Course Details in 2024/25 Session

Module Title	LI Reading the World in Contemporary Spanish American Fiction
School	Lan, Cult, Art Hist & Music
Department	Modern Languages
Module Code	09 39288
Module Lead	Luis Medina Cordova
Level	Intermediate Level
Credits	20
Semester
Pre-requisites
Co-requisites
Restrictions	None
Contact Hours	Lecture-10 hours Seminar-20 hours Guided independent study-170 hours Total: 200 hours
Exclusions
Description	This module introduces students to one major theme in contemporary Latin American fiction: the quest for globality, i.e. the literary representation of the world as an interconnected whole. Through a survey of narrative fiction originally written in Spanish and published since the 1990s, it provides an exploration of the ways in which Latin American writers use literature as means of challenging and navigating national borders, reflecting on national and regional identities, and engaging with the world beyond regional boundaries. The module builds on postnational, transnational and cosmopolitan perspectives to develop students' awareness of the unique place of Latin American literary production in global cultural systems often divided into centres and peripheries as well as in the study of World Literature. Through the analysis of primary and secondary sources in Spanish, in English, as well as in translation, students will increase their knowledge of social, cultural, and political issues essential for understanding Latin America today.
Learning Outcomes	By the end of the module students should be able to: Critically analyse contemporary Spanish American literature to reflect on and discuss social issues that mark life in Latin America today. Identify and analyse representations of globality in contemporary Spanish American fiction and discuss their cultural meanings in the target language. Demonstrate understanding of the place of contemporary Latin American production in global literary and cultural systems to examine the politics of – and problems with – dividing the world into cultural centres and peripheries. Show an ability to discuss critically the key issues in the target language, working towards level B2 and beyond of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) for languages (Advanced students only) Show an ability to discuss critically the key issues in the target language, working towards level B1 and beyond of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) for languages (Intermediate students only)
Assessment
Assessment Methods & Exceptions	Assessment: 2,000 word essay in English (75%). Digital project: 10 mins critical video commentary in Spanish (25%). Reassessment: Re-submit failed component
Other
Reading List