Researching Cultures: Representations of Childhood in the Spanish-speaking World

This course examines the construct of childhood in the Spanish-speaking world from an interdisciplinary perspective. We will explore the aesthetic, cultural, sociopolitical, and legal implications of a variety of media, about and/or for children. The course is divided into three thematic units. The first will delve into the pedagogical, nation-building and moral projects that underpin the development of children's literatures in the Hispanic world. The second focuses on children in the midst of crises, where we will turn our attention to issues of child labor, migration, poverty, public health, the environment, as well as economic and political crises that lay bare the inherent vulnerabilities of children. We will also familiarize ourselves with the work of a variety organizations that aim to mitigate child suffering and develop social awareness about the treatment and living conditions of children. The third unit centers around media and the child consumer, where we will explore the effects of social media, the advertising and marketing of food, games and toys, as well as a variety of other issues that affect children's emotional and psychosocial development. Some of the texts and films we will study include Ismaelillo and a selection of La edad de oro by José Martí, Cuentos pintados y morales by Rafael Pombo, Perico trepa por Chile by Alicia Morel, a selection of poems by Rubén Darío, Sólo un pie descalzo by Ana María Matute, Los herederos by Eugenio Polgovsky, Voces inocentes by Luis Mandoki and Entre nos by Gloria La Morte and Paola Mendoza. Additional materials include newspaper articles, podcasts and songs. This course fulfills the Writing Intensive (WI) requirement for Arts and Sciences students. Prereq. Spanish 303 or 308E, and one (or preferably two) of the following: 341, 342, 343, 370, 380 or Debating Cultures. Students who have taken more than four Spanish culture or literature classes are not allowed in this course and must proceed to a Major Seminar.
Course Attributes: BU IS; AS HUM; AS LCD; AS LS; AS WI I; FA HUM; AR HUM; AS SC; EN H

Researching Cultures: Representations of Childhood in the Spanish-speaking World

SPANISH 3617

Section 01