Literature and Theory of the U.S.-Mexico Border: Telling Border Stories
ENGL 241
Spring 2008
| Section:
01
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| Crosslisting:
AMST 240 |
The U.S.-Mexico border is the longest, most highly policed border in the world, while the U.S.-Canadian border is the longest, least policed border. In this course we will consider a variety of literary, historical, filmic, and theoretical texts that examine and interrogate the social, economic, and political organization, representation, and significance of the U.S.-Mexico border. Together, we will consider why, in the present moment of late capitalism and globilization, the border still looms large not only in the U.S. national imagination, but also in the legislation of the southwest and the U.S. and Mexican nation-states more broadly. |
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Essential Capabilities:
Interpretation, Writing |
| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
HA ENGL |
| Course Format: Seminar | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: None |
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Past Enrollment Probability: Not Available |
| SECTION 01 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
Course Packet with selections from:
THEORETICAL & HISTORICAL TEXTS:
Timothy J. Dunn, THE MILITARIZATION OF THE U.S.-MEXICO BORDER, 1978-1992: LOW-INTENSITY CONFLICT DOCTRINE COMES HOME (1996)
Claire Fox, THE FENCE AND THE RIVER: CULTURE AND POLITICS AT THE U.S.-MEXICO BORDER (1999)
Carl Gutiérrez-Jones, RETHINKING THE BORDERLANDS: BETWEEN CHICANO CULTURE AND LEGAL DISCOURSE (1995)
José David Saldivar, BORDER MATTER: REMAPPING AMERICAN CULTURAL STUDIES (1997)
Sonia Saldivar-Hull, FEMINISM ON THE BORDER: CHICANA GENDER POLITICS AND LITERATURE (2000)
and a variety of literary texts (poetry/fiction) including
Gloria Anzaldúa, BORDERLANDS/LA FRONTERA: THE NEW MESTIZA (1987)
Jimmy Santiago Baca, BLACK MESA POEMS (1986)
Norma Elia Cantú, CANICULA: SNAPSHOTS OF A GIRLHOOD EN LA FRONTERA (1995)
Lorna Dee Cervantes, EMPLUMADA (1981)
Sandra Cisneros, WOMAN HOLLERING CREEK AND OTHER STORIES (1992)
Guillermo Gómez-Peña, THE NEW WORLD BORDER: PROPHECIES, POEMS & LOQUERAS FOR THE END OF THE CENTURY (1996)
Juan Felipe Herrera, EXILES OF DESIRE (1985)
Pat Mora, BORDERS (1986)
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Examinations and Assignments:
Weekly informal writing assignments; oral presentation with accompanying writing assignment; one long, research-based, seminar essay. |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
In this course students will practice their interpretation skills through the consideration and analysis of literary texts, in particular in relationship to their historical and political contexts. Thus, the students will develop their abilities to perform (in discussion and writing) literary interpretation. The students will also be asked to do weekly informal analytical critical writing, as well as at least two longer, interpretive essays. They will have some opportunity for peer review of their written work as well as individualized feedback from the professor. |
| Instructor(s): Pritchard,Démian Times: ....R.. 01:10PM-04:00PM; Location: FISK412; |
| Total Enrollment Limit: 19 | | SR major: 10 | JR major: 6 | | |
| Seats Available: 5 | GRAD: X | SR non-major: 2 | JR non-major: 1 | SO: 0 | FR: X |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 1 | 1st Ranked: 0 | 2nd Ranked: 0 | 3rd Ranked: 0 | 4th Ranked: 0 | Unranked: 1 |
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