SPANISH  380/480

CHILDREN IN LATIN AMERICAN LITERATURE

SPRING   2001

12:00 - 12:50 MTWF

Professor Andrea Byrum

This class will focus on the theme of children in contemporary Latin American literature.  We will begin by exploring the fundamental role children have in Latin American society in general and then start our study of the cultural representation of children by viewing the works of some 20th century graphic artists.  Our particular focus is on the political or sociological meanings connected to the use of children in literature.  To prepare for this, we will read some critical essays about how to analyze literature in general and especially how to analyze the various child figures we will find in the literature. 

We will read plays, short stories, and novels by such well known writers as Mexico's Juan Rulfo, Jose Emilio Pacheco, Carmen Boullosa, and Maria Luisa Puga, Argentina's Julio Cortazar, Chile's Jose Donoso and Colombia's Gabriel Garcia Marquez.  Special topics will include the loss of innocence, the child as witness of the adult world, child and mother, and children facing social injustice.  We will read works in which children are characters, narrators, or the main theme.

Along with literature and art, we will view films like "Los olvidados" and "Veronico Cruz" to see how the portrayal of children compares with their literary representation.

All class discussion and readings will be in Spanish.