Literature of the Americas: Dictatorship in Argentina and Chile
Professor Cynthia Steele
Winter 2023
MW 12:30-2:20
CANVAS SITE:
PERSONAL MEETING ROOM:
https://washington.zoom.us/j/2712049673
Description:
Introduction to the genre of the political thriller, through close readings of three novels and thirteen films from Argentina and Chile, exploring family and intimate relationships against the backdrop of the dramatic political changes of the past half century: first the military coups, dictatorships, tortures and disappearances of the 1970s and 1980s, and then the move toward democratization and reconciliation in the 1990s and 2000s.
We will watch the films on instant streaming, outside of class. In addition to the three novels, we will read seven journal articles about the novels and films. I will post questions to our Canvas site, to guide our discussions. Students will keep a viewing and reading journal and write a 4-6-page essay, comparing a theme or problem in two or three of the primary texts (novels and/or films) we have studied. The films have English subtitles and the readings are in English translation, so no knowledge of Spanish is required (but is most welcome!).
NOVELS:
1. Marcelo Figueras, Kamchatka. Trans. Frank Wynne. NY: Grove Press / Black Cat, 2010, 312 pp
2. Eduardo Sacheri, The Secret in their Eyes. Trans. John Cullen. NY: Other Press, 2011, 398 pp
3. Antonio Skármeta; The Days of the Rainbow. Trans. Mery Botbol. NY: Other Press, 2013, 240 pp
FILMS:
F1. Spoils of War CANVAS
F2. The Official Story (Luis Puenzo, 1985) KANOPY
https://www.kanopy.com/en/washington/video/5724028
F3. Clandestine Childhood (Benjamín Avila, 2011); KANOPY
https://www.kanopy.com/en/washington/video/160140
F4. Kamchatka (Marcelo Piñyero, 2002), CANVAS
F5. Diego Lerman, The Invisible Eye (2010) KANOPY
https://www.kanopy.com/en/washington/video/160364
F6. The Secret in their Eyes (Juan José Campanella, 2009), ALEXANDER STREET
F7. Billy Ray, The Secret in their Eyes (2015), TUBI
https://tubitv.com/movies/662955?utm_source=justwatch-feed&tracking=justwatch-feed
F8. Andrés Wood, Machuca (2004), CANVAS
F9. Nostalgia for the Light (2011) ALEXANDER STREET
F10. The Cordillera of Dreams ALEXANDER STREET
F11. Pablo Larraín, Tony Manero NETFLIX
https://www.netflix.com/title/70108797
F12. Pablo Larraín, Post-mortem (2010), AMAZON, $3
F13. Pablo Larraín, No (SONY, 2013) ALEXANDER STREET
CALENDAR
WEEK ONE:
Wed. Jan. 4
Introduction
F1. Spoils of War CANVAS
WEEK TWO:
Mon, Jan 9
F2. The Official Story (Luis Puenzo, 1985) KANOPY
https://washington.kanopy.com/video/official-story-1
Marcelo Figueras, Kamchatka, trans. Frank Wynn (NY: Black Cat, 2011), First Period: Biology, Ch 1-18, pp. 1-49
Wed, Jan 11
F3. Clandestine Childhood (Benjamín Avila, 2011); KANOPY
https://washington.kanopy.com/video/clandestine-childhood-infancia-clandestina
Figueras, Kamchatka, Second Period: Geography, Ch. 19-38, pp. 55-128.
A1. Garibotto article
WEEK THREE:
Mon, Jan 16
Martin Luther King Day, no class
Wed, Jan 18
https://washington.kanopy.com/video/invisible-eye-la-mirada-invisib
Figueras, Third Period : Language, Ch. 40-63, pp. 133-229.
WEEK FOUR:
Mon, Jan 23
Figueras, Kamchatka, Fourth Period: Astronomy, Ch. 64-81, pp. 235-309.
Wed, Jan 25
F4. Kamchatka (Marcelo Piñyero, 2002), CANVAS
Friday, Jan. 27, 7 pm: Journal Part 1 due to Canvas
WEEK FIVE:
Mon, Jan 30
Eduardo Sacheri, The Secret in their Eyes, trans. John Cullen, Ch. 1-17, pp. 1-121
F5. Diego Lerman, The Invisible Eye (2010).
Wed, Feb 1
Sacheri, Secret, Ch. 13-19, pp. 122-189.
F6.
WEEK SIX:
Mon, Feb 6
Sacheri, Secret, Ch. 20-32, pp. 190-284.
F7.
Wed, Feb 8
F6. The Secret in their Eyes (Juan José Campanella, 2009), ALEXANDER STREET
Sacheri, Secret, Ch. 33- 45, pp. 285-384.
A2. Tierney article
WEEK SEVEN:
Mon, Feb 13
F7. Billy Ray, The Secret in their Eyes (2015), TUBI
https://tubitv.com/movies/662955?utm_source=justwatch-feed&tracking=justwatch-feed
Wed, Feb 15
F8. Machuca
A3. Uhlin article
WEEK EIGHT:
Mon, Feb 20
Presidents’ Day, no class
Wed, Feb 22
Antonio Skármeta, The Days of the Rainbow, Ch. 1-13, pp. 1-55.
F9. Nostalgia for the Light (2011) ALEXANDER STREET
WEEK NINE:
Mon, Feb 27
F10. The Cordillera of Dreams ALEXANDER STREET
Skármeta, The Days, Ch. 14-26, pp. 56-117.
A5. Thakkar article
Wed, March 1
F11. Pablo Larraín, Tony Manero (Netflix?) or Amazon Video rent $3
Skármeta, The Days, Ch. 27-36, pp. 118-180.
A6. Harvey article
WEEK TEN:
Mon, March 6
Skármeta, The Days, Ch. 37-44, pp 181-231
F12. Pablo Larraín, Post-mortem (2010), Amazon Video rent $3
Wed, March 8
F13. Pablo Larraín, No (SONY, 2013) ALEXANDER STREET
A7. Vilches article
Conclusions
Fri, March 10, 7pm: Journal 2 due to Canvas
Sun, March 12, 7 pm: Essay due to Canvas
Articles Posted to Canvas (under “Files”):
A1. Garibotto, Verónica Inés. “Private Narratives and Infant Views”: Iconizing 1970s Militancy in Contemporary Argentine Cinema.” Hispanic Research Journal, Vol. 16, No. 3 (June 2015), pp. 257-272.
A2. Tierney, Dolores. “Juan José Campanella: Historical Memory and Accountability in El secreto en sus ojos (The Secret in their Eyes 2009).” In Transnationalisms in Contemporary Latin American Cinema (Edinburgh: Edinburgh UP, 2015), pp. 201-226.
A3. Uhlin, Graig. “The Natural and Unnatural Histories of Patricio Guzmán.” Resilience: A Journal of the Environmental Humanities, Vol. 7, Nos. 2-3 (Spring-Fall 2020), pp. 40-59.
A4. Martín-Cabrera, Luis. “Class Conflict, State of Exception and Radical Justice in Machuca by Andrés Wood.” Journal of Latin American Cultural Studies: Travesía 16.1 (2007): 63-80.
A5. Thakkar, Amit. “The Perpetrating Victim: An Allegorical Reading of Pablo Larraín’s Tony Manero (2008).” Journal of Latin American Cultural Studies / Travesía, Vol. 26, No. 4 (2017), pp. 523-537.
A6. Harvey, James. “Democratic Ambivalence in post mortem.” Journal of Latin American Cultural Studies / Travesía, Vol. 26, No. 4 (2017), pp. 539-551.
A7. Vilches, Patricia. “When No Means ‘Yes’ and ‘No.” Film International Issue 2 (2020), pp. 124-135.
Determination of Grades:
Reading Journal One 25%
Reading Journal Two 25%
Comparative Analytical Essay, 4-6 pages 25%
Class Participation 25%
Reading and Viewing Journal:
Please write at least 200 words, typed, double-spaced, on each of the films, sections of novels, and journal articles on the assignment list. Please see the numbered list of entries and instructions posted on Canvas under “Assignments.”
Analytical Essay:
Students will write one 4-6-page analytical essay, including a list of works consulted, and incorporating discussion of the films and readings studied in class. The essay should compare and contrast a theme or problem in two of the films we have studied in class. Please see the topics and detailed instructions posted under “Assignments.”
Please follow the guidelines of the MLA Handbook:
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/
Please utilize the services of the writing tutors at the Odegaard Writing and Research Center. You can make appointments with them online:
https://depts.washington.edu/owrc/signup.php
Academic Honesty:
You are responsible for understanding and observing the UW guidelines regarding academic honesty. Your written work will be submitted through Canvas, which utilizes Turnitin to detect and provide a detailed report on any instances of plagiarism. Please let me know if you have any questions about this.
Students with Disabilities:
To request accommodations due to a disability, please contact Disabled Student Services, 448 Schmitz, (206) 543-8924 ((V/TTY). If you have a letter from Disabled Student Services indicating that you have a disability that requires academic accommodations, please present the letter to me so we can discuss such accommodations.