SPN 336 - Troubling Gender in Contemporary Argentine Literature and Cinema

Course Units: 1.0

(TBD: Staff) This course is an introduction to contemporary Argentine literature and film with a focus on gender dynamics. We will study representative works in various genres (narrative, drama, poetry, and film) within their cultural context. Although there is a brief survey of canonical authors from the first two thirds of the 20th century, the course emphasizes cultural production after 1990. Besides the literary texts and films, we will also discuss substantive readings related to the course topics. Discussions will center on how writers, playwrights, and filmmakers deal with the following topics: the gendering of national identity; the construction of gender and sexual identities; the impact of toxic masculinities; gender notions under repressive regimes; the representation of LGBTQ subjectivities; human trafficking and violence against women. In addition to acquainting students with significant works of Argentine literature and film, the course seeks to strengthen speaking and reading abilities, to sharpen writing and critical skills, and to familiarize students with critical approaches to various literary genres and film. Class discussions and writing assignments are in Spanish. Prerequisite(s): SPN 203 or permission of the instructor. CC: LCCS, HUL, HUM, JLIT, JWOL