Queering Creation in the Arts of Latin America (SPA4606.01)

Lena Retamoso Urbano

For this course, we will analyze, in depth, authors such as César Moro, Pedro Lemebel, Alejandra Pizarnik, and Felipe Cussen, who are representative voices of the counter cultural 20th and 21st Century Latin American literary and artistic scenery. We will discuss how different authors from diverse periods and regions develop queer textual and performative strategies to represent a world that, in the words of José Esteban Muñoz, is configured with “a critique of a present order, and of the overarching dictate of how things are and will always be in an unyielding status quo.” We will work with fluctuating definitions of Queer theory, especially from authors such as José Esteban Muñoz, Judith Butler, and David W. Foster, to outline a queer aesthetic dimension in Modern Latin American literature and the arts. This course focuses on student-generated discussion and critical thinking about a variety of texts and concepts, and students learn to defend their ideas in spoken and written language. Discussions, presentations, recitations, and performances will provide different means to develop the students’ oral proficiency. To solidify their writing skills, students will produce both analytical and creative work. Intermediate-High Level. In Spanish


Learning Outcomes:
1) Gain a well-informed understanding of the particularities of underrepresented and alternative artistic manifestations in Latin America.
2) Gain confidence in their ability to speak, read and write in Spanish about counter cultural artistic pieces.
3) Develop critical thinking and analytical skills through discussions of audiovisual, literary and performative texts as well as close textual analysis.
4) Design an academic and/or creative project associated with underrepresented and alternative literary and performative cultural voices in Latin America.


Delivery Method: Fully in-person
Prerequisites: Intermediate-Low Spanish course at Bennington or taking a brief oral and/or written test to evaluate proficiency. Email Lena Retamoso Urbano (lenaretamosourbano@bennington.edu) by November 12 to express interest.
Corequisites: Attendance at 2 Language Series events
Course Level: 4000-level
Credits: 4
M/Th 10:00AM - 11:50AM (Full-term)
Maximum Enrollment: 15
Course Frequency: One time only

Categories: All courses , Fully In-Person , Spanish
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