2016/17 Undergraduate Module Catalogue
SPPO3035 From Bolívar to Chávez: Revolutionary Icons in Contemporary Latin American Culture
20 creditsClass Size: 30
Module manager: Rebecca Jarman
Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2016/17
Pre-requisite qualifications
Students should have successfully completed SPPO2010 or SPPO2011, or have an equivalent level of Spanish.Pre-requisites
SPPO2010 | Practical Lang Skill Spanish 2 |
SPPO2011 | Pract Lang Skills in Spanish 2 |
This module is not approved as a discovery module
Module summary
'From Bolívar to Chávez: Revolutionary Icons in Contemporary Latin American Culture' explores representations of revolutionary figures in film, visual art and literature, with a view to exploring questions of radical politics, social change and recent history in Latin America. Using the lens of cultural studies, this module explores the lives, ideas and legacies of political superstars - including Simón Bolívar, Eva Perón, Che Guevera, and Hugo Chávez, among others - from the nineteenth century until the present day.The idea of 'revolution' has informed a range of political movements across the ideological spectrum, including Latin American independence, Cuban communism, armed struggles in the Andes, Argentine populism and the 'pink wave' of socialist governments in Ecuador, Bolivia and Venezuela. These specific case studies are designed to foment the analysis of 'revolution' in theory and its different practical outcomes throughout history and across the continent, including the institutionalisation of the revolutionary impulse and its commodification in culture.Objectives
This module engages with cultural zeitgeists emerging from Latin America, including detective fiction, popular movies and music, YouTube series, graphic design, and new historical novels by prize-winning authors. The module aims to examine these critically, and explore the ways in which revolutionary icons accumulate different, and sometimes paradoxical, meanings and conflicting ideological agendas. Addressing issues of class, race, nationalism and gender, the texts under consideration invite discussion surrounding the politics of contemporary popular culture and the power of the image.The module also aims to provide each student with the opportunity to produce a sophisticated and well-organised comparative essay, using knowledge acquired in class and through independent reading, and addressing issues with reference to their specific contexts, as well as to develop their confidence in working in the preparation and presentation of an icon, text, or political movement, drawing evidence from a wide range of sources in support of a clear, well-structured and convincing argument.
Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, students should:
1. Be familiar with the theoretical meanings of revolution and its historic importance across different regions of Latin America, while distinguishing between revolution in theory and in practice
2. Be familiar with the way images and icons can acquire different meanings in popular Latin American culture, while dealing critically with the ideological agendas of artists, directors and authors
3. Be able to describe and analyse different periods of socio-political development in history and culture with reference to key case studies
4. Be able to analyse historical and cultural texts against the grain of their accepted or pre-determined significance
5. Be sensitive to the links between political identities, spectacles, and power, and how these are relevant in twenty-first century Latin America
Skills outcomes
Specific skills include the ability:
1) To read and understand historical and literary texts in Spanish and/or Portuguese
Syllabus
The syllabus will typically include the following topics:
1. Introduction I: Revolution in Theory and Practice
2. Introduction II: Popular Culture and Politics
3. Simon Bolívar and Dreams of Gran Colombia
4. Princess Isabel, 'Redemptress' of Brazil
5. Emiliano Zapata and the Mexican Revolution
6. Evita Perón: Womanhood, Religion and Politics in Argentina
7. Che Guevara, Poster Boy of Communist Cuba
8. Rigoberta Menchú, and the Indigenous Cause in Central America
9. Abimael Guzmán, Mao Tse Tsung and the Peruvian Armed Struggle
10. Hugo Chávez and the Pink Tide in Latin America
Teaching methods
Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
Lecture | 10 | 1.00 | 10.00 |
Seminar | 10 | 1.00 | 10.00 |
Private study hours | 180.00 | ||
Total Contact hours | 20.00 | ||
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200.00 |
Private study
- Reading course materials/preparation for seminars: 80 hours- Preparation for literature review: 20 hours
- Preparation for poster: 30 hours
- Preparation and writing of essay: 50 hours
Opportunities for Formative Feedback
Informal feedback and monitoring in seminarsFormal feedback on literature review, poster and essay
Methods of assessment
Coursework
Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
Essay | 3,000 | 50.00 |
Literature Review | 1500 words | 20.00 |
Poster Presentation | 20 minutes plus questions | 30.00 |
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100.00 |
Should any student or group of students fail the verbal or poster presentation they will be given an alternative form of assessment (an essay or series of short answer questions) to complete individually by way of resit.
Reading list
The reading list is available from the Library websiteLast updated: 26/09/2016
Browse Other Catalogues
- Undergraduate module catalogue
- Taught Postgraduate module catalogue
- Undergraduate programme catalogue
- Taught Postgraduate programme catalogue
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