LAS 101 -- Introduction to Latin American Studies
Ricardo Gutiérrez-Mouat
TU, TH 1:00 - 2:15
MAX: 60

Fulfills LACS Major Requirement

DESCRIPTION: The course is an introduction to the Latin American area and to the Latin American Studies program at Emory. Readings and lectures cover a variety of disciplines and perspectives such as history, politics, economics, literature, and cultural studies. The course offers a historical background of Latin America but dwells mostly on the contemporary period, highlighting recent developments in countries like Cuba, Mexico, Peru, Colombia, Chile, Brazil, and Argentina. Guest appearances by Emory faculty supplement lectures and discussions by the course director.

GRADES: A midterm (40%), a final (40%), and assignments based on guest lectures (20%). If a student has a valid reason for missing one of these lectures, he or she may instead write a paragraph on a relevant class video.

TEXTS:
Peter Winn, Americas
Alma Guillermoprieto, Looking for History
Marion Vargas Llosa, Death in the Andes
Gabriel GarcíaMárquez, News of a Kidnapping

There will also be occasional photocopies. Videos or video clips will be shown in some class periods.

LEARNLINK: All students in the course should have access to the course conference icon in LearnLink and check the site regularly. You will find a variety of useful material there, such as background notes for specific class periods, suggestions as to how to prepare for the midterm and final, notes on the readings to be discussed, notices on any special visitors or events that you may be interested in, etc.

LAS 190 -- Freshman Seminar: Resurrecting Túpac: Rebellion in Latin American Politics, Film and Literature
(Same as POLS 190;SPAN 190)
Barry Levitt
TU, TH 1:00 - 2:15
MAX: LAS 3; POLS 4; SPAN 8

DESCRIPTION: Why are rebellion and revolution such prominent themes in contemporary Latin America? Conversely, why do we not see even more "rebelliousness" in Latin American politics and culture? In this course we will critically rethink the politics and culture of dissidence, social movements, mass protest, armed insurrection, the "politics of anti-politics," and other manifestations of rebellion. Students will develop multidisciplinary analytical skills as we examine the political language and content of literary sources, music and films--as well as the insights of social scientists. (And along the way, we'll better understand the persistent symbolic power of the name "Túpac"...). All course readings and in-class discussion will be conducted in English.

GRADES: Overall grade will be based on class participation (20%), short weekly assignments (40%), and a multidisciplinary final project (40%). This course fulfills General Education Requirement IC (Freshman Seminar).

LAS 385R -- Politics in the Andes ( South America ): Crisis or Consolidation?  
(Same as POLS 385)
Barry Levitt
Tu-Th 10:00-11:15
Max : 10 LAS; 20 POLS

DESCRIPTION: Ousted presidents, widespread anti-government protests, even a civil war. The Andean region of South America has been the site of severe social, political and economic crises in recent years. In this course we will examine the contemporary politics of Bolivia , Peru , Ecuador , Colombia and Venezuela . Using recently-published social science literature, as well as journalistic sources, documentary films, and materials produced by governments and non-governmental organizations, we will analyze the tumultuous contemporary politics of these countries and discuss their future prospects as well.

GRADES: Preparation and class participation (10 %); three short papers, 4-6 pages each (45%); in-class oral presentation (5 %); take-home final exam (40%).

TEXTS: Assorted works of social science; documentary films; internet resources (all in English).

PREREQUISITES: One course in comparative politics or Latin American studies is recommended but not required.

LAS 385R -- Latin American Revolutions
(Same as POLS 332 )
Juan del Aguila
MWF 10:40-11:30,
MAX: LAS 10; POLS 25

DESCRIPTION: Survey of major theories of revolution and in-depth analysis of Mexican, Nicaraguan and Cuban cases.

GRADES: midterm 30%, final 40%, paper 30% (one 15-17 page research paper).

TEXTS:
R. Ruiz, The Great Rebellionn
J. Goldstone, ed., Revolutions
E. Selbin, Modern Latin American Revolutions

DESCRIPTION: This advanced seminar analyses and critically evaluates democracy in Latin America, focusing on institutional development, political culture, elections and political leadership. Course examines the extent to which recent transformations may endure, or become vulnerable to authoritarian reversals. Students are expected to make several presentations to the class based on literature to be read. Individual presentations will be followed by analysis and discussion among class members and the instructor. Course will be run like a graduate seminar, and thus require substantial reading on a weekly basis. Extensive participation is expected because this is not a standard upper division lecture course, but rather one where an extensive review of the literature will provide much of the substance.

GRADES: Take-home final exam 40%, research paper 40% (20-25 page research paper) ; class presentations 20%.

PREREQUISITES: Students must be Junior and Senior Majors or Graduate students. Some prior work in Comparative Politics or Latin American and Caribbean Studies is recommended.

Fulfills LACS Major Requirement

DESCRIPTION: This course explores the problems and issues related to the history of the Spanish and Portuguese conquest and rule of the Americas, how those issues changed throughout the colonial period (1492-ca. 1820s), and more general theoretical questions about colonialism. The course is divided into four sections: "Becoming Colonial," highlights Iberian and pre-contact societies before 1492 and the forms of conquest and colonization of the New World; "Being Colonial I" focuses on the economy, labor and politics; "Being Colonial II" explores colonial society focusing on race, gender and religious mores; and "Decolonizing" untangles the events and ideas precipitating the collapse of colonial rule in the nineteenth century

GRADES: Students can expect to write short papers every week based on readings and films, to take a midterm and a final comprised of comprehensive take-home essays and an in-class portion, and to be graded for active participation in class discussions.

TEXTS: There is no textbook for this course; instead students read and critically assess a selection of articles and book chapters drawn from a variety of works on colonial Latin America , as well as primary documents written by colonial Latin Americans.

SPAN 300WR: Reading in Spanish: Texts and Contexts
Faculty
MWF Multiple Sessions
MAX:

Fulfills LACS Major Requirement

DESCRIPTION: The primary objective of this course is to provide students with the historical, geographic and aesthetic background relevant to the study of Hispanic culture, including that of Spain, Latin America and the United States. Students acquire this broad knowledge as well as strengthen their language and critical thinking skills through extensive reading, frequent short papers, oral presentations, and a final research project.

TEXTS :
Fuentes, Carlos, El Espejo Enterrado
Dictionary, El Pequeño Larousse Ilustrado
Gibaldi, Joseph, MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers

PREREQUISITES : SPANISH 212 or 215, OFFICIAL SPANISH PLACEMENT from the Dept of Spanish and Portuguese, or permission of the Director of the Language Program.