Prerequisites:

There are no course prerequisites for HUMA 1311. A passing score or the equivalent on the reading portion of the TSI is required. This class is offered in conjunction with the Mexican American Studies (MAS) Program.

Humanities 1311 Mexican American Fine Arts Appreciation satisfies the Creative Arts component of the ACC Core Curriculum.

This course is for everyone interested in the topics and issues, regardless of cultural identity or background.

Student Responsibilities:

Your Final Grade will be comprised of:
1. Orientation (Pass/Fail - required "Pass" to continue in course).
2. Unit Discussions (5 x 10% each = 50%).
3. Arts & Culture Response Papers (2 x 15% = 30%).
4. Journal Entries (5 x 1 % each = 5%).
5. Final Project (15%).

Also, refer to section "Course Subjects" below for more details.

Required Books:

Chicano Popular Culture: Que Hable el Pueblo
(2017 / 2nd ed.)
by Charles M. Tatum
ISBN-13: 978-0816536528 or ebook equivalent

Chicano Art for Our Millennium
(2004)
by Gary Keller, Mary Erickson, and Pat Villeneuve
ISBN-13: 978-1931010252 [order this asap - there isn't an ebook available currently]

Our Lady of Controversy
(2011)
eds. Alicia Gaspar de Alba and Alma López
ISBN-13: 978-0292726420 or ebook equivalent

Recommended Films (VOD access or any DVD/Blu-ray issue or reissue is fine):

Selena (1997)
dir. Gregory Nava

Real Women Have Curves (2002)
dir. Patricia Cardoso

Course Description:

This course is an exploration of the purposes and processes in the visual arts, performing arts (such as music, painting, drama, and dance), and literature and the ways in which they express the values of the Mexican American/Chicano/a experience.

Course Topics:

The course covers a wide range of topics in Mexican American Studies and the Arts. A sample includes:

• Visual Arts and Artists
• Performing Arts and Artists
• Cinema, Filmmakers, Actors
• Literature and Authors
• Music and Musicians

With the Final Project, each student will be expected to investigate an important issue in Mexican American arts and culture, compose an argumentative essay and presentation according to the guidelines, and share their work with the course. These projects will compliment the topics listed above, and enhance class discussion on corresponding issues.

Course Rationale:

This is a study of culture which will introduce students to forms of cultural expressions found throughout Latin America. The course will focus on race, ethnicity, gender, power, history, and identity and how they shape different aspects of Mexican/American/Chicano/a culture and identity. The students will explore this formation of identity and culture via the expressive lenses of music, dance, theater, art and literature. Students will not only acquire a deeper appreciation of particular works of art but also will gain a larger perspective on how creative works reflect cultural identity throughout America in a timeline perspective.

Departmental Course Student Learning Outcomes:

After successful completion of this course a student should be able to:

• Identify a variety of significant works of art from various times and places in human history.
• Analyze works of art with their cultural context.
• Evaluate the relationship between the arts and human values.

Mexican American Studies Program Student Learning Outcomes:

As a result of having taken this course, students will be able to:

• Compare and contrast different Mexican American identities and their influence in Mexican American culture and society.
• Evaluate the impact of colonialism, imperialism, and racism on Mexican American culture and society.
• Analyze the impact of immigration and economic policy on Mexican American culture and society.
• Analyze the complex history, culture, and struggles for equality of Mexican Americans.

Instructor Course Level Outcomes:

As a result of having taken this course, students will be able to:

• Employ formal elements and principles to critically analyze various works of the visual and performing arts and literature.
• Articulate the creative process of artistic works as expressions of Mexican American/Chicano/a experiences and cultural values.
• Formulate an understanding of how Mexican American/Chicano/a arts reflect shifting cultural identities.
• Describe the relationship of Mexican American/Chicano/a arts to everyday life.

General Education Objectives/Outcomes:

1. Communication Skills: Develop, interpret, and express ideas and information through written, oral and visual communication that is adapted to purpose, structure, audience, and medium.
2. Critical Thinking Skills: Gather, analyze, synthesize, evaluate and apply information for the purposes of innovation, inquiry, and creative thinking.
3. Personal Responsibility: Identify and apply ethical principles and practices to decision-making by connecting choices, actions and consequences.
4. Social Responsibility (Civic and Cultural Awareness): Analyze differences and commonalities among peoples, ideas, aesthetic traditions, and cultural practices to include intercultural competence, knowledge of civic responsibility, and the ability to engage effectively in regional, national, and global communities.

Professor Course Objectives and Philosophy:

This course is for everyone interested in the topics and issues, regardless of cultural identity or background.

This course is designed to help you systematically, analytically, and creatively explore topics within Mexican American Studies. As a survey course, HUMA 1311 covers an expansive stretch of time and space, with primary emphasis on the 20th and 21st Centuries.

Throughout the semester, I encourage you 1) to enthusiastically engage in an examination of cultures that may or may not be quite different from your own and 2) to be willing to examine your relationship to your own cultural formation, including the contemporary arts that you are most connected to personally and those with which you are not.

My first and foremost goal as an instructor is to develop a positive working relationship with the students in my classes. By this I mean that, despite the evident need to teach you (the student) skills or to share knowledge with you, I will attempt to work with you through the process such that you learn not only from me, but also from yourselves and from each other. As an instructor, I enjoy learning environments in which there is ongoing communication between the instructor and students regarding individual and group progress in the given area of study.

To sum up: If you're interested in these topics, let's dig in! I look forward to getting to know each of you through your participation in this course.

Distance learning requires a unique set of knowledge, skills and attitudes in order for students to be successful. Even students who excel in a face-to-face setting may struggle in a distance learning course if they are not prepared or do not know what to expect. As a faculty member, I take training and review best practices continually, so that I am as prepared as possible to teach you and mentor students through distance learning courses.

Students must also be prepared and know their responsibilities and best practices for success. The personal traits and characteristics that contribute to success in distance learning courses, as identified by ACC's Instructional Development Series, are listed below.

Personal Qualities:
    •    Sets goals and deadlines
    •    Remains on track and on time
    •    Completes projects
    •    Seeks assistance (from instructor and/or classmates) when needed
    •    Possesses strong reading and writing skills
    •    Communicates comfortably via email and other online platforms
    •    Possesses strong problem solving skills
    •    Plans in advance to provide adequate time for completing readings and assignments
    •    Learns from things they hear, like lectures, audio recordings and podcasts
    •    Has a designated, distraction-free place to work on assignments
    •    Focuses on reading/studying despite distractions
    •    Willing to spend 10-20 hours a week on the online course
    •    Keeps a record of assignments and due dates
    •    Plans to login to the online class daily
    •    Students with disabilities know whom to contact for assistance

... be sure to log into the course Blackboard site for any updates: https://acconline.austincc.edu.

All content on this page is prepared prior to the beginning of the semester. Course schedule and content may be changed during the semester to accommodate the needs of this particular class.