Course Details in 2026/27 Session

Module Title	LH Imagining the Truth: Latin American Culture in a Post-truth World
School	Lan, Cult, Art Hist & Music
Department	Modern Languages
Module Code	09 34900
Module Lead	Antonio M. Sánchez
Level	Honours Level
Credits	20
Semester	Semester 1
Pre-requisites
Co-requisites
Restrictions	None
Contact Hours	Lecture-10 hours Seminar-20 hours Guided independent study-170 hours Total: 200 hours
Exclusions
Description	The question of truth has always been a hotly debated one, but it seems to be more at issue than ever in recent years. The emergence of qualifiers attached to the concept of truth (post-truth in particular was declared 2016 word of the year by Oxford Dictionaries) and phrases such as ‘fake news’ or ‘alternative facts’ may indicate that the notion of truth is indeed changing. This module explores the consequences for learning, teaching and scholarship in the Humanities of this shift that involves a diminished importance of investigation and fact-checking (i.e. re-search). If truth and facts, and the way of attaining them, no longer seem to make significant difference to the way people think or act, it is a legitimate enquiry to explore the purpose of learning, teaching and research in this context. This module will explore these issues by studying a series of texts from Hispanic culture that deal with historical investigation, witnessing, testimony, etc. As they are concerned with issues of great importance to ordinary people (e.g. state violence, human rights, cultural identity, etc), they will be studied in relation to the controversies and debates they have sparked. The meaning and purpose of studying them will also be a key element of the approach to them.
Learning Outcomes	By the end of the module students should be able to:Demonstrate a sound understanding of the issues surrounding debates about the concept of truth and their relevance for Latin American culture; Engage with and analyse critically a range of Latin American cultural texts in which issues of truth and falsehood are at play; Demonstrate a broad knowledge of the commonalities and differences of the debates about truth in Latin America with similar ones in other areas outside the region.
Assessment	34900-01 : 2,000 word article in English : Coursework (50%) 34900-02 : 5-7 minute video presentation : Presentation (50%)
Assessment Methods & Exceptions	Assessment: A Wikipedia style article written in English, 2000 words (50%); An in-class seminar group presentation in English, 5 minute individual contributions (25%) group mark; A 5-7 minute video presentation in Spanish (25%). Reassessment: No resits are permitted in final year. If students miss the assessed task owing to extenuating circumstances, the failed task would be rescheduled at a later date.
Other
Reading List