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Home 2016-2017 Undergraduate College Catalog Course Offerings Spanish Courses SPN 5051: Latin American Identity: History Culture and Songs (3 cr.)

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SPN 5051: Latin American Identity: History Culture and 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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