Public Life in Latin America
Fall 2013
How do Latin Americans navigate their ways, collectively and also individually, through their hierarchical social orders? Why is there so often so much stability and order to their societies? Surveys inform us that Latin Americans are among the happiest people in the world? Why might this be? Why do so many Latin Americans across time appear to be so proud of their nations? Why do they look at one another so often? Why is there so little hatred in Latin America? Why do poor people in Latin America seem to know more about rich people than rich people know about them? Why do traditions matter so? Why are there so many good novelists there? These and other questions, answerable and not, about life and the human condition in Latin America are what will be about in this course.
Probable Texts
Ernesto Che Guevara, The Motorcycle Diaries
Carlos Fuentes, The Campaign, On-line used copy
John Charles Chasteen, Heroes on Horseback: The Life and Times of the Last Gaucho Caudillos
Carlos Fuentes, The Good Conscience
Gabriel García Márquez, One Hundred Years of Solitude
Julia Alvarez, In the Time of the Butterflies
Philippe Bourgois, In Search of Respect: Selling Crack in the Barrio
David Goldstein, The Spectacular City: Violence and Performance in Urban Bolivia
Sian Lazar, El Alto, Rebel City: Self and Citizenship in Andean Bolivia
Alma Guillermoprieto, Samba
Forrest Colburn, Latin America and the End of Politics
Grading
The journal, submitted as a work in progress during any day between November 1 and November 7, worth 30% of the grade, written continuously on Word, and sent as an email attachment. A twenty page final essay on historical patterns in Latin America, worth 40% of the grade. This final essay will emerge organically from the journal. Hard copy. Class participation, according to a structured format, worth 30% of the grade.
