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Home 2013-2014 Undergraduate College Catalog Course Offerings Spanish Courses SPN 3051: Latin American Identity: History, Culture & Songs (3 cr.)

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SPN 3051: Latin American Identity: History, Culture & Songs (3 cr.)

Throughout history, societies have found different

ways to record important events, and to describe

their culture to present and future generations.

Music has served as a vehicle to communicate

feelings and to describe the most important

historical events of a given society. This course

will look at cultural themes and at certain

contemporary historical events in Latin America,

as recorded by popular songwriters and singers.

This course will explore many cultural themes

including: slavery, racism, migration, romance,

religion, death, role of women, and poverty in

Latin America. We will discuss many important

contemporary historical events such as: The

Mexican Revolution, The Cuban Revolution, The Great

Depression and its effects in Puerto Rico, Slave

Revolts, Civil wars in Central America,

Deforestation in Brazil-Chico Mendez, The struggle

of the Farm Workers-Cesar Chavez, etc.

Each topic and/or event will be reviewed and

discussed, through the use of the main textbook

and other supporting literature. Students will

also be exposed to song(s) written in reference to

teach specific historical events or cultural

themes. Every topic will be linked to specific

songs, in order to provide students with the

opportunity to gain a better understanding of the

topics covered in the class.

Students will be able to link history, culture,

and songs which will help them discover the

connection among history, culture, and music in

the region. There will be class discussions, a

short paper presentation, as well as a final exam

or project.

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