Culture, history and literature: Latin American revolutions

Undergraduate course

Course description

Objectives and Content

What is a revolution? And how have revolutions taken place in Latin America? What have been the reasons? And what have been the consequences?

Throughout the ages, Latin America has gone through many and major changes in many fields, like in politics, economy, society, literature and culture. In this course the students will look at different types of revolutions in Latin America, with an in-depth look at one or more of these. Examples of approaches to the theme can be national revolutions, such as in Cuba, Mexico or Bolivia, and cultural revolutions such as feminism, the green shift and el boom literario.

The theme(s) will be illuminated from a literary or a historical point of view, or from a combination of those. The in-depth topic approach will change from semester to semester and will be linked to the ongoing research at the institute and the teaching staff available. The institute provides information on which topics are offered at the start of the semester.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the course, the student must have the following learning outcomes:

Knowledge:

The student

  • has insight into central themes and a understanding of relevant research questions within Latin American history, literature and culture linked to Latin American revolutions as an extended concept.
  • has an understanding of how different perspectives shape the representations of revolutions in Latin America in a concrete context.

Skills:

The student

  • can understand and interpret different types of texts in Spanish.
  • can express themselves in writing and orally in Spanish, both on historical, literary and cultural subjects and more generally.

General Competence:

The student

  • can analyze subject matter and draw own conclusions.
  • can further develop knowledge, skills and an understanding through further study and working life.

Full-time/Part-time

Not relevant

ECTS Credits

10

Level of Study

Bachelor

Semester of Instruction

Spring

Place of Instruction

Bergen.
Required Previous Knowledge
There are no formal requirements, but all teaching will be held in Spanish and requires a good command of the Spanish language.
Recommended Previous Knowledge
Since all teaching is conducted in Spanish, we recommend a language level of at least B1 (cf. the CEFR scale) or SPLA100.
Credit Reduction due to Course Overlap
SPLA102 (10 credits), SLAN614 (10 credits) and SPLA628 (10 credits)
Access to the Course
The course is open to all with admission to the University of Bergen.
Teaching and learning methods

The teaching normally runs over a period of 8-10 weeks. It may also be relevant to schedule the teaching in blocks.

The course will follow the principles of student-active forms of learning, and throughout the semester there will be a great emphasis on self-activity. It is expected that the students prepare thoroughly for the lessons, carry out follow-up work, and complete compulsory assignments. Students may also be asked to prepare and present shorter presentations in class.

If fewer than five students register for a course, the teaching offer can be adapted to the number of students.

Compulsory Assignments and Attendance

There are two compulsory assignments. These must be carried out within deadlines set for these assignments. Information is given at the beginning of the semester about what tasks are required for each assignment and when they must be completed. Each assignment is assessed as approved/not approved. All assignments must be approved before a final assessment can be made in the subject.

The mandatory course assignments are valid for one semester after the semester the course was taken.

Forms of Assessment
Assessment for the course is an oral exam. For the oral exam, the student will hold a 10-12 minute presentation of a topic given by the course instructor one week before the exam. After the presentation, the student will be examined on one other course topic. The grade will be based on the presentation and the conversation afterwards. The exam will be in Spanish and both contents and languare are assessed.
Grading Scale
The grading scale A-F is used, where F is a failing grade.
Assessment Semester
Spring. There will also be given an assessment early in the fall semester for students with valid mandatory course work.
Reading List

The reading list corresponds to approximately 375 pages and can be composed of subject area texts and literary texts as well as texts in the wider sense, e.g. audiovisual sources. The curriculum literature is mainly in Spanish.

The literature list for the spring semester will be published on December 1.

Course Evaluation
The teaching will be evaluated according to the quality assurance system of the University of Bergen.
Examination Support Material
Not relevant
Programme Committee
The program committee is responsible for the academic content and the structure of the program, as well as for the quality of the study program and related courses.
Course Coordinator
Course Administrator
The Department of Foreign Languages at the Humanities Faculty is responsible for the administration of this course and study program.