Robert C. Schwaller
How do
we understand out past? Most cultures have used mythology and history to record
and pass on their conceptions of the past. This course will examine how
cultures construct a narrative of their past. From Pizarro to Pancho Villa this class will use the example of Latin
America to examine the relationship between myth and history. Like the
contemporary American myth about George Washington and the apple tree, Latin
Americans have also melded history with myth as a tool for understanding their
past. Using a variety of materials including films, novels, and historical
documents, students will explore the process of making myths and writing
history. What makes a good myth? What distinguishes myth from history? How do
Latin American mythologies differ from those familiar to most Americans? By
exploring varied mythologies in film, literature, and history students will
develop the skills of analysis, interpretation, and communication that will
help them better understand how their own past has been constructed.
· Students should be able conduct basic
historical inquiry
· Students should be able analyze and
critique literary and cinematic texts
· Students should be able to explain how
myth and history are related
· Students should be able conduct research
using resources available at KU
· Students should be able to express
themselves in writing and in-person
This course is based around
in-class discussion. In order to get full credit for these discussions, students
must have read the assigned readings and be active participants in class. I
reserve the right to hold pop-quizzes over reading material. Attendance is
mandatory. Students may have up to two (2) unexcused absences during the semester. Students should make
all due effort to inform the instructor of any excused absences in advance.
1. Restall, Matthew. Seven Myths of the Spanish
Conquest. (ISBN: 9780195176117)
2.
Matto
de Turner, Clorinda. Torn from the Nest (ISBN:
9780195110067)
3.
Fuentes,
Carlos. Aura (ISBN: 9780374511715)
4.
Gamerro,
Carlos. An Open Secret (ISBN: 9781908968340)
1.
Chasteen,
John. Born in Blood and Fire (ISBN: 9780393911541)
Student’s grades will be
assigned as follows:
Class Attendance and Participation
(including any
pop-quizzes): 10%
Grade Scale:
A = 100-93 D+
= 69-67
A- = 92-90 D
= 66-63
B+ = 89-87 D-
= 62-60
B = 86-83 F
= 59-0
B- = 82-80
C+ = 79-77
C = 76-73
C- = 72-70
Papers
received late will suffer a loss of one letter grade per day! After 5 days I will
not accept any papers for any reason. Students with a verifiable illness,
emergency, or other university approved excuse should
inform me of any problem as soon as possible to avoid late penalties.
The University of Kansas defines
Academic Misconduct as follows:
6.1 Academic misconduct by a student shall include, but not
be limited to, disruption of classes; threatening an instructor or fellow
student in an academic setting; giving or receiving of unauthorized aid on
examinations or in the preparation of notebooks, themes, reports or other
assignments; knowingly misrepresenting the source of any academic work;
unauthorized changing of grades; unauthorized use of University approvals or
forging of signatures; falsification of research results; plagiarizing of
another's work; violation of regulations or ethical codes for the treatment of
human and animal subjects; or otherwise acting dishonestly in research. (https://documents.ku.edu/policies/governance/USRR.htm#art2sect6)
Academic misconduct will not be
tolerated in this course. Should academic misconduct be identified the
assignment will receive no credit and a report will be submitted to the
College. In all cases of academic misconduct, History Department and College
procedures will be followed. If a student has questions concerning citation,
quotation, sources, or any other issue relating to academic honesty they should
contact the instructor prior to submitting the assignment in question.
The KU office of Disability
Resources coordinates accommodations and services for all students who are
eligible. If you have a disability or require an academic accommodation and
have not contacted DR, please do so as soon as possible. Their office is
located in 22 Strong Hall; their phone number is 785-864-2620 (V/TTY).
Information about their services can be found at
http://disability.ku.edu.
Please also contact me privately in regard to your needs in this course.
8/27
– Introduction
8/29
– What is history? What is mythology?
Week 2
9/3 –
Lecture/Discussion – Spanish Conquest
9/5 –
Discussion Seven Myths
Read – Seven Myths, Intro and Chapter 1
Week 3
9/10
– Discussion Seven Myths
Read – Seven
Myths, Chapter 2-3
9/12
– Discussion Seven Myths
Read – Seven
Myths, Chapter 4-5
Week 4
Film: Watch Road to El
Dorado by 9/24
9/17
– Discussion Seven Myths
Read – Seven
Myths, Chapter 6-7, Epilogue
9/19
– Discussion – How to critique a film.
Read – Handout Available on Blackboard
Week 5
Film: Watch Road to El
Dorado by 9/24
Film: Watch La Otra Conquista by 10/1
9/24
– Discussion Road to El Dorado
9/26
– How to write an academic essay.
Week 6
Film: Watch La Otra Conquista by 10/1
10/1
– Discussion La Otra
Conquista
10/3
– Lecture - Independence in Latin America and National Struggles
How to develop a research topic
Conquest
Essay Due 10/3
Week 7
Film: Watch Camila by 10/17
10/8
– Discussion Torn from the Nest
10/10
– Discussion Torn from the Nest
How to evaluate
sources.
Week 8
Film: Watch Camila by 10/17
10/15
– No Class – Fall Break
10/17
– Discussion Camila
Week 9
10/22
– Meet at Spencer Art Museum
Due
19th c. Stuggles Essay 10/22
10/24
– No Class
Week 10
10/29
– Meet at library for specialized research session
10/31
–
Week 11
Film: Watch Like Water for
Chocolate by 11/7
11/5
– Discussion Aura
Read Carlos Fuentes’ Aura
Research
Topic and Bibliography Due 11/5
11/7
– Discussion Like Water for Chocolate
Week 12
11/12
– Presentations on thesis statement and preliminary research
11/14
– Presentations cont.
Thesis Statement Due 11/12 or 11/14
Week 13
Film: Watch La Historia Oficial by 11/21
11/19
– Lecture – Military Rule in the Southern Cone
Read Ariel Dorfman’s
“Reader” – Available on Blackboard
11/21
– Discuss La Historia
Oficial
Week 14
11/26
– Discuss La Historia
Oficial
Rough
Draft Due 11/26
11/28
– Happy Thanksgiving!! (No class)
Week 15
12/3
– Discuss An Open Secret
12/5
– Discuss An Open Secret
Dirty
War Essay Due 12/5
Week 16
12/10
– Presentations
12/12
– Presentations
Finals Week
12/19 – Final Drafts Due via Blackboard