Module Catalogue 2024/25

LAS1010 : Introducción a América Latina

LAS1010 : Introducción a América Latina

  • Offered for Year: 2024/25
  • Module Leader(s): Dr Patricia Oliart
  • Owning School: Modern Languages
  • Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters

Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.

Semester 1 Credit Value: 10
Semester 2 Credit Value: 10
ECTS Credits: 10.0
European Credit Transfer System
Pre-requisite

Modules you must have done previously to study this module

Pre Requisite Comment

None

Co-Requisite

Modules you need to take at the same time

Code Title
SPA1071Level B (HE Intermediate) Spanish
Co Requisite Comment

This is a module taught in Spanish available for students of Spanish level B.

Aims

In consonance with the overall aim of the degree offered in the School of Modern Languages, the general aim of this module is to introduce students to the geography, politics, and key social and historical issues that allow a complex understanding of contemporary Latin America. Other aims are to provide a multidisciplinary overview and understanding of post coloniality in Latin America, to provide context and initial knowledge of issues to be taught in other SPLAS modules, and finally to familiarize students with a wide range of sources and research resources on Latin America.

Outline Of Syllabus

This survey module follows a diachronic approach, bringing a historical perspective to contemporary issues.
It combines lectures, seminars, and independent study activities. The first half provides a historical framework to understand the place of Latin America in the world. The relevance of the colonization of Amerindian civilizations for the contemporary republics is studied through the independent nation building processes as they occurred in a selection of countries. The importance of race relations and cultural tensions in these processes is dealt with throughout the module. The semester ends with sessions dedicated to the relationship between this socio-historical background and the contemporary cultural production.

The second half of the module presents a closer look at the political ideas and ideological trends that inspired political and social movements throughout the 20th century. The tense relationship between Latin America and the US is explored in its economic, social and political implications between 1950 and 1980. The module ends with an exploration of current attempts to overcome major development challenges.

Semester 1:
-       Characteristics of the territory and first peoples. The contributions of ethnohistory and anthropology
-       The encounter with the West. Spanish and Portugal Colonial expansion to the Americas
-       Nation building processes and the idea of race in Latin America after Independence
-       Latin American cultural production: Dealing with tradition and modernity. Journalism, Literature, painting and photography.
Semester 2:
-       Ideology, politics, and contemporary challenges.
-       The short Twentieth Century: The emergence of “The People” in ideology and politics.
-       From 1950 to 1980: Times of Hope and unrest
-       Military dictatorships and The National Security Doctrine. What Truth Commissions revealed.
-       In search of stability and development: Neo Liberal State reforms for the XXI Century and the Pink tide.
-       Political changes and new challenges for Latin America.

Learning Outcomes

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

Students taking this module should have a general understanding of:
- the geographic and historical roots of current Latin American cultures and societies
- their demographic, ethnic, socio-economic, cultural, and political structures
- Contemporary social, cultural and political issues specific to Latin American history
- major developmental challenges in the region
- knowledge of relevant and reliable sources to find information about Latin America
- significant in-depth knowledge of one particular aspect of the syllabus per term.

Intended Skill Outcomes

- taking notes effectively in lectures and seminars
- the close reading of non-literary texts
- presenting an argument in a convincing form
- group work
- familiarity with the University and online research resources
- efficient use of Canvas resources for coursework

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities
Category Activity Number Length Student Hours Comment
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion137:0037:00N/A
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture221:0022:00N/A
Structured Guided LearningAcademic skills activities412:0048:00N/A
Structured Guided LearningStructured research and reading activities204:0080:00N/A
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesSmall group teaching111:0011:00N/A
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesModule talk40:302:00N/A
Total200:00
Teaching Rationale And Relationship

This is a survey module with a diachronic approach. Historical circumstances are always brought to the present to make clear connections with their relevance to understand contemporary Latin America. Each topic is dealt with a combination of lectures, assigned readings and guided seminar small group discussions that are shared with the larger seminar groups. Readings combine both primary sources and scholarly articles that allow students to go further in their understanding of Latin American societies and cultures. Talks are recordings of online videos or interviews with ad-hoc interviews between the ML and specialists.

Reading Lists

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Other Assessment
Description Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Written exercise1A30800-word written exercise (short literature review) in Spanish on one chosen topic from set list.
Essay2A701700 word essay in English
Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The mid-term assessment will help students to deepen knowledge of a particular topic, and to learn how to use library sources. It is intended to develop initial research skills helping students to identify and critically comment on relevant sources and to practice Spanish in an academic register. It works as a training in research skills for the final essay.

The final essay will invite students to look independently into the different areas of study emerging from the lectures and readings in both semesters. The resit essay has the same format as the final essay and serves the same purpose.

Timetable

Past Exam Papers

General Notes

N/A

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Disclaimer

The information contained within the Module Catalogue relates to the 2024 academic year.

In accordance with University Terms and Conditions, the University makes all reasonable efforts to deliver the modules as described.

Modules may be amended on an annual basis to take account of changing staff expertise, developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback. Module information for the 2025/26 entry will be published here in early-April 2025. Queries about information in the Module Catalogue should in the first instance be addressed to your School Office.