Spanish and PortugueseSpanish 110
Elementary Spanish I
Staff
(See Timetables for time(s))
Prerequisite(s): A score below 380 on the SAT II or below 285 on the online placement examination.
Spanish 110 is a first-semester elementary language course designed for students who have not previously studied Spanish. This course emphasizes the development of foundational reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills while exploring the rich cultural mosaic of the Spanish-speaking world. Students will participate in pair, small-group and whole-class activities that focus on meaningful and accurate communication skills in the target language.
Students who have previously studied Spanish must take the online placement examination.
Students who have already fulfilled the language requirement in Spanish may not take basic level language courses (110-145) in the same language. Any questions about placement should be addressed to the directors of the Spanish language program.
Spanish 112
Elementary Spanish I and II: Accelerated
Staff
(See Timetables for time(s))
Permission needed from department
Prerequisite(s): Permit required from the course coordinator.
Spanish 112 is an intensive course designed for students who have already satisfied the language requirement in another language and have not previously studied Spanish. By combining the curriculum of Spanish 110 and 120, Spanish 112 seeks to develop students' reading, writing, listening and speaking abilities while exploring the rich cultural mosaic of the Spanish-speaking world. Students will participate in pair, small-group and whole-class activities that focus on meaningful and accurate communication skills in the target language.
Students who have already fulfilled the language requirement in Spanish may not take basic level language courses (110-145) in the same language. Any questions about placement should be addressed to the directors of the Spanish language program.
Spanish 115
Spanish for the Medical Professions, Elementary I
Staff
(See Timetables for time(s))
Prerequisite(s): A score below 380 on the SAT II or below 285 on the online placement examination.
Offered through the Penn Language Center, Spanish 115 is a first-semester elementary medical Spanish language course and the first in the Spanish for the Medical Professions sequence. It is designed for students with no prior coursework in Spanish. This course teaches beginning students the fundamentals of practical Spanish with an emphasis on medical situations and basic medical terminology. In this course, particular attention will be given to developing speaking and listening skills, as well as cultural awareness. It incorporates activities, vocabulary, and readings of particular interest to healthcare practitioners, while adhering to the goals and scope of Spanish 110, the first-semester Spanish language course. Students who have previously studied Spanish must take the online placement examination.
Students who have previously studied Spanish must take the online placement examination.
Students who have completed SPANISH 110 or any SPANISH course above that level may not take SPANISH 115. Although these courses have different numbers, they are at the same level, and therefore students will not receive credit for SPANISH 115.
Students who have already fulfilled the language requirement in Spanish may not take basic level language courses (110-145) in the same language. Any questions about placement should be addressed to the directors of the Spanish language program.
Spanish 121
Elementary Spanish I and II: Advanced Beginners
Staff
(See Timetables for time(s))
Prerequisite(s): A score of 380-440 on the SAT II or 285-383 on the online placement examination.
Spanish 121 is designed for students who have some prior experience in Spanish. This course provides a quick-paced review of material normally covered in a first-semester Spanish course and then proceeds to introduce new material so students will be prepared to take Spanish 130 during the subsequent semester. As in other Spanish courses, Spanish 121 emphasizes the development of foundational reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills while exploring the rich cultural mosaic of the Spanish-speaking world. Students will participate in pair, small-group and whole-class activities that focus on meaningful and accurate communication skills in the target language.
Students who have previously studied Spanish must take the online placement examination.
Students who have already fulfilled the language requirement in Spanish may not take basic level language courses (110-145) in the same language. Any questions about placement should be addressed to the directors of the Spanish language program.
Spanish 130
Intermediate Spanish I
Staff
(See Timetables for time(s))
Prerequisite(s): Successful completion of Spanish 112, 120, 121 or 125 or a score of 450-540 on the SAT II or 384-453 on the online placement examination.
Spanish 130 is a first-semester intermediate-level language course that emphasizes the development of the four basic skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking skills) within a culturally based context. Class time will focus on communicative activities that combine grammatical concepts, relevant vocabulary, and cultural themes. Students will participate in pair, small-group and whole-class activities to practice linguistics skills in meaningful contexts. Major course goals include: the acquisition of intermediate-level vocabulary, the controlled use of the past tense, and the development of writing skills at a paragraph level with transitions.
Students who have previously studied Spanish must take the online placement examination.
Students who have already fulfilled the language requirement in Spanish may not take basic level language courses (110-145) in the same language. Any questions about placement should be addressed to the directors of the Spanish language program.
Spanish 135
Spanish for the Medical Professions, Intermediate I
Staff
(See Timetables for time(s))
Prerequisite(s): Successful completion of Spanish 112, 120, 121 or 125 or a score of 450-540 on the SAT II or 384-453 on the online placement examination.
Offered through the Penn Language Center, Spanish 135 is a first-semester intermediate-level medical Spanish language course that emphasizes the development of the four basic skills, reading, writing, listening, and speaking, and the acquisition of medical terminology. Students will be expected to participate in classroom activities such as role-plays based on typical office and emergency procedures in order to develop meaningful and accurate communication skills in the target language. Students will also review and acquire forms and structures useful both inside and outside the medical field.
Students who have previously studied Spanish must take the online placement examination.
Students who have completed SPANISH 130 or any SPANISH course above that level may not take SPANISH 135. Although these courses have different numbers, they are at the same level, and therefore students will not receive credit for SPANISH 135.
Students who have already fulfilled the language requirement in Spanish may not take basic level language courses (110-145) in the same language. Any questions about placement should be addressed to the directors of the Spanish language program.
Spanish 140
Intermediate Spanish II
Staff
(See Timetables for time(s))
Prerequisite(s): Successful completion of Spanish 130 or 135 or a score of 550-640 on the SAT II or 454-546 on the online placement examination.
Spanish 140, the continuation of Spanish 130, is a fourth-semester language course that offers students the opportunity to acquire communicative skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking) while developing their awareness and appreciation of the Spanish-speaking world. Topics studied may include the environment, the arts, social relations, and conflict and violence.
Students who have previously studied Spanish must take the online placement examination.
Students who have already fulfilled the language requirement in Spanish may not take basic level language courses (110-145) in the same language. Any questions about placement should be addressed to the directors of the Spanish language program.
Spanish 145
Spanish for the Medical Professions, Intermediate II
Staff
(See Timetables for time(s))
Prerequisite(s): Successful completion of Spanish 130 or 135 or a score of 550-640 on the SAT II or 454-546 on the online placement examination.
Offered through the Penn Language Center as the continuation of Spanish 135, Spanish 145 is a second-semester intermediate-level medical Spanish language course. See the description of Spanish 135. This course satisfies the language requirement in Spanish.
Students who have previously studied Spanish must take the online placement examination.
Students who have completed SPANISH 140 or any SPANISH course above that level may not take SPANISH 145. Although these courses have different numbers, they are at the same level, and therefore students will not receive credit for SPANISH 145.
Students who have already fulfilled the language requirement in Spanish may not take basic level language courses (110-145) in the same language. Any questions about placement should be addressed to the directors of the Spanish language program.
Spanish 180
Spanish Conversation
Staff
(See Timetables for time(s))
La casa hispanica residents only.
Spanish 202
Advanced Spanish
Staff
(See Timetables for time(s))
Prerequisite(s): Successful completion of Spanish 140 or equivalent.
The purpose of this course is twofold: (a) to develop students' communicative abilities in Spanish, that is, speaking, listening, reading and writing, and (b) to increase their awareness and understanding of Hispanic cultures and societies. Homework and classroom activities are designed to help students build their oral proficiency, expand and perfect their knowledge of vocabulary and grammatical structures, improve their reading and writing skills, and develop their critical thinking abilities. The material for this class includes short stories, newspaper articles, poems, songs, cartoons, video clips and a novel, such as César Aira's La villa. At the completion of this course students will feel confident discussing and debating a variety of contemporary issues (cultural and religious practices, family relationships, gender stereotypes, political events, immigration to the USA, etc.).
Any questions about placement should be addressed to the directors of the Spanish language program.
Spanish 208
Business Spanish I
Prof. Lebaudy
(See Timetables for time(s))
Prerequisite(s): Successful completion of Spanish 140 or equivalent.
Spanish for Business I provides advanced-level language students with technical vocabulary and communicative skills covering business concepts as they apply to the corporate dynamics of the Spanish-speaking world, with a special emphasis on Latin America. Through readings, presentations, discussions, and video materials, we shall analyze those cultural aspects that characterize the business environment in the region as well as focus on economies and markets in light of their history, politics, resources and pressing international concerns.
Any questions about placement should be directed to the directors of the Spanish language program.
Spanish 209
Business Spanish II
Prof. Lebaudy
(See Timetables for time(s))
Prerequisite(s): Permission from the instructor.
Business Spanish II, Advanced Spanish for Business, is specifically designed for advanced speakers of Spanish (e.g., native speakers, fluent heritage speakers, students who have studied in a Spanish-speaking country for at least one semester, and those who have attained an equivalent level of linguistic competency in Spanish). Students will take an in-depth look at the corporate dynamics of a number of countries in Latin America, focusing on their economies and markets, as well as on the cultural and business protocols of each region. Through the creation of an entrepreneurial project and the writing of a business plan, students will enhance their business and language skills.
Though SPAN 209 is called Business Spanish II, SPAN208 is not a prerequisite.
Any questions about placement should be addressed to the directors of the Spanish language program.
Spanish 212
Advanced Spanish Grammar
Staff
(See Timetables for time(s))
Prerequisite(s): Spanish 202 or equivalent.
Spanish 212 is an advanced grammar course that emphasizes the acquisition of a solid knowledge of those major points of Spanish grammar. Through discussion and correction of assigned exercises, analysis of authentic readings, and contrastive study of Spanish and English syntax and lexicon, students will develop an awareness of the norms of standard Spanish with the aim of incorporating these features into their own oral and written linguistic production.
Any questions about placement should be addressed to the directors of the Spanish language program.
Spanish 215
Spanish for the Professions I
Prof. Carlo
(See Timetables for time(s))
Prerequisite(s): Spanish 202 or equivalent.
Spanish for the Professions is designed to provide advanced-level language students with a wide-ranging technical vocabulary and the enhancement of solid communicative skills within the cultural context of several developing Latin American countries. Focusing on topics such as politics, economy, society, health, environment, education, science and technology, the class will explore the realities and underlying challenges facing Latin America. Through essays, papers, articles, research, discussions, case studies, and videotapes, we shall take an in-depth look at the dynamics of Latin American societies. The course will focus on--but not be restricted to-- Mexico, Cuba and Argentina.
Any questions about placement should be addressed to the directors of the Spanish language program.
Spanish 219
The Contexts of Hispanic Civilization
Staff
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Prerequisite: Spanish 212 or equivalent.
The primary aim of this course is to develop students' knowledge of the geographical, historical and cultural contexts in those regions where Spanish is used. At the same time that they are introduced to research techniques and materials available in Spanish, students strengthen their language skills through readings, class discussions, and frequent writing assignments. This course is designed to give students a broad understanding of Hispanic culture that will prepare them for upper-level course work and study abroad.
Spanish 222-401
Geography and Memory in Contemporary Caribbean Literature and Culture
Prof. Marcano-Ogando
(See Timetables for time(s))
Prerequisite: Spanish 212 or equivalent.
This course examines a variety of literary and cultural texts from the three Spanish- speaking islands of the Caribbean: Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. Emphasis will be placed on the relevance of geographical representation and memory. Aída Cartagena Portalatín, Rita Indiana, José Luis González, Rosario Ferré, Guillermo Cabrera Infante, and Reina María Rodríguez are among several writers to be considered. Students will gain an appreciation and understanding of the complexities of the Hispanic Caribbean. Also, they will acquire analytic tools for the comprehension and analysis of several types of texts. The course is also designed to develop writing skills.
Spanish 250-601
Major Works Spanish and Latin American Literature
Prof. Regueiro
(See Course Timetables for time(s))
From the rise of the novel with Cervantes' Don Quixote in early-modern Spain to the Latin American "boom" with García Márquez' One Hundred Years of Solitude, this course will examine these and other major works in Hispanic literature within the cultural, political, and social context of each period.
Span 287-601
Cine 287-601
Borders and Urban Dystopias in Contemporary Mexican Cinema 1990-2010
Prof. Solomon
(See Course Timetables for time(s))
This course compares recent trends in Mexican cinema that focus on rise of unwieldy and oppressive urban environments or “megacities” with the prolific and long standing genre of border cinema. We examine the way cinema has attempted to cultivate fantasies of harmonious and affluent places with utopian resonance that lie just beyond but within the possible reach of the spectator. We explore how recent Mexican cinema attempts to combat, alter, or eliminate these cinematically constructed fantasies. Required Screenings include: Cronos (Guillermo del Toro 1993), Battle in Heaven (Carlos Reygadas 2005), The Other Side (Gustavo Loza 2004), The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada (Tommy Lee Jones 2005), Duck Season (Fernando Eimbcke 2004), Without Name (Cary Fukunaga 2009), Sleep Dealer (Alex Rivera, 2008), and Children of Men (Alfonso Cuarón 2006). This course is taught in English and all films will be subtitled.
Important: The course is open to students with no prior language skills* as a Cinema Studies course: CINE 287 601. All class lectures, discussions, and required work, readings, and screenings will be in English or presented with English subtitles and translations. Students who desire Spanish credit for the course may register for SPAN 287. These students will complete all their written assignments in Spanish and prepare a final oral exam in Spanish in addition to participating in the regular lectures and class discussion
Spanish 317-301
Spanish Phonetics, Phonology and Morphology
Prof. Esposito
(See Timetables for time(s))
Prerequisite: Spanish 219.
This course is an introduction to Hispanic linguistics, with emphasis on the sound system and the flexional and derivational morphology of Spanish. Topics to be covered include articulatory phonetics, use of the phonetic alphabet, English and Spanish contrastive phonology, regional and social variations of Spanish, structure of the Spanish verb, word formation and inflection. Readings are in both Spanish and English. Evaluation is based on homework assignments, frequent quizzes, exams, and a final take-home project.
Spanish 380-301
Experimental Communities: the Spanish Transition(s) to Democracy
Prof. Moreno-Caballud
(See Timetables for time(s))
Prerequisite: Spanish 219.
The period of the transition to democracy (1973-1986) determined the main characteristics of Spanish society today. It was not only a change in political institutions, but also a transformation in many aspects of social life. After almost 40 years of a national-catholic dictatorship, the Spanish people could finally access information and pursue lifestyles that had been prohibited and/or discouraged by the Franco regime. It was a moment for experimentation in which Spain saw the emergence of multiple political parties, regionalist and nationalist groups, women’s liberation movements, gay and trans-sexual collectives, underground and youth cultures, and avant-garde arts. In this course we will study how these experimental movements contributed to transform the political and social structures inherited from the long dictatorship, thus shaping the new Spanish democracy. We will approach the culture of the period in an interdisciplinary way, and we will use materials ranging from newsreels, photographs, documentaries, and journals to essays, theatre, fictional texts, and films. Some of the authors studied will be Cecilia Bartolomé, Fernando Fernán Gómez, Imanol Uribe, Basilio Martín Patino, Joaquim Jordà, Ventura Pons, Ivan Zulueta, José Luis Garci, Manu Leguineche, Rafael Chirbes, Rosa Montero, Albert Boadella, and Manuel Vázquez Montalbán.
Spanish 384-301
Hispanic Detective Novel
Prof. García-Serrano
(See Timetables for time(s))
Prerequisite: Spanish 219.
This course aims to examine a selection of detective novels written by well-known contemporary Hispanic authors. First, we will assess existing theoretical approaches to this literary genre so that students are familiarized with its evolution, techniques, conventions, themes, etc. Secondly, we will explore the relation between the detective novel and the political and social changes in Latin America and Spain during the last decades. Therefore, the course has a twofold purpose: to pay attention to the formal aspects of these intricate literary constructions as well as the political and social context in which they were produced. To ascertain the popularity of the detective fiction all over the Hispanic world works from different countries and authors will be included. We will read texts by Gabriel García-Márquez ( Colombia), Rodrigo Rey Rosa ( Guatemala), Roberto Bolaño ( Chile), Santiago Roncagliolo ( Peru), Eduardo Sacheri ( Argentina), and Javier Azpeitia ( Spain).
Spanish 386-301
The Portrayal of Youth in Spanish Literature and Film.
Prof. Fernández
(See Timetables for time(s))
Prerequisite: Spanish 219.
This course examines how different Spanish authors and filmmakers portray children and young adults in their narratives. We study works by Ana María Matute, Miguel Delibes, Elvira Lindo, Luis Buñuel, Carlos Saura, and Victor Erice among others. Our analysis focuses on both the way children and young adults are presented in relation to their social and family environment, and the different dramatic and literary strategies used by these authors and filmmakers in the construction of their characters.
Course Materials/Textbooks for this course will be available at the Penn Book CENTER (130 S. 34th Street; (215) 222-7600).
Spanish 386-401
Representations of the Rural in Spanish Contemporary Film and Literature
Prof. Moreno-Caballud
(See Timetables for time(s))
Prerequisite: Spanish 219.
As a society that went through an accelerated industrialization and a massive migration from country to city, Spain has a complicated relation with its rural world. Some Spanish writers and filmmakers have often created representations of the rural as a backward, inhospitable, and even monstrous milieu. Other artists have produced nostalgic narratives of a quiet, simple, and authentic rural life. This course will examine these and other qualities typically associated with the rural, focusing on recurrent themes and figures such as the community of ancestral traditions, the oppressed peasant, the abandoned village, the idyllic garden, the displaced rural migrant, and the legendary rural past. We will pay special attention to the formal strategies that artists use when dealing with these stereotypes, and also to the political and ethical implications they have had at different moments in contemporary Spanish history, from the civil war and the Franco dictatorship to capitalist modernization and democracy. We will study films by Luis Buñuel, Pedro Almodóvar, José Antonio Nieves-Conde, Luis García-Berlanga, Carlos Saura, Pilar Miró, Mario Camús, and Montxo Armendáriz, as well as literary works by Camilo José Cela, Juan Marsé, Miguel Delibes, Ramiro Pinilla, Luis Mateo Díez, Bernardo Atxaga, and Julio Llamazares.
Course Materials/Textbooks for this course will be available at the Penn Book CENTER (130 S. 34th Street; (215) 222-7600).
Spanish 390-401
Contemporary Argentine Literature
Prof. Salessi
(See Timetables for time(s))
Prerequisite: Spanish 219.
Through the study of a corpus of texts published in the last two decades, the course will explore forms of representation of the new cultural actors at the forefront of the Argentine and Latin American literary landscapes. While focusing on the social and political aftermath to two decades of neoliberalism and deindustrialization, we will explore the formation and growth of new urban and suburban territories, country clubs or shanty towns, aping or resisting the values of the city and the market. Authors include Ricardo Piglia, Cesar Aira, Cristian Alarcon, Raul Zibechi, and others.
Course Materials/Textbooks for this course will be available at the Penn Book CENTER (130 S. 34th Street; (215) 222-7600).
Spanish 390-402
Before Borges: Fantastic and Science Fiction Narrative in 19th century Latin American Literature
Prof. Escalante
(See Timetables for time(s))
Prerequisite: Spanish 219.
This course will explore the development of a Latin American fantastic literary tradition prior to Jorge Luis Borges. We will analyze the main characteristics and elements of a discourse to be considered "fantastic" and will review some theoretical approaches to the fantastic as a genre. We will also explore how this genre relates to mythical and historical sources during the Romantic period and to scientific, philosophical and political discourse in the Modernismo period. Among the authors to be considered are Ricardo Palma, Eduardo Wilde, Rubén Darío, Leopoldo Lugones, and Manuel Gutiérrez Nájera.
Spanish 390-404
Literature, Law, and Crime in Contemporary Mexican and Cuban Narrative
Prof. Montoya
(See Timetables for time(s))
Prerequisite: Spanish 219.
This course will study the detective novel in two of the most important Latin American literary traditions: Cuba and Mexico. We will analyze the different roles that this genre played in relation to the official cultural agendas of the Nation-State, both in socialist Cuba and in PRI and post-PRI Mexico. Course readings will consist of a selection of short stories and novels; possible authors may include Jorge Ibargüengoitia, Paco Ignacio Taíbo II, Leonardo Padura Fuentes, etc.
Spanish 394-401
Roberto Bolaño: The New Roads of Latin American Literature
Prof. Montoya
(See Timetables for time(s))
Prerequisite: Spanish 219.
The literary work of Chilean author Roberto Bolaño (1953-2003) has become one of the most significant referents in contemporary Latin American literature. In this course, we will explore the reasons for this success, such as its relation to the avant-garde artistic traditions, its distance from the idea of literature as national representation, and its use of popular culture. We will read interviews, short stories, essays, poems, two short novels, and selections from his major novels Los detectives salvajes and 2666.
Spanish 395-401
Hispanic Theater
Prof. Regueiro
(See Timetables for time(s))
Prerequisite: Spanish 219.
A comparative study of Golden Age classical drama and contemporary Latin American theater within the cultural context of each period. In this course, we will read plays by Lope de Vega, Tirso de Molina, Ruiz de Alarcón, Calderón, Rodolfo Usigli, José Triana, Osvaldo Dragún, Griselda Gambaro, Egon Wolff, René Marqués, and others.
Spanish 396-401
Science in Modern Spanish American Literature
Prof. Carlo
(See Timetables for time(s))
Prerequisite: Spanish 219.
This course will deal with the ways in which major scientific advancements have influenced the development of twentieth century literary discourse in Latin America and the manner in which these advancements are reflected in Literature's quest for meaning. Through our readings of short stories, novels, plays, and some poetry we will be able to trace and study areas of discourse-overlapping between the disciplines and how they become reciprocal spaces for reflection. We will also study the ways in which Science and Literature encounter and interact with each other. Some (but not all) of the authors that we will discuss are Eugenio Cambaceres, Rubén Darío, Leopoldo Lugones, Jorge Luis Borges, Julio Cortázar, Ernesto Sábato, Alejo Carpentier, and Gabriel García Márquez. Some of the scientific topics that will be examined in this context are Darwinian Evolution, Relativity, and Game Theory. We will also discuss the influence that selected examples of technological advances (such as modern genetics and the Internet) have had in the configuration of the modern literary text.
Spanish 397-401
Fiction in Focus: The Contemporary Spanish American Short Novel
Prof. Knight
(See Timetables for time(s))
Prerequisite(s): Spanish 219.
The second half of the twentieth century has been called the era of the Spanish American novel, and with good reason. This phenomenally creative period gave rise to many works of critical and popular success that have attracted a worldwide readership. This course will present a number of the major creators of this exciting "nueva narrativa" through their short novels. Authors covered include Arguedas, Donoso, Carpentier, Ferré, Fuentes, García Márquez, Rulfo, Skármeta, Pacheco, and Vargas Llosa. As they progress through the course, students will become familiar with important works of contemporary Spanish American narrative, sharpen their skills for literary analysis, and develop an appreciation for the novella as a genre.
Spanish 400-301
Modern Spain
Prof. López
(See Timetables for time(s))
Graduating senior majors only.
This course is designed to give students a basic knowledge of the history, politics, and culture of contemporary Spain. Reading materials and explanations during class meetings will cover the period 1868-2004; that is to say, from the liberal revolution in the second half of the nineteenth century to the Socialist victory in the elections following the Madrid terrorist attacks on March 11, 2004. In the first half of the course we will study the historical conditions, including a review of the constitutional monarchy (1875-1923) and its dissolution in Primo’s dictatorship (1923-1931), followed by the second Republic and the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939). We will pay special attention to the international pressures that resulted in the defeat of the Republic followed by the advent of Franco’s dictatorship. The second part of the course concentrates on the study of Franco’s regime (1939-1975) and the transition to democracy (1979) as well as the consolidation of the monarchy and Spain’s integration into Europe.
Spanish 400-302
Effects of globalization in Latin American art and literature
Prof. Laddaga
(See Timetables for time(s))
Graduating senior majors only.
In the last three decades, a widespread process of social, political and economic change has developed in all regions of Latin America. The effects of this process are very visible in Latin American literary and artistic production, both among producers working in traditional and new media. The course will propose some tools for identifying and analyzing the main aspects of this phenomenon. We will read books by, among others, Roberto Bolaño, César Aira and Mario Bellatin, consider artworks by Gabriel Orozco, Francis Allys and Guillermo Kuitca, and study works executed in digital media.
Spanish 400-303
20th Century Latin American Literature and Cultures
Prof. Salessi
(See Timetables for time(s))
Graduating senior majors only.
Through the study of major works of twentieth century Latin American fiction, the course will offer a broad introduction to Latin America’s geographical and natural landscapes, its literature, history, art, music, popular culture, and their imaginary constructions. Author include Gabriel García Márquez, Juan Rulfo, Alejo Carpentier and Manuel Puig. This choice will help cover broad periods, cultures, from colonial times to the twentieth century, from Mexico to the Caribbean, and from the northern tip of the South American mainland to the Southern cone.