Course Description: This course examines ‘Latino Cinema’ and its
connections to particular historical, cultural, and political
movements in the U.S. and Latin America.  In the first section, we
will review and critique Latino/a representations in Hollywood films.
We will focus on 1930s-1950s constructions of Latinos/as and the ways
in which some early stereotypes are still part of recently released
mainstream movies.  In the second section, we will discuss
the ‘origins’ and development of Latino video and film.  In this
section we will analyze particular films in relation to the Civil
Rights Movement, the Chicano/a Movement, the New Latin American
Cinema, the Feminist Movement and the Gay Rights Movement.  In the
last part of this course we will examine films directed, written, or
produced by Latinos/as which were co-produced by Hollywood studios.
We will compare Hollywood/Latino films to understand the ways in
which Latinoness has been represented in the U.S. cultural landscape.
The main objective of this course is to understand the cultural,
social, historical, and economic contexts that permeate the
representations of Latino identities in both Latino Cinema and
Hollywood/mainstream films.

Course Requirement:
1) Exams (70%):  There will be three scheduled exams in this course.
2) Reviews (30%):  Three film reviews (approximately 3-4 pages
each).  I will provide a specific question for each review to guide
the students.  These reviews will weave the readings, class
discussions, and the students’ own position/argument.

A Reading Packet.  Readings from:
King, J, López, A, and M. Alvarado (1993).  Mediating Two Worlds:
Cinematic
Encounters in the Americas.  London:  British Film Institute.
Noriega, C &  López, A (1996) The Ethnic Eye: Latino Media Arts.
Minneapolis: The
University of Minnesota Press.
Noriega, C (2000) The Future of Latino Independent Media:  A NALIP
Sourcebook .  Los
Angeles:  Chicano Studies Research Center.
Rodríguez, C. (1997).  Latin Looks:  Images of Latinas and Latinos in
the U.S. Media.
Colorado:  Westview Press.
***Film reviews and interviews with directors, actors, producers, and
writers.
Films:
1) That Night in Rio 					12) El Super
			
2) Shaft							13)
Mambo Mouth
3) Lone Star						14) Selena
4) I am Joaquin/Chicana					15) Luminarias
5) Stand and Deliver		
6) Born in East L.A
7) El Norte			
8) El Mariachi			
9) Star Maps
10) Mi Familia			
11) Brincando el charco/Carmelita Tropicana
Prof. Yeidy M. Rivero