Prospectus

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Methods of Cultural Analysis and Critical Readings

Course
2013-2014

Admission requirements

Advanced level in Spanish (C1-C2). Students with an advanced knowledge of Portuguese and a passive knowledge (reading and oral comprehension) of Spanish will be accepted.
Undergraduate degree (BA/BSc)

Description

This seminar will train students in the basic methodologies of cultural analysis. We will discuss some of the tools that can help to decode texts and images. The student will become familiar with the basics of discourse analysis that we will apply to the analysis of film, images, art and literary and non literary texts. Rhetoric, theories in argumentation and narration can be helpful skills in close-readings. With the help of practical exercises the student will learn how to approach and analyze cultural (linguistic and visual) objects.

Reflecting teaching staff’s broad research interests, this team-taught course will consider an array of written texts from different genres as well as visual texts, reflecting the rich diversity of cultural contexts across Latin America.

Course Objectives

To develop students’ critical and analytical skill through close reading of a wide range of texts (written and visual);
To provide an insight into a variety of critical approaches.
Develop students’ critical and analytical skills and presentation skills.

Mode of Instruction

Lectures and Seminars

Assessment method

Class presentations 20%, exercises 40% and final essay 40%.

Blackboard

Yes

Reading list:

A reading list will be issued to enrolled students in due course.

Registration Studeren à la carte and Contractonderwijs

Registration Studeren à la carte via: www.hum.leidenuniv.nl/onderwijs/alacarte
Registration Contractonderwijs via: http://www.hum.leidenuniv.nl/onderwijs/contractonderwijs/