Literatura Inter-Americana SPW 6934 (01C6) Seminar in Spanish American Culture

th
Spring 2015 Thursdays 9 10th & 11th hours in TUR 1105
Prof. Charles A. Perrone Office: Grinter Hall 335 392-2100; message 392-2017 or 392-0375
Office Hours: Tues 7th, Th. 7th-8th or by app’t
email: perrone@ufl.edu; web: http://users.clas.ufl.edu/perrone

Course description and objectives:

This course concerns wide-angle modes of cultural critique in the extreme western hemisphere (i.e. the
Americas) conceived under the rubrics of inter-American literature, New World Studies, hemispheric
American cultural studies, and transamerican poetics. The first part of the course examines the emergence
and evolution of those approaches as well as of related concepts of "America," "Latin America," and
“Hispanic.” Subsequent modules treat of comparative topics, such as cultural cartography, (neo-) epic
discourse, Modernism(s), vanguardism, neo-avant-gardes, magic (marvelous) realism in the Americas,
indigeneity, and geo-artistic relations among nations, especially Spanish America and Brazil. A specific
module considers relations between neighbors in the hemisphere though the prism of contemporary lyric, in
a broad sense encompassing conventional discursive poetry, concrete/visual varieties, and song. The
principal language for discussion will be Spanish, with English and Portuguese also welcome.

Required work / Grading:

Class performance, i.e. faithful attendance, evidence of preparedness, and active participation, including oral
presentations =14%; activities reports (diario de lectura) (13 concise written summaries/critiques of readings
in advance of discussion, drop lowest) = 36%; a Term Project / Paper= 50%. Instructions / suggestions to
follow in class and by email. NB: an excellent evaluation is necessary in all three categories in order to merit
an A grade, good in all for B grade, or adequate in all for C. Scale: A = 93-99.9, A- = 90-92.9; B+ = 87-
89.9, B = 83-86.9, B- = 80-82.9; C+ = 77-79.9, C = 73-76.9, C- = 70-72.9; D+ = 67-69.9, D = 63-66.9; D- =
60-62.9. As in all classes, the standard UF Academic Honesty Policy must be respected. Also be aware of
UF Counseling and Wellness Center, web space: http://www.counseling.ufl.edu/cwc, 392-1575. Cheers.

Texts:
Titles can be acquired/accessed locally or from on-line suppliers (price / availability vary).
1. Walter Mignolo, The Idea of Latin America (Blackwell, 2005) (cf. Spanish edition, print or on the web)
2. Alejo Carpentier, El reino de este mundo (any edition with original 1949 preface)
3. E. de Almeida Pereira, signo cimarrón (2005), variaciones de un libro de serenas (2010). Mail ordered.
4. Coursepack GTI (introductions, essays, chapters, excerpts, poetry) / Other essential (no cost) titles are:
5. Earl E. Fitz, Rediscovering the New World: Inter-American Literature in a Comparative Context. Iowa
City: University of Iowa Press, 1991. (e-book access via UF library on-line; used copies available)
6. _____. Inter-American Literature: A Concise History (Scholar Collection, 2012). Reserve. Web previews.
7. Copies of critical and creative selections (reserve, xerox hand-outs and/or pdfs.)
8. On-line readings: e-books, journal segments via UF library / open-access web sites of presses or authors
Recommended: Charles A. Perrone, Brazil, Lyric, and the Americas (U P of Florida, 2010) [discounted]
SPW 6934 Spring 2015 p. 1
 Schedule (subject to change). Refer to readings list below for location of each assignment.

I. January 8: Orientation and introduction/s, ficha/s/, sites, sources, nomenclature. Background,

foundations, geography. “Banda Hispánica” ppt. Read (primary assignments): Fitz Wiki; Kutzinski; Fitz
1991 intro + T of C (Table of Contents); Fernández Moreno intro + T of C; Eakin. Rec. = Recommended

II. January 15: Approaches. Read: Chavigny&La Guardia, P. A. Fernández, Pérez-Firmat, Cowan; Greene
1998, 2000; Fitz 2000. Rec. Livón-Grosman // On Latin American discourse. Mignolo 1994, 1995. Report 1

III. January 22: Mignolo The Idea of Latin America, preface, chapters 1, 2, 3, postface. Rec. Vargas in
Fernández Moreno, Newcomb 11-20. Report 2

IV. January 29: Inter-American Literature, Expansions of Comp Lit. Global / Regional. Read: Gunn,
McClennen & Fitz, Fitz 2004b, Kadir, Handley. Rec. Taylor. Report 3

V. February 5: The American Experience. Morse, "language in america." Rec. Houaiss in F. Moreno;
Expansions. Read: J. Read, Bauer, Zamora & Spitta, Moreira. Begin Morse, “The Multiverse…” Report 4

VI. February 12: Modernism-os. Fitz 1991 Ch. 6; Schwartz, intro.; Oswald de Andrade manifiestos (trad.);
Retamar, “Calibán ante la antropofagia;” Morse, “The Multiverse of Latin American Identity.” Report 5

VII. February 19: New World Epic. Fitz 1991 Ch. 3; Carvalho Toda la América; Rec. Perrone 2010, Ch. 4.
Souza on Carvalho. Report 6

VIII. February 26: Lo real maravilloso & magic realism. Read: González-Echevarría; Zamora and Faris,
intro + T of C. Read: Preface, Carpentier, El reino de este mundo. Rec. Fitz 1991 chapters 7, 8. Report 7
< Mar 1-7 Spring Break > Definición de proyecto (entregar esbozo marzo 12)
IX. March 12: Indigeneity in Latin American Letters. Guest Speaker-- Tracy Devine Guzmán, U of Miami.
Reading TBD. Extended Magic Realism: J.G. Rosa “San Marcos”, “Mi tío el jaguar.” Perrone 1992.
Rec. Fitz 1991 ch. 1, 4. 2002. Report 8

X. March 19: Ensayismo. Martí, "Nuestra América," Rodó, Ariel, Zalamea on XXth century. Mariátegui,
Vasconcelos. Rec. Various on Cândido-Rama in Antelo, ed. // Special Guest: Andrea Ferreira on Fernando
Ortiz-Gilberto Freyre. Rec. Melgarejo, Cisneros in Lund and Mc Nee, eds. Report 9

XI. March 26: Neo-Vanguard. Poesia Concreta et al. Costa, “Acerca de…”, Aguilar 9-45, Intro and Ch. 1;
Projeto VVV; Internet: Signos Corrosivos. ATT: 3/27-28 = el congreso de OEGE en la UF. Report 10

XII. April 2: Foco: Iberoamérica/Banda Hispânica. Read: Fitz 2004a, Schwartz “¡Abajo Tordesillas!”,
Robert Patrick Newcomb, Pizarro, Costa “Integración.” Rec. Perrone 2010 Chapter 5. Report 11

XIII. April 9: Afro-Latin American Poetry. Americanismo e insularidad. Rec. background: Luiz Palés
Matos, Nicolás Guillén. Edimilson de Almeida Pereira, signo cimarrón and variaciones de un libro de
serenas, with critical front matter. Presentaciones individuales. Report 12

XIV. April 16: La canción. Cancionero nuevo. Nueva Canción. Nueva Trova. Movimiento Peñas.
Movimientos músico-poéticos de los años 50-80. Read: Franco Lao, et al. TBD / Fitz 2012, introduction,
conclusion // Presentaciones individuales (podrán ser antes, desde segunda quincena de marzo). Report 13
SPW 6934 Spring 2015 p. 2
Readings in approximate order of assignment and their location(s) Abbreviations: CP= Coursepack.
pdf.=email. Copy=xerox handout. R=ReserveLibraryWest. UF on line = library access subscription / holding

Earl E. Fitz, Rediscovering the New World: Inter-American Literature in a Comparative Context. Iowa City:
University of Iowa Press, 1991. e-book UF library. Reserve. (acquire if you see available).
-----. "The Theory and Practice of Inter-American Literature." In Beyond the Ideal: Pan Americanism in
Inter-American Affairs, ed. David Sheinin, 153-65. Westport, Conn.: Praeger-Greenwood Press, 2000.
Copy. Reserve.
------. "From Blood to Culture: Miscegenation as Metaphor for the Americas." In Mixing Race, Mixing
Culture: Inter-American Literary Dialogues, Ed. Monika Kaup and Debra J. Rosenthal, 243-72. Austin:
University of Texas Press, 2002. UF on line, e book
----- . "Spanish American and Brazilian Literature in Inter-American Perpsective: The Comparative
Approach." http://sitemason.vanderbilt.edu/spanport/ejournal or
http:// ejournals.library.vanderbilt.edu/lusohispanic/index.php, archives volume one (2004).
-----. “Inter-American Studies as an Emerging Field: The Future of a Discipline.” 2004b.
http://ejournals.library.vanderbilt.edu/index.php/lusohispanic/issue/view/159. or pdf.
-----. Inter-American Literature: A Concise History (academic pub. 2012). Reserve.
Marhsall Eakin, "Does Latin America Have a Common History?" Vanderbilt e-Journal of Luso-Hispanic
Studies 1 (2004), http://ejournals.library.vanderbilt.edu/index.php/lusohispanic/issue/view/159. and/or pdf.
César Fernández Moreno, ed. and intro. América Latina en su literatura. México, XXI, 1972. Reserve x4.
Vera M. Kutzinski, Against the American Grain: Myth and History in William Carlos Williams, Jay Wright,
and Nicolás Guillén. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins Univ. Press, 1987. Preface ix-xii. Copy.
Gale Chevigny&Gari Laguardia, ed. Intro. to Reinventing the Americas: Comparative Studies of Literature
of the United States and Spanish America, Cambridge: Cambridge U P, 1986. 3-33. Copy. Reserve.
Pablo Armando Fernández, "Dreams of Two Américas." 122-38, in Chevigny & Laguardia. Copy. Reserve.
Gustavo Pérez Firmat, ed. Intro. to Do the Americas Have a Common Literature? Durham, NC: Duke
University Press, 1990. Copy. Reserve.
Bainard Cowan & Jefferson Humphries, eds. Poetics of the Americas: Race, Founding, and Textuality,
Cowan Intro. 1-13. Baton Rouge: LSU University Press, 1997. Copy. Reserve.
Roland Greene, "New World Studies & the Limits of National Literatures." Stanford Humanities Review 6.1
(1998): 88-110. Open access: <www.stanford.edu/group/SHR/6-1/html/greene.html>.
-----. "Wanted: A New World Studies." American Literary History 1&2 (2000): 337-47. UF on line.
Ernesto Livón-Grosman, "A Poetics of the Americas," CiberLetras 2 (2000).
<www.lehman.cuny.edu/ciberletras/ v01n02/Livon-Grosman.htm>. Doc. available.
SPW 6934 Spring 2015 p. 3
Walter Mignolo, "Loci of Enunciation and Imaginary Constructions: the Case of (Latin) America." Editor's
introduction, Poetics Today 15. 4 (1994): 505-521. UF library on line. pdf.
------. "Afterword: Human Understanding and (Latin) American Interests--the Politics and Sensibilities of
Geocultural Locations." Poetics Today 16. 1 (1995): 171-214. UF library on line. pdf.
-----. The Idea of Latin America. Oxford: Blackwell, 2005. Required and Reserve.
Augusto Tamayo Vargas. “Interpretaciones de América Latina.” in Fernández Moreno 441-60. Reserve.
Giles Gunn. "Globalizing Literary Studies." PMLA 116.1. (2001): 16-31. UF on line. pdf.
Sophia McClennen and Earl E. Fitz, eds. Into to CLCWeb: Comparative Literature and Culture: A WWWeb
Journal 4.2 (2002). Open access. http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/clcweb/vol4/iss2/
Djelal Kadir. "America and Its Studies." Introduction to "America, the Idea, the Literature," PMLA 118.1.
(Jan. 2003), 9-24. UF on line. pdf.
Diana Taylor. "Remapping Genre through Performance: from American to Hemispheric Studies." PMLA
122.5 (October 2007)1416-30. UF on line. pdf.
George Handley, New World Poetics: Nature and the Adamic Imagination of Whitman, Neruda, and
Walcott. Athens: U Georgia P, 2007. Intro. 19-41. Copy. Reserve.
Justin Read, Hemispheric American Cultural Studies. Albany: SUNY P, 2008. Pref xi-xxix. Copy. Reserve.
Ralph Bauer, "Hemispheric Studies". PMLA 124 (Jan. 2009), 234-50. UF line. pdf.
Richard Morse, "language in america." Chapter 1 of New World Soundings: Culture and Ideology in the
Americas. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1989, 11-60; Reserve or pdf.
_____. “The Multiverse of Latin American Identity.” The Cambridge History of Latin American History Vol.
X: 1-127. LAC Reference, 3 locations. The whole set is shelved on the third-floor lobby of the LAC.
Antonio Houaiss. “La pluralidad lingüística.” In Fernández Moreno 41-51. Reserve.
Lois P. Zamora & Silvia Spitta, intro. and eds. "The Americas, Otherwise" Comparative Literature 61.3
(Summer 2009), open access: http://complit.dukejournals.org/content/61/3/189. and/or pdf.
Paulo da Luz Moreira. Literary and Cultural Relations Between Brazil and Mexico: Deep Undercurrents.
New York: Palgrave, 2013. Intro 1-8. Copy. Reserve. pdf.
Jorge Schwartz, introduction to Las Vanguardias latinoamericanas: textos programáticos y críticos.
Madrid: Cátedra, 1991. CP and Reserve.
Oswald de Andrade. “Manifiesto de la poesía palo-del-brasil,” “Manifiesto antropófago” in Obra escogida.
pdf. (download Biblioteca Ayacucho). Leer: Intro ix-xii, 1-7, 67-72. Also in Schwartz Las vanguardias.
Ronald de Carvalho. Toda la América (1926). CP. (Original brasileño UF stacks).
Adalberto de O. Souza, “Ronald de Carvalho y su americanismo.” Actas VIII Congreso SEDLL. pdf.
Roberto Fernández Retamar. “Calibán ante la antropofagia” in Todo Calibán. UF on line / pdf. Cuban ed.

SPW 6934 Spring 2015 p. 4

Alejo Carpentier, El reino de este mundo. Acquire and/or Reserve or Stacks. Spanish pdf.
Roberto González Echevarría, “Latin American and Comparative Literatures.” CLCWeb: Comparative
Literature and Culture: A WWWeb Journal 4.2 (2002). URL above. Rpt. from Cowan and Jeffries. pdf.
Lois Parkinson Zamora and Wendy B. Faris, eds. and intro. Magical Realism: Theory, History, Community.
Durham: Duke U P, 1995. Introduction 1-14. Reserve.
João Guimarães Rosa, "San Marcos" in Sagarana (Bs. As. AHE, 2007) CP. "Meu tio o iauaretê" pdf.
Charles A. Perrone " João Guimarães Rosa through the Prism of Magic Realism," in Randal Johnson, ed.
Tropical Paths. New York: Routledge, 1992. Reserve and/or pdf.
José Martí. “Nuestra América” pdf. or any number of open access sites. See Reserve criticism as well.
José Enrique Rodó. Ariel. pdf. of Biblioteca Ayacucho, or UF stacks.
Fernando Zalamea, Ariel y Arisbe. Santa Fé de Bogotá: AB, 2000. Chapter 1. 1-50. CP coursepack.
J.C. Mariátegui “Existe un pensamiento…el arte”, J. Vasconcelos “La raza cósmica” exs. in Schwartz, CP.
Raúl Antelo, ed. et al. Antonio Candido y los estudios latinoamericanos. Pittsburgh: IILI, 2001. Reserve.
Joshua Lund and Malcolm Mc Nee, Gilberto Freyre e os estudos latino-americanos. Pittsburgh: IILI, 2006.
María del Pilar Melgarejo “El discurso de la lengua nacional en Freyre y Bello” 181-201; Odile Cisneros
“Primitivismo e identidad nacional en Gilberto Freyre” 203-226.
Horácio Costa. “Acerca de la poesía brasileña visual” 45-75, “Crítica literaria e integración latinoamericana”
413-22, “Brasil: entre la espada atlántica y la pared andina,” “El centro está en todas partes” 437-47. Mar
abierto: ensayos sobre literatura brasileña, portuguesa e hispanoamericana (México: UNAM, 1998). CP.
Poesia concreta: o projeto verbivocovisual. = VVV. Reserve. Cf. http://www.poesiaconcreta.com.
Gonzalo Aguilar. Poesía concreta brasileña: las vanguardias en la encrucijada modernista. Buenos Aires:
Beatriz Viterbo, 2003. Reserve.
Charles A. Perrone, Brazil, Lyric, and the Americas. Gainesville: UPFlorida, 2010. Recommended. Reserve.
------. Seven Faces: Brazilian Poetry Since Modernism. Durham: Duke University Press, 1996. Reserve. Rec.
Jorge Schwartz, "Abajo Tordesillas!" Revista Casa de las Américas 191 (1993), 26-35, pdf.; also as “Abaixo
Tordesilhas!” Revista de estudos avançados 7.17 (1993): 185-200. English version in Portuguese Literary
and Cultural Studies (UMD) 4/5 (2000).
Robert Patrick Newcomb. Preface and Chapter 1. Nossa and Nuestra América: Inter-American Dialgoues
Lafayette: Purdue U P, 2012. v-55. CP. Reserve.
Ana Pizarro, “Hispanoamérica y Brasil: encuentros, desencuentros, vacíos.” Acta Literaria 29 (2004). pdf.
Edimilson de Almeida Pereira, signo cimarrón. Belo Horizonte: Maza, 2005; variaciones de un libro de
serenas,.Belo Horizonte: Maza, 2010. Mail ordered.
Méri Franco Lao. Basta! Canciones de testimonio y rebeldiá de América Latina. México: ERA, 1970.
Reserve.
SPW 6934 Spring 2015 p. 5