Chs 502 is a seminar in the humanitites and the chicano/a experience comparing the Western European tradition with that of Mesoamerica. A study of theories of aesthetics and pilosophies from both perspectives and their influence on current Chicano and Chicana ideological thought, literature and folklore. Particular emphasis will be placed on literary analysis of different genres.
This seminar designed to examine the texts and expressions of the human culture as related to the Chicanos both men and women. The seminar studies the ways that individuals and cultures have expressed themselves through language, philosophy, religion, literature and the visual and performing arts within western and Mesoamerican traditions and in the context of other cultures and societies. This studies include self definitions, relationships of such expresions, and an approach to explore the Chicano's actual conditions as an integral member of the human family.
The Seminar includes activities in the area of bibliograpic research, specific area studies as arranged with the instructor, round table thematic conferences where every member of the seminar participates, lectures, readings and audio visual materials as well as major selected topics designed to examine the trajectory defined by man and woman (Chicanos) in society, to this effect the questions to be explored could be included in any area of human expression i.e. language, ideology, literature, folklore, the arts, and areas of interest to the participants of the seminar.
Classes for this course will meet three hours a week on tuesdays. Attendance is mandatory for successful completion of the course.
Course requirements: Chicano Studies 502 is a seminar where intensive participation, intensive libray research, and weekly reports are required. Timely readings and writing assignments are key to participating in the seminar activities.
A scholarly essay is required and due one week before the week of final exams. Such essay is key to a sucessful completion of the course.
Tools
Research Manual: Modern Language Association.
Dictionaries and encyclopedias
Manuals on the history of literature
Manuals on the history of philosophy
Manuals on the history of art
Manuals on the study of folklore
Journals and publications in humanities related areas
Bibliographic publications related to the chicano experience
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Partial bibliography:
Miguel Leon Portilla, Aztec Thought and Culture
Carl Jung, Man and His Symbols
Northrop Frye, Anatomy of Criticism
Octavio Paz, The Labirinth of solitude, Piedra de sol
Juan Gomez-Quinonez, Sembradores
Americo Paredes, With a Pistol in His Hand-The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez.
Aztlan-International Journal of Chicano Studies Research, Vol.13, No.1 and 2, 1982
Guillermo Gomez-Pena and Roberto sifuentes, The Temple of Confessions.
Luis Leal, Aztlan y Mexico.
Luis Leal, A Decade of Chicano Literature, 1970-1979.
...
Bibliographic activities related to literary research and investigation
Roberto Sifuentes
1. Use of dictionaries and encyclopedias as related to different disciplines in the Social Sciences, the Arts and the Humanities. Evaluation of the most important common dictionaries, dictionaries of authorities, etymological, literary, dictionaries of concepts, citations, vocabularies, and refrain collections.
2. Use and evaluation of the most important manuals, the value of anthologies, and most important anthologies classified by epoch.
3. Use and evaluation of the most important historical manuals in order to understand the specific eras related to the studies chosen.
4. Use of text collections, evaluation and differences.
5. Use of special and general bibliographies. The journals in special disciplines.
6. Journals related to disciplines in the humanities, Chicano studies journals, their evaluation and comparisons.
7. The problems encountered with the editions of certain publications; comparisons between first editions, facsimile editions, principal editions, annotated editions, paleographic edition and diplomatic editions.
Problems of Investigation
1. Problems presented by the text. Difficulties arisen from the texts in relation to the eras. The variants. Evaluation of the variants and final decisions.
2. Biographic problems. Acquisition of documents. Utilization of data and documents. Adaptation of biographical data to the critique.
3. The bibliography. Utilization of prior works. Reading a work in order to gather important data. Bibliographic cards. The text card. Developmental tablets. How to develop a textual transcription How to do a citation.
4. Source studies. Intention of these studies. Their value. How to investigate a source and how to elaborate the material
5. Studies in literary history. Their value. Comparative literature. Evaluation and criticism.
6. Philological studies. Evaluation. Cautionary use of philology. How to annotate a text in a philological manner.
7. Stylistic studies. Definition and history. How to investigate the style. Evaluation and criticism of stylistics.
8. Sociological criticism. Definition and history. Intention and accomplishments. Evaluation.
9. Psychological criticism. Definition and history. Intention and accomplishments. Evaluation.
10. Formal and structural criticism. The structural sense of the work of art. Definition of a structures. Evaluation and criticism.
11. Critical impressionism. Values and errs. Critical eclecticism.
12. Development of a final work. Recommended precautions. Its publication. Problems of publication in given areas and languages.
ChS 502 Weekly Schedule
Jan. 27. Introduction,
Thematic approach for seminar research, research interest and preliminary bibliography
Assignament of XIX Century and contemporary periods in the humanities.
Video presentations, continued developmentof reserch topics and interest in the humanities.
The Chicano Experience, reading assignments and relationships of literature and art to reserch interests.