Course Description: This course will examine the multiple ways that Hispanic and Brazilian filmmakers have seen Hispanic world, its people, religious beliefs and cultures for more than a century. This course provides the student with a range of perspectives on cultural developments in Spain, Brazil, Latin America and the Caribbean from the colonial to the modern period, using critical and literary texts as well as films. Taught in English.
Course Narrative: This course was designed to analyze different documentaries and films from the Latin American world, Brazil and Spain. With the significant variation of films, it was possible to appreciate the history, culture, and religion in Latin America and Europe but also different revolutionary and cinematographic movements for the description and deep understanding of the background of each documentary. In this class, we did both presentations and a final essay. The presentations were made in groups, where a specific film was chosen to show the director's historical context, biographical information, and the different aesthetic approaches. Our group worked on the Colombian film Maria Full of Grace, where the “narcocultura” (narcoculture) that has been predominant in many television shows and film productions is shown. The film reflects on drug trafficking and “las mulas”(mules) that transport narcotics inside their bodies from Colombia to the United States, running the risk of dying or being detained by the authorities for some money that will help them improve their lives in Colombia. It also shows magical realism through real situations found in Colombia and the opportunity to get ahead with a new opportunity for the protagonist and her son. This class taught me to see the different perspectives of film production, analyze why these types of films are made, and look for the connection between reality, fantasy, and magical realism. Finally, I had the opportunity to learn my classmates' different perspectives and opinions in class discussions since each of us had a different interpretation of each film.
Course Narrative: This course was designed to analyze different documentaries and films from the Latin American world, Brazil and Spain. With the significant variation of films, it was possible to appreciate the history, culture, and religion in Latin America and Europe but also different revolutionary and cinematographic movements for the description and deep understanding of the background of each documentary. In this class, we did both presentations and a final essay. The presentations were made in groups, where a specific film was chosen to show the director's historical context, biographical information, and the different aesthetic approaches. Our group worked on the Colombian film Maria Full of Grace, where the “narcocultura” (narcoculture) that has been predominant in many television shows and film productions is shown. The film reflects on drug trafficking and “las mulas”(mules) that transport narcotics inside their bodies from Colombia to the United States, running the risk of dying or being detained by the authorities for some money that will help them improve their lives in Colombia. It also shows magical realism through real situations found in Colombia and the opportunity to get ahead with a new opportunity for the protagonist and her son. This class taught me to see the different perspectives of film production, analyze why these types of films are made, and look for the connection between reality, fantasy, and magical realism. Finally, I had the opportunity to learn my classmates' different perspectives and opinions in class discussions since each of us had a different interpretation of each film.
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