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74908-01 - Course: Contemporary Mexican-American Literature (3 CP)
| Semester | spring semester 2025 |
| Course frequency | Once only |
| Lecturers |
Isabel Jimenez (isabel.jimenez@unibas.ch, Assessor)
David Spirgi (david.spirgi@unibas.ch) |
| Content | This course is a window into contemporary migrant voices in the United States, focusing on first-, second-, and third-generation Mexican-American experiences. Students will engage with themes of hybridity, otherness, and binational identity Through novels, essays, short stories, poems, and reportage. The course delves into significant works from authors like Margarita Longoria, Valeria Luiselli, Paola Ramos, and Sandra Cisneros. Students will explore how these authors address issues like postcolonialism, migration, feminism, and identity in a way that is both personal and political, offering key insights into Mexican-American contributions to contemporary literature. |
| Learning objectives | By the end of the course, students will be able to: -Define major themes and trends in contemporary Mexican-American literature. -Identify and explain key literary techniques, motifs, and themes within the course texts. -Analyze similarities and differences between the literature discussed, recognizing the historical and social contexts influencing the texts. -Contextualize literary works in broader cultural and historical frameworks, especially concerning postcolonialism and migration. -Reflect on and interpret the significance of hybrid identity and otherness through textual evidence and class discussions. |
| Bibliography | Students should acquire the following texts: -Margarita Longoria's *Living Beyond the Borders* -Valeria Luiselli's *Tell Me How It Ends* -Valeria Luiselli's, *Lost Children Archive* -Paola Ramos', *Finding Latinx* -Sandra Cisneros', *Martita, I Remember You* Other materials will be available via ADAM |
| Course application | Mexican-American literature is an essential part of American literature. As of 2022, around 37.41 million people of Mexican descent live in the United States, and this community continues to shape and enrich the country’s cultural and literary landscape. This course provides students with the tools to analyze and appreciate Mexican-American voices, helping them to contextualize broader social, historical, and cultural issues. Whether you are interested in postcolonial studies, migration, or the intricacies of fragmented identity, this course will offer a comprehensive foundation for your studies. |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Use of digital media | Online, mandatory |
| Course auditors welcome |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|---|
| wöchentlich | Wednesday | 10.15-12.00 | Rosshofgasse (Schnitz), Sitzungsraum S 184 |
Dates
| Modules |
Modul: Anglophone Literary and Cultural Studies (Master's degree subject: English) Modul: Interphilologie: Literaturwissenschaft BA (Bachelor's degree subject: English) Modul: Interphilologie: Literaturwissenschaft BA (Bachelor's degree subject: Ancient Civilizations) Modul: Interphilologie: Literaturwissenschaft BA (Bachelor's degree subject: German Language and Literature) Modul: Interphilologie: Literaturwissenschaft BA (Bachelor's degree subject: French Language and Literature) Modul: Interphilologie: Literaturwissenschaft BA (Bachelor's degree subject: Spanish Language and Literature) Modul: Interphilologie: Literaturwissenschaft BA (Bachelor's degree subject: Italian Language and Literature) Modul: Interphilologie: Literaturwissenschaft BA (Bachelor's degree subject: Nordic Philology (Start of studies before 01.08.2022)) Modul: Interphilologie: Literaturwissenschaft BA (Bachelor's degree program: Ancient Civilizations) Modul: Interphilologie: Literaturwissenschaft BA (Bachelor's degree subject: Nordic Philology) Modul: Interphilologie: Literaturwissenschaft MA (Master's degree subject: Slavic Studies) Modul: Interphilologie: Literaturwissenschaft MA (Master's degree subject: English) Modul: Interphilologie: Literaturwissenschaft MA (Master's degree subject: German Language and Literature) Modul: Interphilologie: Literaturwissenschaft MA (Master's degree subject: French Language and Literature) Modul: Interphilologie: Literaturwissenschaft MA (Master's degree subject: Spanish Language and Literature) Modul: Interphilologie: Literaturwissenschaft MA (Master's degree subject: Italian Language and Literature) Modul: Interphilologie: Literaturwissenschaft MA (Master's degree subject: German Literature) Modul: Interphilologie: Literaturwissenschaft MA (Master's degree subject: Latin Philology) Modul: Interphilologie: Literaturwissenschaft MA (Master's degree subject: Nordic Philology) Modul: Interphilologie: Literaturwissenschaft MA (Master's Studies - Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences) |
| Assessment format | continuous assessment |
| Assessment details | Assessment will depend on weekly in class participation, forum questions, and active engagement. |
| Assessment registration/deregistration | Reg.: course registration; dereg.: not required |
| Repeat examination | no repeat examination |
| Scale | Pass / Fail |
| Repeated registration | no repetition |
| Responsible faculty | Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, studadmin-philhist@unibas.ch |
| Offered by | Departement Sprach- und Literaturwissenschaften |