LITERARY AND CULTURAL KNOWLEDGE
Students develop a reasonable understanding of the ways of thinking (ideas, beliefs, attitudes, values, philosophies), the behavioral practices (patterns of social interactions) and the cultural products – both tangible and intangible (for example, art, history, literature, music) of Hispanic societies.
Reflective Narrative
Under this MLO, I have completed the following courses: SPAN 365: The Chicano Narrative (Fall 2011), SPAN 308: Hist/ Cultr Aztlan: SW US (Spring 2011), SPAN 321: Masterpieces of Hispanic Literature (Spring 2014), SPAN 427: Latin American Women Writers (Spring 2020).
History, literature, and culture have contributed to our understanding of Latin American societies through ways of thinking, behavioral practices, and cultural products. In order to gain a further understanding of Latin American historical and cultural foundations, I took SPAN 308: History/ Culture SW Aztlan: SW US during Spring 2012. This course covered the stories of the indigenous people of the southwestern United States during the historical periods: the Spanish colonial period, the Mexican period, and the acquisition and settlement by the United States. In this course, we read Mexicanos, Second Edition : A History of Mexicans in the United States by Manuel G. Gonzales, which helped us understand Mexican history and its importance to 21st century America. This book helps us understand the impact of historical events and how they have affected the Mexican response to political and economic precarity.
Apart from entertainment, literature has several purposes: narrations, illuminating, protesting injustice, educating on past historical events, criticism of historical events, and even healing for Latin Americans. I took SPAN 427: Latin American Women Writers in Spring 2020 to further understand women’s perspectives throughout history. For example, in “Amor, Maternidad, y el Sufrimiento en los poemas de Gabriela Mistral,” I analyzed the poems Desolación and Piececitos in order to emphasize the themes of loss of a loved one and a mother’s love. These themes intertwine with the aftermath of poverty and the effects of psychological distress. Understanding the effects of poverty on children, which in turn affects the wellbeing of mothers, helps us understand women in history and the tragic events that they have suffered and continue to suffer. Moreover, there was also another reflection I completed in this course titled “Imágenes, Símbolos, y Personificaciones en El árbol” where I analyzed how the author, María Luisa Bombal, portrays the protagonist’s journey of finding happiness through utilizing imagery, symbolism, and personification. Understanding the perspective of the protagonist, Brígida, and connecting her to powerful composers sets the setting of the restricted social roles in the time period. In SPAN 321: Masterpieces of Hispanic Literature, I was able to explore the historical, political, and social context of the Peninsular Spanish experience. I analyzed another poem, written in the 19th century, El girasol, by Carolina Coronado during an exam, where the author utilizes personification to connect a sunflower to a woman and compare the needs of a human being not only relying solely on a spouse. This emphasizes understanding behavioral practices in older Latin American traditions, but also gives the opportunity to change future culture. These poems reflect the perspectives of women in Latin American history that have been willing to share their stories and I like to think of it as an opportunity to heal as women. All poems touch upon delicate situations such as loss and self-sacrifice, which is important to acknowledge the darkness in history as we can truly understand our foundations and how we can heal.
Overall, I fully embraced and loved this area. I have always been intrigued by narratives and trying to understand all perspectives. This also applies to history because in order to understand the literary perspective of a writer, chronicler, or any character involved in a story, we must have knowledge from the historical setting so we may truly understand their thinking, behavior, and culture. Reading all these writings have inspired me to grow as a person as I have seen women in literature rise from ashes. Despite the atrocities of history, women have risen, some reaching self-actualization. So me too, I shall rise.
Assignments
SPAN 427: "Amor, Maternidad y el Sufrimiento en los poemas de Gabriela Mistral" and "Imágenes, Símbolos, y Personificaciones en El árbol"
SPAN 321: "Análisis de El Girasol"
Students develop a reasonable understanding of the ways of thinking (ideas, beliefs, attitudes, values, philosophies), the behavioral practices (patterns of social interactions) and the cultural products – both tangible and intangible (for example, art, history, literature, music) of Hispanic societies.
Reflective Narrative
Under this MLO, I have completed the following courses: SPAN 365: The Chicano Narrative (Fall 2011), SPAN 308: Hist/ Cultr Aztlan: SW US (Spring 2011), SPAN 321: Masterpieces of Hispanic Literature (Spring 2014), SPAN 427: Latin American Women Writers (Spring 2020).
History, literature, and culture have contributed to our understanding of Latin American societies through ways of thinking, behavioral practices, and cultural products. In order to gain a further understanding of Latin American historical and cultural foundations, I took SPAN 308: History/ Culture SW Aztlan: SW US during Spring 2012. This course covered the stories of the indigenous people of the southwestern United States during the historical periods: the Spanish colonial period, the Mexican period, and the acquisition and settlement by the United States. In this course, we read Mexicanos, Second Edition : A History of Mexicans in the United States by Manuel G. Gonzales, which helped us understand Mexican history and its importance to 21st century America. This book helps us understand the impact of historical events and how they have affected the Mexican response to political and economic precarity.
Apart from entertainment, literature has several purposes: narrations, illuminating, protesting injustice, educating on past historical events, criticism of historical events, and even healing for Latin Americans. I took SPAN 427: Latin American Women Writers in Spring 2020 to further understand women’s perspectives throughout history. For example, in “Amor, Maternidad, y el Sufrimiento en los poemas de Gabriela Mistral,” I analyzed the poems Desolación and Piececitos in order to emphasize the themes of loss of a loved one and a mother’s love. These themes intertwine with the aftermath of poverty and the effects of psychological distress. Understanding the effects of poverty on children, which in turn affects the wellbeing of mothers, helps us understand women in history and the tragic events that they have suffered and continue to suffer. Moreover, there was also another reflection I completed in this course titled “Imágenes, Símbolos, y Personificaciones en El árbol” where I analyzed how the author, María Luisa Bombal, portrays the protagonist’s journey of finding happiness through utilizing imagery, symbolism, and personification. Understanding the perspective of the protagonist, Brígida, and connecting her to powerful composers sets the setting of the restricted social roles in the time period. In SPAN 321: Masterpieces of Hispanic Literature, I was able to explore the historical, political, and social context of the Peninsular Spanish experience. I analyzed another poem, written in the 19th century, El girasol, by Carolina Coronado during an exam, where the author utilizes personification to connect a sunflower to a woman and compare the needs of a human being not only relying solely on a spouse. This emphasizes understanding behavioral practices in older Latin American traditions, but also gives the opportunity to change future culture. These poems reflect the perspectives of women in Latin American history that have been willing to share their stories and I like to think of it as an opportunity to heal as women. All poems touch upon delicate situations such as loss and self-sacrifice, which is important to acknowledge the darkness in history as we can truly understand our foundations and how we can heal.
Overall, I fully embraced and loved this area. I have always been intrigued by narratives and trying to understand all perspectives. This also applies to history because in order to understand the literary perspective of a writer, chronicler, or any character involved in a story, we must have knowledge from the historical setting so we may truly understand their thinking, behavior, and culture. Reading all these writings have inspired me to grow as a person as I have seen women in literature rise from ashes. Despite the atrocities of history, women have risen, some reaching self-actualization. So me too, I shall rise.
Assignments
SPAN 427: "Amor, Maternidad y el Sufrimiento en los poemas de Gabriela Mistral" and "Imágenes, Símbolos, y Personificaciones en El árbol"
SPAN 321: "Análisis de El Girasol"