonial Mythology.”
Nepantla: Views from the South. Vol. 4, No. 3. 2003, pages 493-522.
Brown, Matthew. “Women and Masculinity in the Colombian Wars of Independence.”
Feminist Review. Vol. 79. 2005. Pages 36-51.
Gaouette, Nicole and Johanna Neuman. “The Nation; Still no give on immigration issue;
Bill offering citizenship for the young can't muster enough votes.” Los Angeles Times.
October 25, 2007.
Garcia, Gervasio Luis. “I am the Other: Puerto Rico in the Eyes of North Americans,
1898.” Journal of American History. Vol. 87, No. 1, pages 39-64.
Perez, Daniel. “Mi Familia Rara: Why isn’t Paco Married?” Latin American Cultural
Studies. Vol. 25. Pages 141-156
“Piñata Gonzales,” Wall Street Journal, July 26, 2007.
Reynolds, Steven. "Mr. Attorney General, do you expect us to believe that?" Specter
asked incredulously. The Spin Zone. July 25, 2007.
Rutten, Tim. “CNN: Corrupt News Network,” Los Angeles Times. December 1, 2007.
Rutten, Tim. “Regarding Media, Barnum and Bailey and CNN.” Los Angeles Times.
November 17, 2007.
Valis, Noel. “Torment in El Salvardor.” Massachusetts Review. Vol. 48, No. 1. Spring
2007. Pages 117Widdicombe, Lizzie “Having one for Che.” The New Yorker. October 22, 2007.
Films and Television Programs:
“Alberto Gonzales, Lying Liar Edition,” TPM video of C-Span. Added July 25, 2007.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=ArwXQFMF9qI
“Alberto Gonzales, No Constitutional Right of Habeas Corpus,” You Tube video of CSpan. Added January 20, 2007.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIFqYVAOosM&feature=related
“Amnesty Tour ‘8” You Tube, CNN, December 10, 2007. Lou Dobbs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4btbtPEhs8
“Illegal Immigration,” You Tube. CNN, (Dream Act) Lou Dobbs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj6yHBIvPCI
“Mi Familia,” Directed by Gregory Nava. 1995.
“The Motorcycle Diaries.” Directed by Walter Salles. 2004.
Stop Your Racism to Hispanics,” You Tube. 9500 Liberty Project. October 12, 2007.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_Dw1ioGPGY
“Violent Illegal Alien Gangs,” You Tube, CNN, March 5, 2007 Lou Dobbs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZDdJtmVdvo
“Remember the Alamo” Produced and Directed by Jose Tovares. PBS. 2004.
“Santitos,” Directed by Alejandro Springall. 1999.
Assignments
3 four page essays
2 class presentations
final paper (12 pages)
Essays will be structured on a set of questions regarding the readings. Each essay has to
be on a new topic. Final paper cannot be related to the essays. No late papers accepted
without doctors excuse.
One class presentation of 15 minutes during the semester will be required, in addition to a
presentation at the end of the semester regarding the topic of your final paper.
Grading
3 four page essays
15% each
2 class presentations 10% each
final paper – 10 pages
class participation and attendence
45
20
25
10
100%
More than 2 absences will automatically make your grade a C. Any more absences need
a doctor’s excuse.
All papers will be scanned by “turn it in” – rules against plagiarism are detailed in the
UH student handbook and handout provided.
Course objectives:
1. To have substantial knowledge of cultural, economic, and political issues in U.S.
Latino society.
2. To demonstrate this knowledge in written and oral form.
3. To understand the implications of larger American society on Latino
Life in the United States.
Class Schedule
1-15-08:
The Alamo (film)
1-17-08
Alcala, “From Chingada to Chingona”
1-22-08
Paz, “The Sons of Malinche,” Bartra and Mraz, “Las dos fridas…”
1-24-08
Brown, “adventures…in the Colombian Wars”
1-29-08
Santitos
1-31-08
Santitos con’t
2-5-08
Arreola Hispanic Spaces. Introduction. 1st essay due.
2-7-08
Bost, “Women and Chile at the Alamo...”
2-12-08
2-14-08
Mi Familia (film), Perez, “Mi Familia Rara..”
Mi Familia con’t
2-19-08
Yoder and LaPerriere de Gutierrez, “Social Geography of Laredo. Texas in
Hispanic Spaces
2-21-08
Godfrey, “Barrio under Siege...San Francisco,” in Hispanic Spaces.
2-26-08
Valis, “Torment in El Salvador,” Widdicombe, “Having one for Che.”
2-28-08
Garcia, “I am Other…”
3-4-08
Herzog, “Globalization of the Barrio…San Diego,” Hispanic Spaces. 2nd
essay due.
3-6-08
Curtis, “Barrio Space…Los Angeles.” Hispanic Spaces.
3-11-08
Miyares, “Changing…New York City.” Hispanic Spaces.
3-13-08
Price and Whitworth, “Soccer,” Hispanic Spaces.
3-18-08, 3-25-08 Spring Break
4-1-08
Godfrey, “Barrio under Siege…San Francisco” in Hispanic Spaces. 3rd essay
due.
4-3-08
Reynolds, “Mr. Attorney General,” “Piñata Gonzales,” Wall Street Journal.
“Bedtime for Gonzo,” Washington Post.
Gonzales videos: “Alberto Gonzales, No Contitutional Right…,” “Alberto
Gonzales Lying.”
4-10-08
Gaouette and Neuman, “The Nation..,” Rutten, “Regarding Media,” and
“CNN…”
Lou Dobbs videos: “Amnesty,” “Illegal Immigration,” “Violent Illegal…”
4-15-08
9500 Liberty Project: “Stop Your Racism..,” “Bill Offering
Citizenship..,” Los Angeles Times.
.
4-17-08
Benedict and Kent, “The Cultural Landscape of a Puerto Rican
Neighborhood..,” in Hispanic Spaces.
4-22-08
Price and Whitworth.Soccer and Latino Cultural Space..,” in
Hispanic Spaces.
4 -24-08
Presentations of final project
4-29-08
Presentations of final project
5-1-08
No Class
5-6-08
Turn in Final Paper