Surviving Memories: Resisting Dictatorships

Among the most infamous phenomena of the 20th Century was the rise of dictatorships of both the political left and the right. In Spain and in Latin America, new regimes come into existence which monopolize power, submitting society to control by systematically resorting to repression and propaganda. In opposition to them, resisting voices develop, opening new margins of freedom. The aim of this course is to develop insight into the Spanish and American dictatorships by means of the study and discussion of writings and diverse reports by witnesses who were able to keep their memories alive. (1 unit)

Required text: a selection of excerpts from the following texts which students can acquire in coursepack form, to be purchased at Middlebury. The readings will include Mariano Constante, Los años rojos (Barcelona: Círculo de Lectores, 2004), Cristina Peri Rossi, El museo de los esfuerzos inútiles en Lo mío es escribir: Siglo XX, ed. Anna Caballé (Barcelona: Círculo de Lectores, 2003); Victoria Kent, Cuatro años de mi vida, 1940-1944 (Barcelona:Bruguera, 1978); Ernesto Sábato, La resistencia (Barcelona: Seix Barral, 2000).