MODERN  AND  MEDIEVAL  LANGUAGES  TRIPOS    Part IB

____________________________________________________________________

 

            Monday 24 May 2004     1.30 to 4.30

^{____________________________________________________________________}

 

                Paper Sp. 5

 

            TOPICS IN SPANISH-AMERICAN CULTURE AND HISTORY

 

            Answer THREE questions.

 

            DO NOT draw substantially on the same material for more than ONE

            answer.

           

 

 

 

 

You may not start to read the questions printed on the subsequent pages of this question paper until instructed that you may do so by the Invigilator

 

 

1          Nation and Narration

 

Answer ONE of the following with reference to the work of TWO OR MORE Latin-American writers, essayists, or artists:

 

            (a)   ‘Writers on national or continental identity have developed a relatively coherent tradition of thought and imagery which threatens to become a stifling mythology.’  Discuss.

 

            (b)   ‘Thought on Latin-American nationhood has tended to be trapped in binary constructions such as civilization/barbarism, self/other, Calibán/Ariel.’  Discuss.

 

            (c)   ‘La violencia inherente a conquista, colonización y descolonización presta su energía y su tensión a toda obra donde se trata de la nación.’  Discuss.

 

            (d)   Discuss the social, political and historical reality which informs the texts you have studied for this topic.

 

 

2          Nightmares of the Urban

 

Answer ONE of the following with reference to TWO OR MORE texts or films:

 

            (a)   ‘La obra de arte tiene que reflejar la pluralidad y la brutalidad de la ciudad latinoamericana a la vez que le presta cierta coherencia narrativa y estética.’  Discuss.

 

            (b)   Discuss the portrayal of space, literal or metaphorical, in works you have studied for this topic.

 

            (c)   ‘La realidad urbana es un campo rico para la exploración del deseo, de la identidad sexual, del género, del amor.’  Discuss.

 

            (d)   Discuss the question of cultural, social and racial diversity in TWO OR MORE Latin American cities.

 

 

3          Charting Revolution

 

Answer ONE of the following with reference to TWO OR MORE texts (which may include visual arts):

 

            (a)   ‘La representación de la Revolución se gesta entre la retórica y la épica y una realidad más compleja y menos gloriosa.’  Discuss.

 

                (b)     ‘Works on the Mexican Revolution seem to be constitutionally aware of their own textuality or place in a tradition.’  Discuss.

 

            (c)     Discuss the importance of land AND/OR social class in works concerning the Mexican Revolution.

 

            (d)     Assess the role and importance of ONE OR TWO historical figures involved in the Mexican Revolution or its aftermath.

4          The ‘Racial’ Other

 

Answer ONE of the following with reference to TWO OR MORE texts:

 

            (a)     Discuss the notions of agency and change in the works you have studied for this topic.  Who does what, and to what effect?

 

            (b)     ‘Though the representation of the other may ultimately be illusory, these works provide valuable insights into the functioning of the groups and societies they depict.’  Discuss.

 

            (c)     ‘En la novela indigenista el análisis del papel de la mujer es clave para comprender las relaciones de poder dentro de  la sociedad.’  Discuss.

 

            (d)     ‘Estos textos apuntan a la creación de una escritura latinoamericana nueva: más inclusiva, abierta, flexible, híbrida.’  Discuss.

 

 

5          Penning the Dictator

 

Answer ONE of the following with reference to TWO OR MORE texts:

 

            (a)     Discuss the ways in which the use of language in works on dictatorship may confirm, undermine or question authority: that of the writer or the regime.

 

            (b)     ‘The depiction of dictatorship is strongly determined by notions of gender in these works.’  Discuss.

 

            (c)     ‘¿Cómo puede ser que la violencia política latinoamericana se vea plasmada más fielmente a través de la imaginación más delirante?’  Discuss.

 

            (d)     Discuss the relationship between the texts you have studied and historical dictators or repressive regimes.

 

 

6          Labyrinths of Fiction

 

Answer ONE of the following with reference to TWO OR MORE texts or films:

 

            (a)   ‘En estas obras el verdadero drama no está en el tema ni en los personajes, sino en el acto de escribir y leer.’  Discuss.

 

 (b)  ‘Time and identity become malleable, fragmented and reconfigured within the textual games of such texts.’  Discuss.

 

 (c)  ‘Lo fantástico figura como una apertura a lo otro, a lo que libera o amenaza con destruir al personaje.’  Discuss.

 

 (d)  ‘Lejos de ser escapistas, estos textos nos ofrecen una visión crítica y lúcida de lenguaje cotidiano que nos manipula y de la pobre realidad que suponemos inalterable y única.  Nos hacen ver nuestro mundo bajo una luz nueva.’  Discuss.

 

 

END OF PAPER