Female Identity and Sexuality in Post Civil War Spain
LTSP 250, Section 01: Literature in (English) Translation: A Foreign Literature
Prerequisites: NONE
College of Charleston, Fall 2016
TR, 9:25-10:40am

237 Jewish Studies Center


Marina Ginestà, a 17-year-old communist militant, overlooking Barcelona during the Spanish Civil War, 1936.

Dr. Mark P. Del Mastro e-mail: delmastromp@cofc.edu
Office: 123 JC Long Tel: 843.953.6748
Office hours: MWF, 1200-1630 or appointment made with Dr. D.*

*If a student is unable to meet Dr. D during his office hours, there are two ways of contacting him: 1) e-mail and/or 2) office phone.

Required texts (in order of study):
Laforet, Carmen. Nada. (1945). Trans. by Edit Grossman (February 12, 2008). ISBN: 978-0-8129-7583-3
Matute, Ana María. School of the Sun. (1959) Trans. by Elaine Kerrigan (1989). ISBN: 0-231-06917-0
Martín Gaite, Carmen. The Back Room. (1978). Trans. by Helen Lane (January 1, 2001). ISBN: 0-87286-371-9
García Morales, Adelaida. The South & Bene (1985). Trans. by Thomas G. Deveny (October 1, 1999). ISBN: 0-8032-7080-1
Chacón, Dulce. The Sleeping Voice. (2003) Trans. by Nick Caistor (January 5, 2006). ISBN: 978-1-84343-209-8

In addition, Dr. Del Mastro will provide supplementary reading material.


Carmen Laforet (1921-2004)

Ana María Matute (1925-2014)

Course Objectives:
An overview of historical events in Spain leading up to the Spanish Civil War (1936-39) with special attention to the roles and rights of Spanish women before the war through the dictatorship of Francisco Franco (1939-1975). A study of five select Spanish novels in translation that reflect period cultural attitudes and the struggles of female identity and sexuality, among other related social issues, in 20th century Spain.

Course Policies and Assignments:
(1) Essays
Each student will write two critical essays (the first of 3-4 pages, the second of 5-6, not including notes and bibliography) on topics approved by the professor. Essays must be typed, double-spaced, with 1" margins, 12-point Times Roman font, and follow the most recently published MLA style. Late submissions will NOT be accepted.  Essays must be handed in at the beginning of the class on the due date. A grade of 0 will be earned for late or unsubmitted work.

(2) Attendance and Tardiness
To succeed in this course, one must attend ALL scheduled classes and participate actively. Only two (2) absences are permitted during the entire semester, regardless of the circumstances. With a third absence, a student's final grade will drop by one letter; with a 4th missed class, the student will be withdrawn from the course with a WA, no exceptions. Without regular attendance, success in this class is impossible; without attending class, a student cannot participate. Tardiness will also NOT be tolerated. The professor reserves the right to dismiss any student who arrives more than 5 minutes late to class. Two tardies or twice leaving class early (or one tardy and one early departure) will be marked as an absence.

(3) Participation, Preparation and Homework; Class Behavior
It is critically important for a student to attend each class prepared and with homework assignments completed. No late assignments are acceptable, and failure to submit assignments on day and time specified will result in a grade of "0." Lack of preparation, including incomplete homework, earns a grade of 0 for the class day in question. Active participation during class reflects student preparation. A student who misses class not only loses important information from the lesson, but he/she also will earn a lower grade for "attendance." In addition to announcements during class, homework will be posted via a link on Dr. D's webpage: web: https://delmastromp.people.cofc.edu/.

Appropriate, cordial and respectful behavior is expected during each class. Students must arrive to class on time, and the following is strictly prohibited:
1) leaving class early;
2) consuming food, tobacco, gum or candy during class;
3) sleeping;
4) use of cell phones (all cell phones must be turned OFF and concealed). The first time a student uses his/her cell phone during class, and regardless of the circumstances, he/she will automatically earn two grades: a 0 for participation for the day in question, a 0 for a quizz grade. With each additional infraction, the student earns a lower final letter grade.

Students must strictly follow rules outlined in the Student Handbook, to include the Honor Code.

(4) Exams
Two exams will be administered to cover the material taught in class.

(5) Presentations
Two oral presentations on topics the professor will designate. IMPORTANT: Students must dress appropriately for these presentations, as if they were interviewing for an important job opportunity.

6) Quizzes
Numerous unannounced quizzes will be administered during the semester. These exercises will be based on information studied/reviewed via the homework assigned on the previous class day. Quizzes pertain to the category "Participation, Preparation and Homework" (see below).

(7) Final Examen
The final exam will be cumulative and based on all the information covered in class during the semester. It is absolutely necessary to take the final exam on the day and time noted on the College of Charleston's final exam schedule: Thursday, December 8, 2016 at 8:00am in 237 Jewish Studies Center. No exceptions.

Grade Distribution:

Exams 30%

Carmen Martín Gaite (1925-2000)

Adelaida García Morales (1945-2014)
Essays 20%
Final Exam 20%
Presentations 15%
Participation, Preparation & Homework 15%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Grading Scale:

A 93-100
C
73-76

Dulce Chacón (1954-2003)
A- 90-92
C-
70-72
B+ 87-89
D+
69
B 83-86
D
66-68
B- 80-82
D-
65
C+ 77-79
F
0-64

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

If a student has special and/or urgent circumstances that prevent his/her attendance to class (especially for scheduled exams and presentations) or the submission of a written assignment, it is the student's responsibility to advise the professor with an explanation 24 hours before or after the day in question. The professor reserves the right to evaluate the student's circumstances and explanation to determine if the student deserves special consideration or an exemption from the class policy.

The professor reserves the right to modify any aspect of this syllabus at any time during the semester to accommodate the needs of the students and class. When the class is in session, the professor also reserves the right to dismiss any student whose behavior affects the class negatively. The professor will record such dismissals as a student absence. Upon registering for and remaining in this class, the student accepts this and all policies as articulated in this syllabus and accompanying course materials.

College of Charleston Honor Code and Academic Integrity
Lying, cheating, attempted cheating, and plagiarism are violations of our Honor Code that, when identified, are investigated. Each incident will be examined to determine the degree of deception involved.

Incidents where the instructor determines the student’s actions are related more to a misunderstanding will be handled by the instructor. A written intervention designed to help prevent the student from repeating the error will be given to the student. The intervention, submitted by form and signed both by the instructor and the student, will be forwarded to the Dean of Students and placed in the student’s file.

Cases of suspected academic dishonesty will be reported directly by the instructor and/or others having knowledge of the incident to the Dean of Students. A student found responsible by the Honor Board for academic dishonesty will receive a XF in the course, indicating failure of the course due to academic dishonesty. This grade will appear on the student’s transcript for two years, after which time the student may petition for the X to be expunged. The student may also be placed on disciplinary probation, suspended (temporary removal) or expelled (permanent removal) from the College by the Honor Board.

Students should be aware that unauthorized collaboration--working together without permission-- is a form of cheating. Unless the instructor specifies that students can work together on an assignment, quiz and/or test, no collaboration during the completion of the assignment is permitted. Other forms of cheating include possessing or using an unauthorized study aid (which could include accessing information via a cell phone or computer), copying from others’ exams, fabricating data, and giving unauthorized assistance.

Research conducted and/or papers written for other classes cannot be used in whole or in part for any assignment in this class without obtaining prior permission from the instructor.

Students can find the complete Honor Code and all related processes, including accommodations for students with disabilities, in the Student Handbook (click here).



Women of Franco's "Sección Femenina" in a nursing class (1948)


Spanish women shaved by the Spanish Nationalists for being relatives of Republicans.