Macalester Moodle

SPAN 305 sirve de puente entre los niveles intermedios y avanzados del Departamento de Español y Portugués y, como su nombre lo indica, tiene por objetivo ayudar a les estudiantes de español a mejorar la expresión oral y escrita, así como también prepararles para los cursos más avanzados del departamento.
El tema central del curso será el concepto de la otredad en la cultura hispanohablante, que analizaremos tanto en la esfera privada como en la esfera pública. Para ello analizaremos distintas formas de expresión artística (fotografía, cine, narrativa, poesía, teatro), así como ensayos, noticias actuales y artículos de opinión, todos relacionados con las culturas y sociedades del mundo hispanohablante. Utilizaremos los textos presentados en el libro Retratos y analizaremos además algunos cuentos de la colección Siete casas vacías, de Samanta Schweblin.
Mediante estos textos, discutiremos cómo el concepto de la otredad se ha reflejado en algunos de los conflictos políticos, culturales y sociales más importantes del mundo hispanohablante durante los últimos dos siglos: desde el cuestionamiento de la familia y los roles tradicionales de género, hasta las revoluciones de los años 60 y los efectos del cambio climático en la actualidad.
Mediante algunas redacciones breves (reflexiones, resúmenes, entrevistas) y otras más extensas (narraciones y ensayos argumentativos), les estudiantes mejorarán su nivel de escritura y se prepararán para los cursos más avanzados. Igualmente, por medio de discusiones, debates, presentaciones y la grabación de un episodio de podcast, tendrán múltiples oportunidades de mejorar sus habilidades de expresión oral.

Ancient Egyptians invested immense resources in beautifully designed and crafted artworks and architectural spaces, many of which have survived today presenting spectacular views to contemporary beholders. Why this society assigned such a high value to art? What was its purpose and meaning? Who were the patrons and the intended audience? This course will explore the making, function, and reception of Egyptian art and architecture in its socio-economic and political contexts from pre-dynastic times (ca. 5300–3000 BCE) to the advent of Alexander the Great (332 BCE). The lectures and class discussions will focus on concepts of design, representation and aesthetics in Egypt, and explore the uses of art objects and monuments in politics, religion (both state and private cults), and burial practices. Addressing various topics such as pharaonic ideology, imperialism, gender, and afterlife, this course will help you comprehend the fundamental place of art and visual culture for the creation and sustenance of one of the oldest civilizations in the world.

These days, there is a lot of talk about the changing terms of formal employment, and related concerns have only intensified amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Entrepreneurs, gig workers, online contractors and now an unprecedented number of telecommuters are challenging conventional models of the nine-to-five job. But nine-to-five has hardly been the norm throughout history, nor does it describe the typical work experience around the world today. This course takes an anthropological approach to consider the contemporary diversity of working worlds and worker experiences, as well as important historical shifts that have brought us to this moment, are currently underway, and will carry us into new working futures. Gender, race, class, and age are all deeply implicated in unequal systems here, as are powerful environmental, economic and political forces. Who has to work? Who gets to work? Who is able to work safely? Who is empowered by it and who is exploited? Why do we work? What/Whose work is most valued? When will the robots come for our jobs? …What might a world without work look like? Drawing on examples from around the world, and materials ranging from ethnographic writing and film to popular media, u/dystopian fiction, as well as our own personal experiences, we will take a comparative approach to these and other pressing questions raised by today’s diverse and shifting worlds of work.

This course qualifies for the U.S.I.D. or Internationalism designation.