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COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course is an introduction to the culture and history of Argentina. The term culture here includes not only canonical forms of art (painting, architecture and sculpture, among others), but also other types of plastic, visual and textual expressions like film, photography and newspapers as well as different genres of popular music.

At the same time, in a course of this nature the term history does not mean a chronological and panoramic overview of the evolution of one or more nations over several centuries. On the contrary, for this experience to be truly useful for the students, the historical dimension has to be present in a thematic, critical and selective approach to the great social, political and cultural problems of the country and cultural area. Thus the chronological aspect is incorporated within a structure that favors the conceptual analysis of themes or problems. The purpose of this historical perspective is to give students a more sophisticated understanding of the realities they experience everyday, directly or indirectly, as they go about fulfilling their daily tasks, taking a bus to go to class or gathering with friends in a coffee shop.

The relationship between the two elements of the course, history and culture, is dynamic. On the one hand, it is important that students learn to appreciate and discuss texts and cultural objects of different nature and origins. On the other hand these texts, images and objects should also serve as a space in which to investigate and discuss themes, problems and affairs relevant to the development of different Latin American countries or regions. In other words, the merely formal or formalistic assessment of a text cannot be a goal in itself if that assessment does not help to understand other facets (of identity, geopolitics, ideology, sex and gender, etc.) of the text and its historical and cultural context.

*Note to students: Please allow your instructor 24 hours to respond to any e-mail. Theinstructor reserves the right to not respond to messages during the weekend(Saturday and Sunday).

SPANISH INTENSIVE LANGUAGEUNIVERSIDAD TORCUATO DI TELLA

HISTORY AND CULTURE OF ARGENTINA

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RELEVANT UNITS The subject matter of the different units will be covered from a diachronic perspective, looking always to its relevance to the present. At the same time, subjects are not intended as independent but as a well woven whole in which a text, a film or an image presented in one unit acquires additional meaning as the course advances.

1st week: Course Introduction – Presentation of the course; Class activity: What is history and why should we study it?

2nd week: Creation of the Nation and the State – Halperín Donghi, The Revolution (47-65) Mariano Moreno, The Landowners’ Petition (66-70) Gorriti, Women in the Fatherland (73-74)

3rd week: Civilization and Barbarism – Rosas, The Caudillo’s Order (75-79) Sarmiento, Civilization or Barbarism? (80-90) Alberdi, Immigration as a Means of Progress (95-101) Echeverría, The Slaughterhouse (107-114) Film: Camila (dir. María Luisa Bemberg)

4th week: Gauchos and “Indians” – Charles Darwin, Wars of Extermination (115-118) Mansilla, An Expedition to the Ranquel Indians (146-153) David Viñas, The Foundation of the National State (161-169) Amerindian Rights. State Law of Indigenous Rights (525-527) José Hernández, Gauchos in and out of the State (133-145) Leopoldo Lugones, National Identity in a Cosmopolitan Society (209-213) Paintings: A. Della Valle; Martín León Boneo; Prilidiano Pueyrredón; E. de la Cárcova

5th week: Immigration and the Turn of the Century – Nouzeilles, Splendor and Fin de Siècle (157-160) Ramos Mejía, The Modern Crowd (182-187) Oreste Sola, Making it in America (188-192) Collier, The Birth of Tango (196-202) Music: Discépolo, Cambalache (266-267) “La violeta” and other tangos. Class Trip: Milonga

6th week: The Formation of Modern Political Parties and the UCR – Osvaldo Bayer, Simon Radowitzky (219-230) David Rock, The Unión Cívica Radical (231-250)

7th week: Midterm exam—

8th week: Vacation

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9th week: Peronism – Antiperonism – James, Perón and the People (273-295) Eloy Martínez, Santa Evita (296-303)

10th week: Revolutionary Times – Nouzeilles, Revolutionary Dreams (341-343) Guevara, The Latin American Revolution According to “Che” (345-351) Gillespie, Montoneros: Soldiers of Perón (377-385) Perón, Antirevolutionary Peronism (386-393) Walsh, Open Letter from a Writer to the Military Junta Photography: Ausencias. Gustavo Germano

11th week: Transition to Democracy and the Struggle for Justice – CONADEP, Never Again (440-447) Alfonsín, Teaching the Republic (477-480) Osvaldo Soriano, Living With Inflation (481-486) Film: La parte por el todo (dir. Santiago Nacif)

12th week: Dictatorship, State Repression and Resistance – Class Trip: Former ESMA Detention Center

13th week: The Neoliberal 90s and the 2001 Crisis – Palermo and Novaro, Menem: A New Style in Politics (487-494) Rabanal, Roadblocks, Detours, and Crossroads (500-503) Auyero, We Are All Cursed (509-518) Film: Memoria del saqueo (dir. Fernando Solanas) Class Trip: Fábrica recuperada (worker-run factory)

14th week: Final exam –

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EVALUATION CRITERIA Midterm Exam 25% Final Exam 25% Reading Responses 25% Class Participation 25%

Midterm Exam (25%) The midterm exam will consist of short answer and essay questions. There will be no make-up exams.

Final Written Exam (25%) The final exam will be comprehensive and will include short answer and essay questions. If you have a conflict with the final exam schedule, you must present documentation to your instructor before the fourth week of classes.

Reading Responses (25%) Students will be required to submit 6 well-thought-out responses to the assigned materials and/or field trips over the course of the semester (3 in the first half before the midterm, 3 in the second half). Students may choose which weeks they submit responses based on their own criteria. Responses must consist of 200-250 words revealing a careful and critical reflection of one or more of the assigned materials in question (i.e. NOT simply a summary). Responses must be sent to UCReadingHistory@gmail.com and are due Tuesdays at 12pm. Late responses will not be accepted. Selections of particularly interesting responses will be made each week and serve as a catalyst for class discussion.

Class Participation (25%) Students will be evaluated on their active contribution to class discussions and participation in activities. Given that class participation and discussion are a fundamental aspect of the course, students are expected to come to class prepared, having previously read and analyzed the assigned texts.

COURSE GRADE The final course grade will be based on a percentage system of the points accumulated during the quarter.

WORKLOAD Each class will require approximately 4-5 hours a week of systematic studying.

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Attendance Policy: The UTDT has a strict attendance policy. Class attendance and attendance on course-related field trips is mandatory and essential for successful completion of the course. Students are allowed only three (3) absences per semester and one (1) late arrival (subsequent late arrivals count as absences). If students miss a class or a field trip for a medical reason, they must present a medical waiver in order for the absence to be excused. Please note, when students miss a class or a field trip they are still responsible for the material covered. It is their responsibility to ask a classmate for class notes and then, after reading them over, see the professor in a timely manner with any questions on the material.

Religious Observance:

Some students may wish to take part in religious observances that occur during this academic term. If a student has a religious observance that conflicts with his or her participation in this course, they must advise the professor before the end of the second week of the term to discuss appropriate accommodations.

Please Read Carefully: Personal obligations which may include, but are not limited to: travel study, conferences, participation in club sports, internships, training, employment, scheduled medical or dental appointments or procedures, other examinations, interviews, personal events such as family weddings, anniversaries or vacations, will NOT be considered as excused absences for midterm exams or the final exam. If you miss an exam for ANY reason other than a documented legal or medical emergency, you will receive “0” on that exam. There will be no exceptions to this policy. If the midterm is missed due to a documented legal or medical emergency of your own, you must present the appropriate documentation to your instructor no later than 48 hours after the absence. No documentation will be accepted after 48 hours. Permission to make-up the midterm exam is given solely at the discretion of the Program Director.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

As a student and member of the University community, you are expected to demonstrate integrity in all of your academic endeavors. You are evaluated on your own merits. As specified by University policy, violations or attempted violations of academic dishonesty include, but are not limited to: cheating, fabrication, plagiarism, multiple submissions, or facilitating academic dishonesty (See University of California Policies Applying to Campus Activities, Organizations, and Students, 102.01). Violations of the academic integrity policy are not acceptable and will not be tolerated. For more information, please visit: http://www.deanofstudents.ucla.edu/students.html

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