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SP351B: CHRONICLES OF SPANISH AMERICA (2021-2022)

Last modified: 31 May 2022 13:05


Course Overview

The crónica and testimonio genres share the urgency and authority of witness and the drive to propel the reader to action. From the early days of the Spanish conquest, witnesses used the crónica to understand the past and present, pointing out injustice and demanding reform. Testimonio, a more recent genre of ‘ordinary’ people bearing witness, which is intended to give voice to historically marginalised groups, has itself generated debates about whose ‘truth’ is being told, whose voice is ‘authentic’ and who gets to tell whose stories. This course brings these narrative forms, from the colonial period to the recent past, together as a way of listening to marginalised voices, understanding a range of perspectives on Spanish America and understanding the enduring power of bearing witness. This course will also examine the debates which these texts have prompted, debates which, even when they include critical voices, show the enduring power of the first-hand account.

Course Details

Study Type Undergraduate Level 3
Term Second Term Credit Points 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits)
Campus Aberdeen Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Professor Patience Schell

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

  • Either Programme Level 3 or Programme Level 4
  • Spanish And Latin American Studies (SP)
  • Any Undergraduate Programme

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

Are there a limited number of places available?

No

Course Description

The crónica and testimonio genres share the urgency and authority of witness and the drive to propel the reader to action. From the early days of the Spanish conquest, witnesses used the crónica to understand the past and present, pointing out injustice and demanding reform. Testimonio, a more recent genre of ‘ordinary’ people bearing witness, which is intended to give voice to historically marginalised groups, has itself generated debates about whose ‘truth’ is being told, whose voice is ‘authentic’ and who gets to tell whose stories. This course brings these narrative forms, from the colonial period to the recent past, together as a way of listening to marginalised voices, understanding a range of perspectives on Spanish America and understanding the enduring power of bearing witness. This course will also examine the debates which these texts have prompted, debates which, even when they include critical voices, show the enduring power of the first-hand account.

 


Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers


Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 30 August 2024 for 1st term courses and 20 December 2024 for 2nd term courses.

Summative Assessments

Analysis of one of the set texts (30%)

2,000 word Chronicle Report (50%)

Group-organised class discussion (20%)

Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ProceduralApplyStudents will develop their critical thinking and communication skills.
ConceptualAnalyseThrough study of these texts, students will gain a greater understanding of range of issues and debates in Spanish American history, and analyse these issues from diverse and nuanced.
FactualUnderstandStudents will analyse and evaluate the debates generated by testimonio literature, reflecting on how testimonios offer insight into contemporary debates.
ReflectionRememberStudents will understand, reflect on and analyse a range of crónica and testimonio narratives in their social context.
ReflectionEvaluateStudents will evaluate the discourses and narratives represented in these texts, generating their own conclusions.

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