PRT 2490
(1531) / WST 3930 (5331) Modern Brazilian Literature
in Translation
Spring 2007 Tues 5-6 LIT 233
/ Thurs. 6 MAT 002
Prof. Charles A. Perrone; Office: GRI 335; Office Hours: T, Th 2-3:15 or by
appointment;
phones: 392 2100 (direct, answering machine); messages: 392 0375, 392 2017
emails: perrone@ufl.edu, cap@rll.ufl.edu; http://web.clas.ufl.edu/users/cap; http://plaza.ufl.edu/perrone
Description: This
course considers Brazilian literature (fiction, lyric, and some criticism)
since the early twentieth century, with an emphasis on women's writing/gender
research. Literary production and
artists of the word are considered in aesthetic, socio-historical and
geo-cultural contexts. The primary
objective is to appreciate in a general way the wealth of literature in
Brazil. In addition, readings and
discussion are meant to open windows onto the life and customs of Latin
America's largest and only Portuguese-speaking country, as well as to dispel common
stereotypes and uncritical images of the land and its people. Central themes are modernity itself,
national identity, gender roles, urbanization and internationalization,
including the reception and marketing of Latin American literature in translation
in the United States since the 1940s.
Grading: This
is a Gordon Rule course;
therefore work and evaluation are largely based on writing.
80%, eight short papers (2-3 pp., 500-750 words), seven based on reaction to /
analysis of large reading segments (background sources, a novel or series of
stories or poems) and one based on an additional reading not on the class
reading list, preferably a work pertinent to gender issues. Further instructions and suggestions to
follow in class. 20%, Class
performance, attendance, preparation and active participation. Excellent required in both categories
to achieve an excellent (A) grade, good in both for good (B), etc. Since WST is 3000 level, expectations may
be adjusted accordingly. POR Major/Minor
credit by arrangement.
Texts
(at local bookstores or mail-order from Luso-Brazilian Books, New York /
any on-line source)
Earl
Fitz, Brazilian Narrative Traditions in a Comparative Context [local store, MLAsite or other on line]
Patricia
Galvão, Industrial Park (novel)
[on line vendors, or xerox if necessary]
Graciliano
Ramos, Barren Lives (novel) [on line vendors, or xerox if necessary].
Reprint edition pending.
Jorge
Amado, Shepherds of the Night (novellas) [on line vendor, New York]
Clarice
Lispector, Family Ties (short stories); Hour of the Star
(novella) [online vendors, xerox if needed]
Caio
Fernando Abreu, What Ever Happened to Dulce Veiga? (novel) [sale copies provided
by instructor]
Regina
Rheda, First World Third Class and Other Tales of the Global Mix
(fiction) [local stores / on line]
Photocopies
and reserve: selections of
Modernist and contemporary poets [distributed/pack at local store]
On Reserve:
Elzbieta Szoka, ed., interviews and
selections Fourteen Female Voices from Brazil, Jean Franco, intro; Nelson Ascher et al., eds. Nothing
the Sun Couldn't Explain: 20
Contemporary Brazilian Poets;
Ricardo Corona, ed.,Other Shores:13 Emergent Brazilian Poets;
Darlene Sadlier, 100 years after tomorrow: Brazilian
women's fiction in the 20th century.[e-book]; Adélia Prado, The
alphabet in the park : selected poems; David William Foster, Sexual textualities: essays on
queer/ing Latin American writing [e-book]
Reference:
Irwin Stern, Dictionary of Brazilian Literature; Cambridge
History of Latin American Literature, vol. 3 (LAC reference section)
Calendar / indicates 2-hour class period (subject to change according to
availability of publications)
Jan. 9/ Introduction
to Brazil and overview of Brazilian literature; web sites and videos
Jan. 11 Fitz,
first segments / Concept of Brazilian Modernism (1920s-1930s)
Jan. 16/ São
Paulo preview PPT; from the Modernist "muse" to "passion"
for the global city
Jan. 18 Modernist
poets: "feminine,"
"feminized," anti-"feminist" examples Writing assignment 1
Jan. 23/ Patricia
Galvão, Industrial Park: a
Proletarian Novel Communist, proto-feminist
discourse
Jan. 25 Patricia
Galvão, Industrial Park Victims,
victimizers, victory and defeat
Jan. 31/ Graciliano
Ramos, Barren Lives Film
clip
Feb. 1 Graciliano
Ramos, Barren Lives Focus
on wife and expectations Writing
assignment 2
Feb. 6/ Jorge
Amado, Shepherds of the Night
preface, I, II The
"sensual" figures
Feb. 8 Jorge
Amado, Shepherds of the Night
III Lowe,
Quinlan: female characters in Amado
Feb. 13/ Jorge
Amado, film Gabriela (or Dona
Flor and Her Two Husbands)
Feb. 15 Jorge
Amado, film discussion esp. The exotic epicurean heroine Writing
assignment 3
Feb. 20/ Clarice
Lispector, Family Ties Critical
variety
Feb. 22 Clarice
Lispector, Family Ties International
reception (esp. Cixous)
Feb. 27/ Concrete
poetry and beyond, slides/videos Peixoto:
"The Concrete Muse"
Mar. 1 Contemporary
poets. New issues and
representations Writing
assignment 4
Read
introductions and selections in Nothing the Sun and Other Shores
Mar. 6/ Contemporary
poets: focus on Alice Ruiz, Renata Pallotini
Mar. 8 Multi-media:
"Signs of Intercourse. Material
poetry and erotic imperatives"
March 10-17 Spring
Break
Mar. 20/ Clarice
Lispector, Hour of the Star / Suzana Amaral film Hour of the Star
Mar. 22 Clarice
Lispector, Hour of the Star Fiction
v. film, fury and folly Writing assignment 5
Mar. 27/ Chico
Buarque, Gender-bending songwriting, "O que será", video interview
Mar. 29 Performance
and transgression, Guest: Luciana
Monteiro
April 3/ Caio
Fernando Abreu, What Ever Happened to Dulce Veiga? Mystic diva? Blurring identity?
April 5 Caio
Fernando Abreu, What Ever Happened to Dulce Veiga?
Writing assignment 6
April 10/ Regina
Rheda, and Other Tales of the Global Mix (Stories from the Copan
Building, (1-6)
April 12 Regina
Rheda, and Other Tales of the Global Mix (Stories from the Copan
Building (7-8) Begin
Regina Rheda, First World Third Class Trials of "independence," post-feminist?
April 17/ Regina
Rheda, continue First World Third Class Humoring
received roles
April 19 Rheda,
and Other Tales of the Global Mix (final trio)Ecofeminism Writing assignment 7
April 24/ class
evaluation; final discussion of writing ad
hoc Writing assignment 8
April 26 Discretionary
review day / Individual meetings on writing
PRT 2490 Modern Brazilian
Literature in Translation, Spring
2007
Some
critical (and reference) works.
Many glossed in appendix to Fitz.
-- Irene Rostagno. Searching for recognition : the promotion of Latin
American literature in the US
--
Wilson Martins, The Modernist
Idea: A Critical Survey of
Brazilian Writing in the XXth Century
-- John Nist, The Modernist Movement in Brazil
-- Afrânio Coutinho, An Introduction to Literature in Brazil
--
Samuel Putnam, Marvelous journey
--
Erico Verissimo, Brazilian literature, an outline.
--
Isaac Golberg, Brazilian literature.
--
Pedro Calmon, Summary of
the history of Brazilian literature
-- Manuel Bandeira, Brief history of Brazilian literature.
-- Antonio Candido, ³On Literature and Underdevelopment.² in On
Literature & Society
--
John King, ed. On Modern Latin American Fiction
--
Diane Marting, Clarice
Lispector: A Bio-Bibliography
--
Charles A. Perrone, Seven Faces: Brazilian Poetry since Modernism
-- Roberto Schwarz, Misplaced
Ideas: Essays on Brazilian
Literature and Culture
-- M. Gonzalez & D. Treece, The Gathering of the Voices: The
Twentieth-Century Poetry of Latin America
-- David J. Hess & Roberto A. da Matta, ed., The
Brazilian Puzzle: Culture on the Borderlands of the Western World
-- Mary Ellen Solt, ed. & intro. Concrete
Poetry: A World View.
= Hispanic Arts/ Artes
Hispánicas vol. 1, # 3 and 4 (1968)
-- Emanuel Brasil and William Jay Smith, eds. Brazilian Poetry 1950-1980
-- Emmett Williams, An Anthology of Concrete
Poetry
On
request:
supplementary 10 pp. list of
UF-collection holdings of primary works (principally fiction and some poetry)
and secondary works (general and specific criticism); all in translation