Chicano Studies 37: Chicana and Chicano Literature

Section Number 0173; Summer 2008

Los Angeles Mission College-- Professor José A. Maldonado

Office Hours: by appointment

Room INST 1001, cubicle # 16; (818) 833-3412; maldonja@lamission.edu

SYLLABUS

Course Description:

This course will provide an analysis of the literary, social, and historical aspects of essay, novel, drama, short story, and poetry as written by persons of Mexican descent in the United States (Mexican Americans), revealing the progression of culture in America as interpreted by Mexican American writers who seek to define themselves vis a vis other Americans.

Grading will be based on participation, a mid-term examination, and eight 2-4 page written papers (four book reports and four creative writing assignments--see below under Assignments).

Required Texts (available at the bookstore):

Anaya, Rudolfo. Bless Me, Ultima.

Cisneros, Sandra. The House on Mango Street.

Rodriguez, Luis. Always Running.

Gaspar de Alba, Alicia. Desert Blood, The Juarez Murders

Maldonado, Jose A. Chicano Studies 37 Reader

and

Murray, Yxta Maya. The Conquest ***(OPTIONAL-FOR EXTRA CREDIT)

Grading Procedures:

Grading will be as follows:

Participation: 10%

Mid-Term : 10%

Papers: 80%

TOTAL: 100%

Class Schedule:

Week 1-: PART ONE:

Welcome to Chicano Studies 37: Chicana and Chicano Literature

Assignment Due: Personal Introduction

Assigned Readings: All Course Materials

A. Learn how to use MOODLE.

i. Click on the link above and take the tour and tutorial.

B. Review course materials.

PART TWO:

Who Are You? ¿Tu Quien Eres?

Assignment Due: FORUM DISCUSSION # 1

Assigned Readings:

Course Reader: excerpts from Portilla, Pre-Columbian Literatures of Mexico

Rodriguez, “Who Declared War on the Word Chicano?”

Castillo, “Introduction” to Massacre of the Dreamers

A. Social, Cultural, Political and Economic Context: Introduction

i. The Roots of Identity and Denial

ii. Historical Overview of U.S. Southwest region from 1821 through the 20th

century.

PART THREE:

Introduction

Assignment Due: FIRST PAPER DUE- Creative Writing: Essay on Identity

Assigned Readings:

Course Reader: excerpts from Portilla, Pre-Columbian Literatures of Mexico

Rodriguez, “Who Declared War on the Word Chicano?”

Castillo, “Introduction” to Massacre of the Dreamers

Cisneros, The House on Mango Street

Assigned Internet Readings (follow the links)

A. Social, Cultural, Political and Economic Context

i. Critical Race Theory

ii. Essays: Exploration, Analysis, and Discussion of several Essays.

iii. Chicano Political Manifestos: Los Planes

B. Types of literature

i. Fiction

a. Short Story

b. Novel

ii. Nonfiction

a. Poetry

b. Essay

c. Biography/autobiography.

Week 2- PART ONE:

Assignment Due: SECOND PAPER DUE- Book Report: House on Mango Street

Assigned Readings:

Cisneros, The House on Mango Street

Assigned Internet Readings (follow the links)

B. Discussion of House on Mango Street

Prevailing Themes:

Racism, Religion, Economics, Identity, Urban vs. Rural Lifestyle,

Gender Identity Formation

PART TWO:

Assignment Due: FORUM DISCUSSION # 2

Assigned Readings:

Course Reader: Indio: “Jade Skirt,” and “Chikome Ocelotl”

Montano: “The Bride,” “Your Answer,” and “La Trenza”

Assigned Internet Readings (follow the links)

A. Language: English, Spanish, Calo, Spanglish, Nahuatl, Code-Switching

B. The Short Story: Exploration, Analysis, and Discussion of several Short Stories.

PART THREE:

Assignment Due: THIRD PAPER DUE- Creative Writing: Short Story

Assigned Readings:

Course Reader: Indio: “Jade Skirt,” and “Chikome Ocelotl”

Montano: “The Bride,” “Your Answer,” and “La Trenza”

Assigned Internet Readings (follow the links)

i. Musical Styles

ii. Lyrics

Week 3- PART ONE:

Assignment Due: FORUM DISCUSSION # 3; MID-TERM EXAM

Assigned Readings:

Course Reader: Olga Garcia, Poems Tzintzuni, Poems

Anaya, Bless me, Ultima

Assigned Internet Readings (follow the links)

A. Chicana/o Oratory

Great Chicana/o Orators. Reies Lopez Tijerina, Cesar Chavez, Dolores Huerta, Jose Angel Gutierrez, Rocky Rodriguez, Daniel Osuna

PART TWO:

Assignment Due: FOURTH PAPER DUE- Book Report: Bless Me, Ultima

Assigned Readings:

Course Reader: Olga Garcia, Poems Tzintzuni, Poems

Anaya, Bless me, Ultima

Assigned Internet Readings (follow the links)

A. Magical Realism

B. Discussion of Bless me, Ultima Prevailing Themes:

Racism, Religion, Economics, Identity, Urban vs. Rural Lifestyle,

Gender Identity Formation

PART THREE:

Assignment Due: FIFTH PAPER DUE- Creative Writing: Poetry

Assigned Readings:

Course Reader: Olga Garcia, Poems Tzintzuni, Poems

Anaya, Bless me, Ultima

Assigned Internet Readings (follow the links)

B. Review of Recurring Themes:

Week 4- PART ONE:

Assignment Due: FORUM DISCUSSION # 4

Assigned Readings:

Course Reader: “A Woman Named Rocky”

Assigned Internet Readings (follow the links)

A. Exploration, Analysis, and Discussion of several Biographies/Autobiographies of and/or by Chicana/o writers

B. Chicanos and Los Angeles in the 1960’s and 1970’s

PART TWO:

Assignment Due: SIXTH PAPER DUE- Book Report: Always Running

Assigned Readings:

Course Reader: “A Woman Named Rocky”

Assigned Internet Readings (follow the links)

PART THREE:

Assignment Due: SEVENTH PAPER DUE- Creative Writing: Autobiography or

Personal Statement

Assigned Readings:

Course Reader: Gaspar de Alba, Desert Blood

Assigned Internet Readings (follow the links)

Week 5 PART ONE:

Assignment Due: FORUM DISCUSSION # 5

Assigned Readings: Gaspar de Alba, Desert Blood

Assigned Internet Readings (follow the links)

PART TWO:

Assignment Due: EIGHTH PAPER DUE: Book Report: Desert Blood

Assigned Readings: Gaspar de Alba, Desert Blood

Assigned Internet Readings (follow the links)

A. Historical Fiction: Exploration, Analysis, and Discussion.

B. Discussion of the Socio-historical context of Desert Blood.

PART THREE (EXTRA CREDIT):

Assignment Due: FORUM DISCUSSION # 6: For Extra Credit

Assigned Readings:

Yxta Maya Murray, The Conquest- For Extra Credit

Assigned Internet Readings (follow the links)

PART FOUR (EXTRA CREDIT):

Assignment Due: EXTRA CREDIT BOOK REPORT: The Conquest

Assigned Readings:

Yxta Maya Murray, The Conquest- For Extra Credit

Assigned Internet Readings (follow the links)

A. Historical Fiction: Exploration, Analysis, and Discussion.

B. Discussion of the historical context of The Conquest

C. Final Comments

Getting Started

Syllabus

Textbook

Assignments

Grading Procedures

Class Schedule

tests

final

Extra Credit

slo