Biculturalism, Border-Crossing, and Nonconformism in the Age of Conquest
FIST 235
Spring 2008 not offered
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| Crosslisting:
LAST 238, SPAN 235, IBST 318 |
This course explores the diversity within Spanish (European, Christian) as well as Amerindian cultures at the time of the Conquest. Many Old and New World texts can be read as complex examinations of national, religious, ethnic, and personal identity understood as both destiny and choice and as an ongoing quest or adventure. Identity assumes many forms here: multiple and sometimes divided allegiances, border-crossing, passing and disguise, conformist and nonconformist assimilation. We will focus on four prominent themes: biological and cultural MESTIZAJE as ideal, as curse, and as amoral reality (the cases of Dona Marina/La Malinche/Malintzin; Gonzalo Guerrero, Nunez Cabeza de Vaca, and the Inca Garcilaso); the discourse of barbarism and civilization, or what it means to be fully human (the debate between Las Casas and Sepulveda, Vitoria's launching of international law, and the ethnographic achievements of Sahagun and Acosta); the struggle over the soul of the Church: Is Christianity inherited or acquired? In particular, is it compatible with racist blood-purity statutes aimed at converted Jews and Muslims (the cases of Ignacio de Loyola, Fray Luis de Leon, Santa Teresa, and the moriscos)? And, finally, the unstable boundary between the masculine and the feminine: Is anatomy destiny (the cases of Santa Teresa, the novelist Maria de Zayas, and Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz)? |
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Essential Capabilities:
None |
| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
HA RLAN |
| Course Format: Discussion | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: (LAST) |
Major Readings:
B. Diaz del Castillo, TRUE HISTORY OF THE CONQUEST OF NEW SPAIN
A. Nunez Cabeza de Vaca, CASTAWAYS
Selections from Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, ROYAL COMMENTARIES ON THE HISTORY OF PERU
S.J. Ines de la Cruz, RESPONSE TO SISTER FILOTEA
Maria de Zayas, THE RAVAGES OF VICE
Selections from M. de Cervantes, THE LABORS OF PERSILES AND SIGISMUNDA
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Examinations and Assignments:
Four short papers (2-3 pp), one longer final paper (5-7 pp), one short oral presentation as preparation for the final paper. |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
Readings, class discussion and written work in English only.
Only COL students may take this course CR/U.
Courses taught in English, which are designated as FIST (French, Italian, Spanish literature in Translation), are usually not credited toward the Spanish major unless prior permission is sought from the instructor.
Any seats not taken by first-year students will be made available to interested sophomores, juniors, and seniors. |
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