Module Catalogue 2024/25

Pre Requisite Comment

None

Co Requisite Comment

None

Aims

In consonance with the overall aims of the degrees offered in the School of Modern Languages, this module aims to introduce students to the study of a wide range of cultural practices in Latin America, introducing them to a relevant theoretical approaches and methodologies, and providing them with an in-depth understanding of cultural diversity in countries across the region.

In addition, this module aims to make aspects of the above available to students from outside the degree.

Outline Of Syllabus

Lecture materials and synchronous teaching activities (both present-in-person and online) will introduce students to the knowledge and skills required for the comparative analysis and study of Latin American cultures.
Case studies will be drawn from a wide range of countries (e.g. Bolivia, Brazil, Cuba, Colombia, Haiti, Panama, Peru, Mexico, Venezuela) and will be used to exemplify the problems attendant on the study of the complex relationship between the region’s different demographic groups.

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

Students will show their knowledge of key concepts in anthropology, sociology and cultural studies, including notions such as the ontological turn, cultural hegemony, hybridity, mestizaje, multiculturalism and interculturalidad. Students will display an in-depth knowledge of case studies taken from a range of Latin American countries which include an understanding of aspects of colonial history as well as a grasp of the dynamics of cultural interaction and the political significance of identity construction in contemporary Latin America.

They will also be able to problematize the position of the researcher when engaging with "otherness" and grasp the power relationships inscribed in academic knowledge production and its methodologies.

Intended Skill Outcomes

Students will develop the ability to:

•       Take notes effectively from recorded lecture materials, seminar discussions, journals and secondary
material.
•       Find secondary material in bibliographies devoted to Latin American studies, and critically engage with
these materials in order to assess their relevance and use for assignments.
•       Operate effectively in group discussions.
•       Analyse closely a range of cultural products and practices- e.g. adverts, music videos, news programmes,
soap operas, excerpts from films, cultural practices.
•       Carry out effective analysis of a specific cultural practice in relation to at least two of the key
concepts covered during the course (mestizaje/
hybridity/transculturation/interculturalidad/multiculturalism).
•       Develop the necessary skill set for writing a competent essay that is able to structure and present a
clear argument.
•       Develop autonomy in independent study, particularly in the management and assessment of a wide range of
sources.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

We will adopt flexible, blended learning methods and strategies to introduce students to a wide range of Latin American cultural practices and power relations. Lectures, both in the form of present in person sessions and in the form of non-synchronous online teaching, will outline general principles, illustrated by specific examples, and be supplemented by structured independent reading and guided online learning activities. Small group teaching will allow students to explore local contexts, allowing for detailed discussion and analysis as well as revisiting and reinforcing knowledge from the lecture materials and online guided activities. Seminars will provide the students with the opportunity to lead discussion on a topic through interactive activities that develop their independent thinking and critical analysis, and also allow them to engage with the thinking of academics and activists based in Latin America. Both types of learning activities will include advice on how to prepare for assessment. Surgery hours allow students to consult the module leader with any particular difficulties in understanding concepts, tasks, etc. Independent learning includes preparation for small group work, further reading and assessment. Our experience of using online material during the pandemic has shown us that we can cover more case studies, in more depth, using this approach.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The semester 1 written assignment allows students to demonstrate their grasp of the foundational concepts. The
semester 2 summative assessment allows students to build on the feedback gained from the formative assessment done in mid semester and the knowledge and skills developed over both semesters to plan and execute an assessed essay that asks them to apply their conceptual knowledge to a specific country context, in the same way that the seminars exemplify the concepts discussed in the rest of the course.

General Notes

N/A