Spanish and PortugueseSpan 600-301
History of the Spanish Language
Prof. Espòsito
This course will explore two main currents:
(1) The external history of the Spanish language: How do linguists read history? What cultural and historical events are important for the development of the Spanish language? As linguistic historians, we shall follow a canonical chronology that will examine such topics as: pre-Roman influences; Iberian Latinity; the linguistic fragmentation of the Peninsula; medieval attempts at standardization; linguistic expansion and colonization; the rise of the Academy; and the renaissance of the languages of the Autonomías. As critical readers, we shall interpret these linguistic cultures in light of their foundational ideologies.
(2) The internal history of the Spanish language: How did Latin become Spanish? Is a sound change innocent and free of cultural meaning? What features make Spanish unique in comparison to the other Iberian languages? To what end do we draw such conclusions?
Span 680-301
The Spanish Avant-Garde
Prof. López
A study of the Spanish avant-garde including the poetry of García Lorca, the films of Luis Buñuel, and the paintings of Salvador Dalí. We will explore the reception of the avantgarde and of Surrealism in Spain followed by the transformation of the avantgarde into two politically rival ideologies. Finally, we will study the evolution of the aesthtic of the movement following the wars that close the first half of the century (Spanish Civil War, WWII). Class participation, one (maybe two) oral reports, and a written paper will decide final grade.
Span 690-301
New Literary Formation in Latin America
Prof. de la Campa
This course will take up various strands of new Latin American literary formation, the different arguments and definitions around them as well as a sampling of the writers that compose them (short fiction will be favored whenever possible). Various instances of the “new” will be examined, beginning with the manifestos of the 90’s such as “McOndo”, around the figure of Alberto Fuguet, and “The Crack Generation”, around the figure of Jorge Volpi. We will then move towards the now most influential constellation of writers made up by Roberto Bolaño, César Aira and Mario Bellatin. With those two as backdrop we will explore other manifestations of new writing as well as ways in which they are being grouped. One will the work of Carlos Franz, Alonso Cueto, Horacio Castellanos Moya, Leopoldo Brizuela, which some see as a new manifestation of social and political literary inscription. Another will be the literature surounding the narco genre composed by writers such as Evelio Rosero, Juan Gabriel Vásquez, Sergio Alvarez, Yuri Herrera and Martín Solares. The final list is still under review.
Span 690-302
Borges and H is Readers
Prof. Sacerio-Gari
A review and analysis of Borges's literary production, his poetics of reading and its critical/creative avatars.
Span 698-301
Proseminar on Dissertation and Prospecutus Writing
Prof. Solomon
This seminar is designed to orient Hispanic Studies graduate students in preparing the dissertation prospectus and writing the doctoral dissertation. The course is only open to third-year Hispanic Studies graduate students and Hispanic Studies ABD's.