Spring 2004

POR 375 • Luso-Brazilian Literature

Course Description

This course examines the urban spaces in contemporary Brazilian narrative through a variety of perspectives. It addresses the accelerated and uncontrolled urbanization process in Brazil (its urban population increased from 40% in 1960 to 80% in 2000), and the impact that process has had on Brazilian fiction writing (the substitution of urban settings for rural landscapes being a major impact). As we shall see, the city is not merely a physical place, or locale, in Brazilian urban stories, but a factor that determines the establishment of a new repertory of forms and themes in the fiction of that country. By privileging the topic of the city, among other major themes in contemporary Literature, we hope to ultimately reveal Brazilian society in its current regional, social, and cultural diversities.

Grading Policy

Class Participation (Attendance, Active Participation, Homework) (20%) 5 (five) quizzes concerning in-class discussions and textual analyses (50%) 1 (one) take-home exam (final) based on theoretical materials pre-assigned by the instructor (30%)

Texts

Xerox Packet (a selection of stories made by the instructor)

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