Well, here we are. We have arrived at the end of the semester! Congratulations on surviving until the last week!
For this week, I would like you to post 2-3 paragraphs reflecting on what you have learned about Cuba this semester. Think of structuring this as a mini-essay of sorts: you should have a clear point that you are making, and you should back up what you are saying with specific examples.
For example, you may wish to focus on matters like generational differences between Cuban-Americans, various waves of exiles, portrayal of Cuba in literature and/or film, problems and challenges in the current economy in Cuba, etc. The list of possibilities is, of course, nearly endless! Don't feel limited. Choose whatever you have found most interesting to focus on, but also give me an idea of the whole range of information you feel you have most gained from this course.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Sunday, April 20, 2008
The Power of Music
As we have continued the semester, one of the themes we have frequently talked about regarding post-1959 Cuba is limited freedom of expression. In the materials you are preparing for Monday, you will read and hear some views about the alternative music scene in today's Cuba. We will talk about the hip hop and rap scene in class and hear what some of the underground artists have to say about their own music.
For your posting, consider the importance of music in terms of freedom of expression. Why is music so crucial? What does music --as opposed to other forms of expression-- allow one to express?
For your posting, consider the importance of music in terms of freedom of expression. Why is music so crucial? What does music --as opposed to other forms of expression-- allow one to express?
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Habana Blues
Greetings and welcome back after a (somewhat extended) spring break!
For this week's posting, we are going to try a new experiment for our class discussion this Monday and Wednesday, which will be based on the film you are seeing this weekend, Habana Blues.
Please post two discussion questions about Habana Blues; these questions should be appropriate for generating lively discussion in our actual course this week. We will use your own questions as a basis for our conversation about the film.
If you are able to post by 8 p.m. as usual, please try to do so. Several of you have seen the film already. For those of you seeing the film later this evening, however, this may obviously mean that you post sometime after 8 p.m. Please just try to post your questions at your earliest convenience so that your classmates have a chance to look at them by class time. We will continue our discussion for a second day.
There is no specific limit on the scope of the questions. You may post discussion questions that address any topic pertinent to the content of the film and/or its relation to the rest of our course content.
For this week's posting, we are going to try a new experiment for our class discussion this Monday and Wednesday, which will be based on the film you are seeing this weekend, Habana Blues.
Please post two discussion questions about Habana Blues; these questions should be appropriate for generating lively discussion in our actual course this week. We will use your own questions as a basis for our conversation about the film.
If you are able to post by 8 p.m. as usual, please try to do so. Several of you have seen the film already. For those of you seeing the film later this evening, however, this may obviously mean that you post sometime after 8 p.m. Please just try to post your questions at your earliest convenience so that your classmates have a chance to look at them by class time. We will continue our discussion for a second day.
There is no specific limit on the scope of the questions. You may post discussion questions that address any topic pertinent to the content of the film and/or its relation to the rest of our course content.
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Looking Back on Looking Back
Since we are exactly halfway through the semester, I'd like us to look back on looking back, as it were. I suppose we could get nostalgic about the books that have already gone by...
What I'd like you to do is to choose two works that we have read or seen in this class so far. You may use film or text or both. In a nicely developed paragraph, compare and contrast these works. What do these works have to say about the (Cuban) revolution, (Cuban) exile, nostalgia, or other concepts? Compare and contrast the author's and/or the director's presentation of these ideas. Make sure you choose a logical pair to juxtapose.
What I'd like you to do is to choose two works that we have read or seen in this class so far. You may use film or text or both. In a nicely developed paragraph, compare and contrast these works. What do these works have to say about the (Cuban) revolution, (Cuban) exile, nostalgia, or other concepts? Compare and contrast the author's and/or the director's presentation of these ideas. Make sure you choose a logical pair to juxtapose.
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