ANTH 4020/5020-001, Maymester 2009
Anthropology Department
M-F 12:15 – 3:30 pm, Hellems 241
Office Hours: M-W 11 - 12noon
Professor L.K. Roland (rolandl@colorado.edu)
Office: 444 Hale Hall, (303) 492-8022
This course seeks to ground students’ understanding of contemporary Cuba within the global context.
How do those outside the island imagine Cuba and why? What are the realities? In a world of U.S. dominated globalization, we maintain a forceful economic blockade on the island: What does the U.S. mean in the Cuban imaginary, both in the past and in the present? To attend to global processes as they affect local (Cuban) experience, we will draw on texts from anthropology, history, policy, Cuban and
Cuban-American literature, film, and music. In the process, students will learn how longstanding patterns regarding race, color, class, and gender relations have evolved in(to) the socialist, and now the
“post-socialist,” context.
Class Format :
The instructor will summarize and raise theoretical questions from the readings for class discussion.
After a short break, a film may also be viewed to further foster thinking on a topic. Students are expected to read and develop their own interpretations of the texts under review in order to contribute to discussion through comments about the readings and to participate actively in class discussions.
Students may also contribute by posting a blog with comments, news stories, or other relevant items of interest at http://lkrcuba.wordpress.com/ . As an upper level seminar, the course is designed to be highly interactive and requires a high level of student participation. To that end, there are term papers assigned at the end of each week (see description of “Term Papers” below). Students are graded based on the depth of their analyses and the strength of their oral and written arguments. The objective is to see that learning (rather than replication) is taking place.
Course Requirements :
Participation 15%
Term Paper #1 20%
Term Paper #2 30%
Term Paper #3 35%
Final Grade Scale for ANTH 4020/5020-001
A 93-100
A- 90-92.9
B+ 87-89.9
B 83-86.9
B- 80-82.9
C+ 77-79.9
C
C-
D+
D
73-76.9
70-72.9
67-69.9
63-66.9
D- 60-62.9
F <60
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Grades are non-disputable. Prior to the Memorial Day holiday students may conference with the instructor to know her/his overall status and to determine how to improve the final grade. Students may also track their grades through the course’s CULearn site.
Class Participation grade is based on attendance and contribution (15 pts total)
Attendance (5 pts) – Given the condensed nature of this Maymester course, students are expected to be present at every class.
Contribution (10 pts) – Each student is expected to make at least one thoughtful contribution to class discussion. The instructor makes note of contributions – and negative participation (i.e., inattentiveness, sleeping) – after each class and considers them in the final grade tally. Beyond the classroom, each student is required to post (at least) one reading discussion question to the course blog
( http://lkrcuba.wordpress.com/ ) at least once during the course; they must also comment on or respond to a discussion question at least once. Discussion questions should be posted by 11pm on the evening before the reading will be discussed. Comments/responses can be made at any time.
Term papers (85 points; #1: 20 pts; #2: 30 pts; #3: 35 pts) - It is important that you read the assigned material critically, as well as for specific content (see handout “A Personal Note to Undergraduates”).
In order to assist with this, you are asked to do formal critical analyses of the course texts. These papers are to critically evaluate the readings/films for the week in question. Basically, a critical evaluation of the material should consist of a brief summary of the authors’ main theses, a paragraph or two placing the readings within the larger context of the literature we are covering in this course, and a critical evaluation of the arguments the authors make. You should evaluate the material in terms of the authors’ ability to present well-supported, sound arguments; you may ground your evaluation in your own experiences. These analyses should be 5 to 7 double-spaced pages. Late papers will not be accepted.
In my evaluation of your writing for these papers I will consider: (1) clarity of the argument (is there a clear thesis or point that is being argued?), (2) whether the argument is addressed in a systematic and convincing manner (does every paragraph further your thesis?), (3) analysis and demonstrated theoretical understanding of material (does student summarize the material as well as interpret it in her/his own terms? are all of the week’s texts considered?), and (4) writing style, technical writing (does it demonstrate correct grammar, terminology, punctuation, and pagination?). The grading scale increases as students become increasingly familiar with my expectations based on prior paper grades and comments.
Readings :
Three books are available at The CU Bookstore as well as The Colorado Bookstore . Other readings are available on the course website ( http://lkrcuba.wordpress.com/course-readings/ ). I strongly recommend downloading and printing the readings at the beginning of the term. Create a computer folder with all the PDFs of the readings, or a physical coursepack of printed copies.
(1) Pérez, Louis A., Jr. 1999. On Becoming Cuban: Identity, Nationality and Culture . Chapel Hill:
University of North Carolina Press.
(2) Garcia, Cristina. 1992. Dreaming in Cuban .
New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1992.
(3) Rosendahl, Mona. 1997. Inside the Revolution: Everyday Life in Socialist Cuba . Ithaca: Cornell.
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Films:
Because Cuba remains a place that most students in the United States have never visited, it is useful to
“bring the place to life” through multiple media. To that end, the following nine films will be shown in class on the dates noted below. Students are expected to attend these class sessions with the same level of attentiveness as during any other class (see participation above). In the case of an absence on a film day, students remain responsible for viewing the films – in such cases, please check the library before asking Prof. Roland. If you must borrow Prof. Roland’s personal copy of a film, you must sign it out and return it to her the next class session in the same good condition in which it was received.
Term papers should consider the films as supplementary (that is, not central) to the week’s readings.
- Suite Habana (5/11 & 5/27)
- Roots of My Heart (5/13)
- Fidel, the Untold Story (5/15)
- Soy Cuba/I am Cuba (5/18)
- Lista de Espera (5/19)
- Café con Leche (5/20)
- Vamos al Tambor (5/21)
- Buena Vista Social Club (5/22)
- Fresa y Chocolate (5/28)
Topics and Assignment Calendar:
NOTE: The reading listed on each date is to be completed for discussion on that date .
I.
Race, Gender, and Nation Formation in Cuba
Mon. 5/11 Introduction, in-class entrance questionnaire
FILM: Suite Habana
Tues. 5/12 - Moore, Robin. 1997. Nationalizing Blackness , Ch. 1.
- Kutzinski, Vera. 1993.
Sugar’s Secrets
, pp. 54-80.
Wed., 5/13 Helg, Aline. 1995.
Our Rightful Share: The Afro-Cuban Struggle for Equality, 1886-
1912 , Ch. 6 and Ch. 7 (pp. 162-226)
II.
Background to Cuban Culture
Thur., 5/14 Pérez, Louis. 1999. On Becoming Cuban , Introduction (pp. 5-15) & Ch. 3 - Ch. 4
(pp. 165-238)
FILM : Roots of My Heart
Fri., 5/15 Finish Pérez 1999 - Ch. 5 - 7 (pp. 279-477)
FILM : Fidel, the Untold Story
DUE DATE: Term Paper #1 (Moore, Kutzinski, Helg, Pérez, films)
III.
Living with the Revolution (Cuban & Cuban American Perspectives)
Mon., 5/18 Rosendahl, Mona. 1997. Inside the Revolution , pp. 1-134.
FILM : Soy Cuba (I Am Cuba) (partial; full film available at Norlin)
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Tues., 5/19 Finish Rosendahl, pp. 135-182.
FILM : Lista de Espera
Wed., 5/20 Garcia, Cristina. 1992. Dreaming in Cuban , pp. 3-160.
FILM : Café con Leche: Voices of Exile’s Children
Thur., 5/21 - Finish Garcia, pp. 161-245
- Lisandro Pérez. Cubans and Cuban Americans: An Irreconcilable Relationship?
FILM : Buena Vista Social Club
DUE DATE: Term Paper #2 (Rosendahl, Garcia, Lisandro Pérez, films)
IV.
“Soul” of the Revolution (Blackness, Religion, & Music)
Fri., 5/22 - Hernández, Tanya Katerí. 2002. “The Racial Politics of Nostalgia” in
Cuture .
Latino/a Popular
- Jorge, Angela. 1991. “Cuban Santeria” African Creative Expressions of the Divine , pp.
105-120.
VIDEO : Santeria ( Vamos al Tambor )
Mon., 5/25 Memorial Day Holiday
V.
Race, Gender and the Special Period
Tues., 5/26 - Trumbull, Charles, 2000. “Economic Reforms and Social Contradictions in Cuba” in
Cuba in Transition , ASCE, Vol. 10, pp. 305-320.
- Roland, L. Kaifa. 2006. “Tourism and the Negrificación of Cuban Identity.”
Transforming Anthropology Vol. 14(2)
Wed., 5/27 - Fernández, Nadine. 1997. “Back to the Future? Women, Race and Tourism in Cuba” in
Sun, Sex, and Gold: Tourism and Sex Work in the Caribbean , pp. 81-89.
- Bengelsdorf, Carollee. 1997, “Re-Considering Cuban Women in a Time of Troubles” in
Daughters of Caliban: Caribbean Women in the Twentieth Century , pp. 229-255.
FILM: Suite Habana (again!)
Thur., 5/28 - Hodge, Derrick. “Colonization of the Cuban Body: the Growth of Male Sex Work in
Havana.”
NACLA: Report on the Americas 34(5):20-28.
- Kutzinski, Vera. 1993, “Sublime Masculinity” in Sugar’s Secrets, pp. 163-198.
FILM: Fresa y Chocolate (Strawberry and Chocolate)
DUE DATE: Term Paper #3 (Trumbull, Roland, Fernández, Bengelsdorf, Hodge, Kutzinski, films)
Fri., 5/29 LAST CLASS – Fiesta
Aparicio, Frances R. 1998. Listening to Salsa: Gender, Latin Popular Music and Puerto
Rican Cultures, pp. 125-153. (Pts. 1 & 2)
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Syllabus Notes
Note 1: If you qualify for accommodations because of a disability , please submit to me a letter from Disability
Services during the first two weeks of class so that your needs may be addressed. Disability Services determines accommodations based on documented disabilities. Contact: 303-492-8671, Willard 322, or http://www.Colorado.EDU/disabilityservices.
Note 2: Campus policy regarding religious observances requires that faculty make every effort to reasonably and fairly deal with all students who, because of religious obligations, have conflicts with scheduled exams, assignments or required attendance. In this class, it is required that you notify the professor of any classes, tests, or assignments that will be missed due to religious observance at least two weeks prior to the absence. The instructor and the student can then determine jointly if/when missed material can be made up. See full details at http://www.colorado.edu/policies/fac_relig.html
Note 3: The University of Colorado at Boulder policy on Discrimination and Harassment , the University of
Colorado policy on Sexual Harassment and the University of Colorado policy on Amorous Relationships apply to all students, staff and faculty. Sexual harassment is unwelcome sexual attention. It can involve intimidation, threats, coercion, or promises or create an environment that is hostile or offensive. Harassment may occur between members of the same or opposite gender. Anyone who believes s/he has been sexually harassed should contact the Office of Sexual Harassment (OSH) at 303-492-2127 or the Office of Judicial Affairs at 303-492-
5550. Further information can be obtained at: http://www.colorado.edu/sexualharassment/. Any student, staff or faculty member who believes s/he has been the subject of discrimination or harassment based upon race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status should contact the Office of
Discrimination and Harassment (ODH) at 303-492-2127 or the Office of Judicial Affairs at 303-492-5550.
Information about the ODH, the above referenced policies and the campus resources available to assist individuals regarding discrimination or harassment can be obtained at http://www.colorado.edu/odh.
Note 4: Students and faculty each have responsibility for maintaining an appropriate learning environment.
Those who fail to adhere to such behavioral standards may be subject to discipline. Professional courtesy and sensitivity are especially important with respect to individuals and topics dealing with differences of race, culture, religion, politics, sexual orientation, gender, gender variance, and nationalities. Class rosters are provided to the instructor with the student's legal name. I will gladly honor your request to address you by an alternate name or gender pronoun. Please advise me of this preference early in the semester so that I may make appropriate changes to my records. See polices at http://www.colorado.edu/policies/classbehavior.html and at http://www.colorado.edu/studentaffairs/judicialaffairs/code.html#student_code
Note 5: It is recognized that many students use laptops in class to take/review notes or to quickly search a topic under discussion. Should it be determined that in-class laptops are distracting from, rather than adding to, a productive learning environment (surfing, facebook, myspace, etc.), they will be disallowed for the abusing student(s). Depending on the classroom configuration, Prof. Roland may choose not permit laptops on the back row of the classroom. In their normal usage, an open laptop may be interpreted as a raised hand (i.e., you may be called on at any time).
Note 6: I adhere to the Honor Code of this University and others (http://www.colorado.edu/policies/honor.html).
If I find you plagiarizing or cheating, I will give you an “F” on the assignment and, depending on how egregious the violation, an “F” in the course.
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