MLO 3
The student develops a reasonable understanding of the ways of thinking (ideas, beliefs, attitudes, values, philosophies), the behavioral practices (patterns of social interactions) and the cultural products – both tangible and intangible (for example, art, history, literature, music) — of Hispanic cultures.
There are two pathways by which this outcome can be fulfilled:
Courses taken to satisfy this learning outcome:
SPAN 426 Latin American Narrative: This Course taught In Spanish, meets the requirements to satisfy the MLO 3, which demands the study of an area of culture or Hispanic society. In this course, we studied several Hispanic-American writers of the twentieth century, such as July Cortázar, Alejandro Carpentier, Gabriel García Márquez, Rosario Ferré, among others, whose literary works consist of short stories and novels of the last 50 years in Latin America. Through these authors, I learned many features about Latin cultures, societies, and values. For example, In the story "La Noche Boca Arriba", written by Julio Cortázar, I learned how the Aztec culture of the fifteenth century lived and behaved. Aztecs practiced human sacrifices known as “Las Guerras Floridas”, to please their Gods in order to obtain excellent crops and ensure the welfare of the Aztec empire. Another literary novel related to Latin American history and culture (especially to Haitian revolution), is called “El Reino de Este Mundo”, by Alejo Carpentier, in which I could understand the slavery and oppression suffered the Haitian people under the bourgeoisie French. This story also reveals the practice Santeria as part of the Haitian culture; it also narrates the slave’s insurrection to gain their freedom. Continuing with Hispanic Americans authors, Gabriel García Márquez was another author we studied in class. “Cien Años de Soledad”, a novel that contains many historical and cultural information about the Colombian people. This novel helped me to understand the political, social and economic development of the Colombian culture and society, and the negative impact caused by the establishment of the Banana Companies in Colombia.
SPAN 365 The Chicano Narrative: The Focus of this course is on the Chicano novelists, whose works have greatly impacted on Chicano culture and literature. One of these Chicano novelists we study was José Antonio Villarreal, who wrote “Pocho”. In this novel, Villa Real exposes different problems facing by the Mexican migrant families in the United State. For example, growing up surrounded by American culture, Richard Rubio, the protagonist, experienced problems in school, discrimination, and distress to assimilate the new way of life due to his Mexican cultural heritage. I learned how hard has been for the Mexican families to adapt and assimilate the American culture, a new way of life, without giving up their own Mexican culture.
There are two pathways by which this outcome can be fulfilled:
- The student completes between two and six courses (depending on his or her choice of emphasis, as either in language and linguistics knowledge or literary and cultural knowledge) in Hispanic literature, culture or society. General areas to choose from are: literature, the social sciences (anthropology, geography, history, political systems), art history, music history, religion or other non-Spanish courses specific to Hispanic culture or society.
- With prior approval and guidance from WLC faculty, the student may opt for a more individual pathway. He or she may choose to independently study, research and analyze four of the following areas as they are reflected in the civilization or national culture of the language chosen to study: architecture, dance, dress, fiction, healing processes, high art, issues of gender and racial equity, music, national history, poetry, political systems, popular art, religious beliefs, theater.
Courses taken to satisfy this learning outcome:
SPAN 426 Latin American Narrative: This Course taught In Spanish, meets the requirements to satisfy the MLO 3, which demands the study of an area of culture or Hispanic society. In this course, we studied several Hispanic-American writers of the twentieth century, such as July Cortázar, Alejandro Carpentier, Gabriel García Márquez, Rosario Ferré, among others, whose literary works consist of short stories and novels of the last 50 years in Latin America. Through these authors, I learned many features about Latin cultures, societies, and values. For example, In the story "La Noche Boca Arriba", written by Julio Cortázar, I learned how the Aztec culture of the fifteenth century lived and behaved. Aztecs practiced human sacrifices known as “Las Guerras Floridas”, to please their Gods in order to obtain excellent crops and ensure the welfare of the Aztec empire. Another literary novel related to Latin American history and culture (especially to Haitian revolution), is called “El Reino de Este Mundo”, by Alejo Carpentier, in which I could understand the slavery and oppression suffered the Haitian people under the bourgeoisie French. This story also reveals the practice Santeria as part of the Haitian culture; it also narrates the slave’s insurrection to gain their freedom. Continuing with Hispanic Americans authors, Gabriel García Márquez was another author we studied in class. “Cien Años de Soledad”, a novel that contains many historical and cultural information about the Colombian people. This novel helped me to understand the political, social and economic development of the Colombian culture and society, and the negative impact caused by the establishment of the Banana Companies in Colombia.
SPAN 365 The Chicano Narrative: The Focus of this course is on the Chicano novelists, whose works have greatly impacted on Chicano culture and literature. One of these Chicano novelists we study was José Antonio Villarreal, who wrote “Pocho”. In this novel, Villa Real exposes different problems facing by the Mexican migrant families in the United State. For example, growing up surrounded by American culture, Richard Rubio, the protagonist, experienced problems in school, discrimination, and distress to assimilate the new way of life due to his Mexican cultural heritage. I learned how hard has been for the Mexican families to adapt and assimilate the American culture, a new way of life, without giving up their own Mexican culture.