Prof.
James Baer
Office: Bisdorf 252
Office Hours for Spring 2012: Mon-Thu:
10:00AM-11:00AM
and
Wed.
2:00PM-3:00PM or by
appointment
Office Telephone: (703) 933-3978 Secretary (703) 933-3974
Email: jbaer@nvcc.edu
Web
Page:
www.nvcc.edu/home/jbaer
Course Description
Modern
Assigned Books Required: (all are paperbacks)
1. Modern
2. Revolutionizing Motherhood The Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo
by
Marguerite Guzman Bouvard. Author looks at the dramatic success of
ordinary
women in opposing a brutal military regime in
3 . Child of the Dark, Carolina de Jesus. This is a dairy of a
Special Needs and
Accommodations: Please speak to the instructor at the beginning of the
semester
about any special problems or needs. If you are asking for special
accommodations based on a disability you should provide a disability
data
sheet, which you can get from a counselor for special needs.
Grading:
Book Reviews (2) 10% each
Movie Review 10%
Midterm 15%
Class Presentation on Women: 10% (Women
in
Latin
America)
Discussion Board Postings: "Introductions." , 19th century
Mexican women, Rigoberta
Menchu and “The Take”
3.5% each
Final Exam 20%
Attendance: 10%
Study Guides Available:
(19th
century study guide)
(Mexico/Cuba study guide)
(Argentina, Brazil and Chile study
guide)
(Peru, Bolivia and Venezuela study guide)
Assignments and
Class
Activities:
Week of Jan 24, and 26: Introduction: Latin America in the
19th century.
How did the different states emerge? What problems occurred in creating
new
nations? Examples of Columbia, Venezuela, Mexico and Central America.
For next
Tuesday’s class read Text Ch 1 and Ch 2, and post comments on
Discussion Board
regarding three Latin American countries. You will find the
instructions in the
Discussion Board link of Blackboard. It is titled "Introductions."
Week of Jan. 31 and
Feb. 2: Discussion
Board Posting Due Jan 31st (3.5% of grade). South America after
Independence. How did Argentina become a nation? Why was Rosas
important? How
does Brazil’s experience as a successful monarchy compare with other
Latin
American states? Read the article about 19th century Mexican women in
the
“Assignment” section of Blackboard, then post 100-200 words in response
and
comment on at least two other students’ responses. (click here for 19th century study guide) Assignment
for
next
class
read
Ch. 3, and post response on Discussion Board by
Tuesday
Week of Feb. 7 and
9: Discussion
Board Posting Due Feb. 7th (3.5 of grade)Topic:
Mexico.
Who
was
Santa
Anna? How did
Feb. 14 and 16:
Topic: Cuba
and Castro. Castro How has
Feb 21 and 23: Discussion
Board
Post
due
on
February 21st (3.5% of grade) Topic: Central America. How do
the
nations of Central America cope with poverty? Why has there been so
much
violence in the region? Sandinistas
Discussion on Rigoberta Menchu. Assignment for next week: (Continue
reading
Revolutionizing Motherhood) Read Ch. in text.
Feb. 28:
Mid-term exam on
Textbook, Ch 1,2,3,4 and 5 (19th century, Mexico, Cuba and
Central
America)
Mar. 1:
Assignment instead
of class: Watch movie, “The Official Story” and write 500 words
answering the
following questions: (1) To what extent is Alicia an innocent victim,
like her
daughter Gaby, and to what extent is she complicit and guilty of
supporting the
kidnapping of children by not asking questions of her husband? (2) Why
is
Alicia so shocked when she learns of her friend’s arrest and torture
many years
ago? (3) What is your opinion of Roberto as a government minister, as a
husband
and as a father? Assignment due on March 13 at 11:00 am
Week of Mar. 6
and 8, NO
CLASSES: SPRING BREAK
Week of Mar. 13 and
15: Assignment
on Movie due March 13 (10% of grade) Topic: Argentina in the late 19th
and 20th century. Why did so many immigrants go to
Mar. 20: Writing assignment due on Revolutionizing Motherhood
March 20nd.
(10% of grade). Topic: Argentina in the
20th
century: The “Dirty War,” the Malvinas War and return to democracy.
What
happened to melt down Argentina in the fall of 2001? Assignment for
next week:
Read text Ch. 10
Mar. 22: Activity instead of class: Watch the Youtube
video, “The Take” (La Toma) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEzXln5kbuw
(parts 1 through 9) about the takeover of abandoned factories by
Argentine
workers after the collapse of Argentina’s economy in late 2001. Post
your
comments on the Discussion Board and respond to two other students’
comments by
next Tuesday at 11:00 am.
Week of Mar. 27 and
29: Discussion Board posting due (3.5% of
grade) Topic: Chile; Reform, Revolution and Repression. How did
Week of April 3 and
5: Book
review Child of the Dark due April 5 (10%
of grade) Topic: Then: Brazil, from Monarchy to Republic.
How did
the Old Republic function? What was the role of coffee? Who was Getulio
Vargas?
Why did
Week of April 10
and 12:
Topic: Venezuela and Colombia. What has been the role of violence in
Colombia.
How does Chavez compare to Castro? Assignment for next week: Read
Ch 6 in
text.
Week of April 17
and 19: Peru
and Bolivia. How do these countries compare? What special problems do
indigenous women face? Revolution in Bolivia
What has contributed to instability in these two countries?
Week of April 24
and 26 Student
presentations
on
Latin
American
women (10% of grade) Turn in
500-word
summary in class.
Tuesday, May 1: Final Exam (20% of grade) (Exam covers Ch 6-11 in the textbook)
Links:
Camila
O'Gorman
Zapatistas
The WWW-VL History Index
WestWeb:
Spanish
Borderlands
and
Southwestern
History
Latin American Network
Information
Center - LANIC
Select
Internet
Resources on Latin America
Reaction to Globalization in
Argentina
History of the Favela