Documentaries are audiovisual arguments, modes of expressing ideas and feelings using images andsound. In this course we will study the documentary traditions of Latin America to learn about thehistory of Latin American societies. Students will also learn how to classify documentaries according totheir formal properties. Students will analyze Latin American documentaries based on various conceptsof documentary studies: persuasion, rhetoric, evidence, authority, and ethics. We will use aninterdisciplinary focus to investigate the role of geography, history, politics, technologies and socialidentities in the creation and reception of documentaries. At the end of the course, students will havethe opportunity to create their own documentary projects based on Dr. Rodríguez DILAC projectVieques Struggle: A Digital Video Archive, focusing on the social movement against demilitarization inthe island of Vieques, Puerto Rico.
Identify different types of documentaries from different regions of Latin America
Apply concepts of documentary theory (persuasion, rhetoric, evidence, authority, and ethics) to theanalysis of specific Latin American documentaries
Analyze through readings and writing the impact of history, geography, politics and economics inLatin American documentary
Investigate and analyze the representation of ethnic, racial, class, regional and gender identities inLatin American documentary
Work in a global context grounded upon a theoretically informed and comparative understandingof languages, media, cultures, and technologies
Develop basic skills to create a documentary project in Spanish
BOOKS (Readings available in canvas)
Nichols, Bill. Introducción al documental. Mexico: Libros UNAM, 2013.
Spence, Louise and Navarro, Vinicius. Crafting Truth: Documentary Form and Meaning. New Brunswick:Rutgers UP, 2011.
DOCUMENTARIES
All documentaries are available online and the professor will provide link to watch them. Students areresponsible to watch all documentaries assigned prior to the day in which each documentary will bediscussed, in order to complete the homework and come fully prepared to discuss them in class.
NOTAS DE CLASE
The professor has prepared class notes on all the readings and concepts and some of thedocumentaries that will be discussed in class. It is recommended that students consult class notes tocomplete their homework and come prepared to participate in class discussion.
EVALUATION (Undergraduate students)
6 Homeworks (In-class discussion) 24% (4 points each)
3 Reflections 48% (3 essays of 500-800 words, each 16%)
Final Documentary Project 28%
ATTENDANCE POLICIES
Unexcused absences are not welcome and will affect your final grade (Attendance means 10% ofthe final grade). See the evaluation section in the syllabus.
To have an absence excused, you need to (1) get my approval beforehand or (2) bring in a notedocumenting a medical or comparable emergency the class directly following your absence.
Two tardies of more than 5 minutes equate to an absence.
Not having the assignment ready in class equates to an absence.
Note: Language courses require daily contact with the target language. In case of problems thatmay affect class attendance (chronic absences due to personal situations), I invite students toconsider taking the course in another semester, when they will be able to come to class regularly.Absences not only affect your grades but also your possibilities of improving your language skills.Please see your academic advisor before making any decisions regarding your status in this course.We can also meet and discuss your situation.
Please refer to the Institute Attendance policy for more information:http://www.catalog.gatech.edu/rules/4/.
Students are expected to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity. All work submitted must be original and properly cited. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in immediate consequences as outlined in the university's academic integrity policy.