Spain

Program Description

Many Latin American writers chose to live in Spain throughout the twentieth century.  This course reads the work of Chilean poet Pablo Neruda, Peruvian poet César Vallejo, Colombian novelist Gabriel García Márquez, Chilean novelist Roberto Bolaño, and Uruguayan writer Cristina Peri Rossi in the context of the  authors’ years in Spain.  Pablo Neruda and César Vallejo chose to live in or near Madrid during the 1930’s; García Márquez, Bolaño, and Peri Rossi chose Barcelona during the 1970’s, 1980’s and 1990’s.  Discussion will center upon the historical and cultural background that inspired these Latin American writers while in Spain.  On-site, we visit and reflect upon locations referred to in the poetry and fiction of these five important Latin American writers.  To study Latin American writers in Spain is to gain some understanding of the Latin American tradition of the writer acting as public intellectual or diplomat, as well as to instances of the Latin American writer in political exile. 

Course Goals

To study the political, cultural, literary, and historical contexts which drew Latin American writers to Madrid in the 1930’s and to Barcelona from the 1970’s to the 1990’s.  To read and analyze (in Spanish) works by major Latin American writers that reflect upon the history and culture of twentieth-century Spain (these writers are: Pablo Neruda, César Vallejo, Gabriel García Márquez, Cristina Peri Rossi, and Roberto Bolaño).   To improve students’ ability to read, write, and speak Spanish

Faculty Leader

Dr. Adelaida López, Professor of Spanish, will be leading the Latin American Writers in Spain course for the second time.  She publishes regularly on Gabriel García Márquez, and has taught the work of Pablo Neruda, César Vallejo, and Cristina Peri Rossi for many years.  Recently she has begun to teach the work of Roberto Bolaño.  In 2011 she led an Occidental College three-week study abroad course entitled The Urban Culture of Buenos Aires.  She holds a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from Columbia University.  

Itinerary

Program logistics (flights, etc.) will be discussed in  the first week of class in spring semester 2017. Do not book tickets until after this meeting.

Participants

14-16 students, 1 faculty instructor (Professor Adelaida Lopez, Spanish and Latin American Studies), and support services from IES.  All students must be responsible, mature, open to new experiences, and curious about a range of disciplines (e.g. history, architecture, literature, art history).  They must provide evidence of interest in Spanish and/or Latin American culture; Spanish 202/Spanish 211 is a pre-requisite for enrollment. Students will normally be expected to stand and move around for 6 hours per day including walking up-hill, stair climbing, walking on uneven pavement, and carrying their own luggage as part of inter-city rail travel. Given the rigorous nature of a faculty led program, students are restricted from leaving the program location during the official program dates.  Travel delays, border complications, and safety issues, etc. may impact student participation in the course.

Requirements

Prerequisites: Spanish 202 OR Spanish 211

Information Session

Come to an info session to talk to the Professor & the IPO staff about the program:

Wednesday, September 28, 2016 at 4:30 pm in  JOHN 103, VARELAS INNOVATION LAB

Thursday, September 29, 2016 at 4:30 pm in  JOHN 103, VARELAS INNOVATION LAB

Cost $6,365

$4,180 charged to student account (all course-related travel within Spain, some meals, museum entrances, academic resources, etc.)

$2185 additional out-of-pocket expenses ESTIMATES (international airfare $1,500, additional meals $585, $100 mandatory cell phone rental)

Financial Aid

The total additional cost ($6,365) will be included in Financial Aid calculations for spring semester 2017. A Financial Aid officer will to determine how your package may be adjusted depending upon your need. 

Apply 

 Deadline to apply is October 14, 2016 by 4pm

• Faculty contact-Prof. Adelaida Lopez, adela@oxy.edu
• International Programs Office contact-Julie Santos, jimenezj@oxy.edu