This course, Hopscotch: Topics in Hispanic Literature, has been a really great learning experience in terms of both pedagogical style and Latin American Literature. Some of my favourite reads were Azuela’s The Underdogs, Bolaño’s Distant Star, and Garza’s The Taiga Syndrome. Although these works are all quite different I think what draws me to them is the clear narrative plot, even if the ending is not necessarily satisfying. Although I appreciate the temporal play it did hinder my reading experience at times. I am tempted to add I, Rigoberta Menchú to this list, but despite the clear plot driven narrative it is a bit too dark and constantly foreboding (mostly because I already had a bit of insight into the work before reading) to call it a favourite.
Throughout the course we discussed the theme of play a lot and although I recognise t in almost all the works in various different aspects now, I still struggle to understand its roots in Hispanic literary culture. Somewhat ironically in Distant Star the poetry workshops, a direct insight into literary circles, do not seem playful but rather serious. A lot of the works we have read, although dark, have been infused with hope, so perhaps this is what gives space for play in the works. The works were very politically relevant but it would perhaps have been nice to read one or two works that were not about politics but merely excellent works of entertainment. This could also offer insight into literary culture in Hispanic literature.
This course has been high work load due to the reading hours, in class and online lectures and weekly writing exercise. But unlike any of my previous high-workload courses, I have at no point been stressed about this course. On the one hand this is likely due to the guaranteed grade so there was less pressure on figuring out what the instructor was looking for and we had more space to investigate our own interests in the works covered. More importantly, I think it was the regularity of the coursework that helped reduce stress. It was clear at every stage what was expected of us and it wasn’t constantly changing from one assignment to the next. The room to play in the class has been really refreshing.
Question for the class: Besides play, what other central and recurring themes did you note in the works we read?
“A lot of the works we have read, although dark, have been infused with hope, so perhaps this is what gives space for play in the works.” I love this idea. I hadn’t thought about it but you’re right, somehow in several of the works that we read there are loopholes for hope, even in My tender Matador or Cartucho, which talk about acts of violence. I want to thank you for your interest in the books we read, for the classes, and for the comments you shared with us. When you want to talk about issues related to Hispanic culture, do not hesitate to contact us.
Hi Kara,
This course for me too helped me get acquainted with the political element of Latin American history a little bit more. In the course, we visited the Mexican Revolution in the Underdogs, the hints of war/conflict and the abuse of American corporations in 100 Years of Solitude, the injustices of indigenous people in numerous works, and a little bit about the imagined (yet based in truth) Peruvian military in Captain Pantoja.
I felt like I could play in this class too. It was never stressful personally, and I so enjoyed the flexibility to ‘hop’ around and choose my own adventure.
Take care,
Curtis HR
Hi there,
I really enjoyed reading your conclusion post for this class. I think you did a really great job of weaving together the books we’ve read this year, and connecting them all with this idea of hope. I think this is a great way of connecting the books across the term while simultaneously providing a perspective of lightness and hope to some of the darker texts we read this year. To answer your question a common theme I noticed throughout the texts was their ability to play with perspective and place each of us as readers not only into the time period in which they take place but also how to affects how we understand their world. This really emphasized a sense of empathy and understanding for the characters.
Thank you!
Elisabeth