Unit information: History of Latin America's Indigenous People in 2012/13

Unit name	History of Latin America's Indigenous People
Unit code	HISP30068
Credit points	20
Level of study	H/6
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
Unit director	Professor. Jo Crow
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
School/department	Department of Hispanic, Portuguese and Latin American Studies
Faculty	Faculty of Arts

Description including Unit Aims

The course aims to provide students with a comprehensive introduction to the histories of indigenous peoples in modern Latin America and the political and cultural issues involved in the production of these histories. We will examine the changing representations of indigenous peoples within national narratives and explore the extent to which different political ideologies have sought to revise the historical record. We will also look at indigenous peoples’ own interpretations of history and explore the relationship between these and more ‘official’ state-generated versions of history.

Aims:

• To introduce students to a significant body of knowledge of a complexity appropriate to final year level. The content matter will normally include one or more of the following: literature; social, cultural or political history; linguistics; cultural studies; film, television or other media.

• To facilitate students’ engagement with a body of literature, including secondary literature, texts, including in non-print media, primary sources and ideas as a basis for their own analysis and development. Normally many or most of these sources will be in a language other than English and will enhance the development of their linguistic skills.

• To develop further skills of synthesis, analysis and independent research, building on the skills acquired in units at level I.

• To equip students with the skills to undertake postgraduate study in a relevant field.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Successful students will:

• be knowledgable about a significant cultural, historical or linguistic subject related to the language they are studying;

• will have advanced skills in the selection and synthesis of relevant material;

• be able to evaluate and analyse relevant material from a significant body of source materials, usually in a foreign language, at an advanced level;

• be able to respond to questions or problems by presenting their independent judgements in an appropriate style and at an advanced level of complexity;

• be able to transfer these skills to other working environments, including postgraduate study.

Teaching Information

Two seminar hours per week across one teaching block (22 contact hours).

Assessment Information

One of the following:

a) A written assignment of 3000 words and a two hour exam (50% each) b) A written assignment of 3000 words (25%) and a three hour exam (75%) c) One written assignment of 6000 words (or equivalent) d) Two written assignments of 3000 words (50% each) e) One oral presentation (25%) plus one written assignment of 1500 words (25%) plus one written assignment of 3000 words (50%)

Reading and References

Appelbaum, Nancy et al., Race and Nation in Latin America. London and Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2003

Menchú, Rigoberta, I, Rigoberta Menchú. London: Verso Books, 1987

Sieder, Rachel (ed.), Multiculturalism in Latin America: Indigenous Rights, Diversity and Democracy. London: Palgrave, 2002

Yashar, Deborah, Contesting Citizenship in Latin America: The Rise of Indigenous Movements and the Postliberal Challenge. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2005