latin america: a mirror of reality through film

LATIN AMERICA: A MIRROR OF REALITY
THROUGH FILM
DESCRIPTION:
Film not only entertains, it contributes to the creation and circulation of culture as
well as national and regional images and identities, and it portrays and analyzes
social problems. Its images and sounds provide an immediacy that written media
cannot, making it one of the most accessible forms of cultural diffusion. Thus, film
literacy is an important skill in our visual and information-saturated world.
This interdisciplinary course seeks to review and analyze the complexity and
richness of Latin American culture and history using films as a vehicle to facilitate
students´ understanding. The films selected will provide social, historical and
ideological frameworks to study the changes which have taken place in
contemporary Latin America
The course will be a seminar, encouraging student participation and discussion.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
Convey elements of criteria and interpretation of film as art and social
portrait
Understanding of specific social cultural issues
Political and historical awareness of major events in Latin America
Cultural impact of globalization
Assessment:
Attendance and participation
Weekly readings and research
Two argumentative essays 800 words each
50%
25%
12.5% each
Required reading: CLANDESTINE IN CHILE : the adventure of Miguel Littin
By Gabriel García Màrquez
1
SYLLABUS
Week 1: Introduction:
Image analysis. Elements of criteria. Photographic language.
Film: THE MISSION
Research: The Jesuits in Latin America
Theology of Liberation
Week 2:
Immigration and Migration:
With 20 years in between, two different films on the subject of migration...
forceful or voluntary?
Film : EL NORTE
EL VIOLIN
Research: Ejercito Zapatista de Liberacion Nacional
Weeks 3 : Silent Victims of Internal Struggles
The innocent victims of war: women and children. Different political situations
which illustrate the impact of war on the well-being of vulnerable groups (“The
reluctant invited people”)
VOCES INOCENTES (El Salvador) FLFM
ROMERO
Research: Schools and Armies : How much do governments invest ¿?
Week 4: Globalization in the illiterate world
CENTRAL STATION
Research: Illiteracy rates in Latin America
YO SI PUEDO Cubas´s programe to erradicate illiteracy
2
Week 5: Inside and outside Cuba
HABANA BLUES
FRESA Y CHOCOLATE
Reading: Contemporary Cinema of Latin America, Changing Images
from the Revolution, Deborah Shaw
Week 6:
Mexico
AMORES PERROS
COMO AGUA PARA CHOCOLATE
Reading: Contemporary Cinema of Latin America,Seducing the
Public, chapter 3 Deborah Shaw
Week 7: Living History
COCALERO
EVEN THE RAIN
Research: Drug and Water Wars,Bolivia
Week 8:
Drugs, globalization and in between: Colombia
 EL REY
 ROSARIO TIJERAS
3
Week 9 : Writing and rewriting history
BOLIVAR SOY YO
THE MOTORCYCLE DIARIES
Research: Simon Bolivar and Che Guevara
Week 10: Chile:
Salvador Allende and the military coup.
MACHUCA
MISSING
Research: Salvador Allende and Augusto Pinochet
Week 11: Argentina
The military Junta and the Falklands War.
LA HISTORIA OFICIAL
LA DEUDA INTERNA
Research: The mothers of Plaza de Mayo
The Falklands war
Week 12: Literature on the Screen: Two major Latin American writers
ARRANCAME LA VIDA by Angeles Maestretta
EL CARTERO DE NERUDA by Antonio Skarmeta
Research: biography of Angeles Maestretta and Antonio Skarmeta
4
Week 13:
Urban violence, poverty and childhood
LA VIRGEN DE LOS SICARIOS
LA VENDEDORA DE ROSAS
Week 14:
Costa Rica and Panama
EL REGRESO
CHANCE
Week 15:
Final presentation
CRUDE
5