Air Force 1 landing in Havana, March 2016
|
About the class
The Cuban Revolution of 1959 altered the course of this island country, complicating its already historically deep and complex relationship with the United States. A result has been one of the few enduring relics of the Cold War - the blockade.
And while it seems that a rapprochement initiated by President Barack Obama and President Raul Castro between the two nations is permanent and will produce better understandings and deepen intercultural exchange, the island is undergoing rapid economic, political, and social transformations at a moment when the leaders of the revolution are succumbing to the “biological solution." |
Indeed, as the Castro brothers approach their ninetieth birthdays and yield to a rising youth generation clamoring for greater freedoms, there is a vigorous movement to entrench the revolution’s legacy throughout the island.
This is largely accomplished via the establishment and funding of public museums and the arts, the latter being the revolution’s most lasting achievement. Cuba has produced world renowned playwrights, musicians, hip-hoppers, dancers, and styles of song and dance, such as the rumba, trova, son, and popular forms like the zarzuela and guaracha.
All of these forms have been affected by revolutionary state policy and with greater urgency more recently as the eventuality of regime change is now at hand. This course proposes to explore the dynamic of public history and public arts, its effect on popular culture and how it influences the development and evolution of public memory.
Students will read essays and portions of books by leading scholars (historians, anthropologists, sociologists and cultural studies) on collective memory as well as Cuba and Latin America to gain a more holistic understanding of these issues and its importance for Cubans and their future.
This is largely accomplished via the establishment and funding of public museums and the arts, the latter being the revolution’s most lasting achievement. Cuba has produced world renowned playwrights, musicians, hip-hoppers, dancers, and styles of song and dance, such as the rumba, trova, son, and popular forms like the zarzuela and guaracha.
All of these forms have been affected by revolutionary state policy and with greater urgency more recently as the eventuality of regime change is now at hand. This course proposes to explore the dynamic of public history and public arts, its effect on popular culture and how it influences the development and evolution of public memory.
Students will read essays and portions of books by leading scholars (historians, anthropologists, sociologists and cultural studies) on collective memory as well as Cuba and Latin America to gain a more holistic understanding of these issues and its importance for Cubans and their future.
Additional syllabus stuff
Course Objectives/Learning Outcomes
History courses develop students’ knowledge of how past events influence today’s society and help them understand how humans view themselves.
Grading Policy
A: 93 and above; A-: 90-92; B+: 87-89; B: 83-86; B-: 80-82; C+: 77-79; C: 72-76; C-: 70-73; D+: 67-69; D: 60-66; F: below 60
Graded Assignments
Any students unable to appear on the examination dates must present a written excuse and receive clearance from the course instructor before the scheduled examination date. Without such clearance, a student cannot expect to take a make-up examination. Make-up exams may be either written or oral, and they must be taken during one of the department's scheduled dates.
In extenuating circumstances, such as travel for NCAA sanctioned student-athlete competitions, students may take exams and quizzes. Students may not complete such assignments after the given date. Late work will not be accepted.
Professionalism
Professional conduct and attendance is mandatory. Students are preparing to travel to a foreign country. As such, we must abide by the host country's laws and customs. Common decency, basic humility, and a genuine interest in the welfare of Cubans will go a long in securing an educational and enriched experience.
Participation in class discussions is expected too and forms the critical component of one’s professional approach to the course. We will discuss many controversial issues, such as slavery, global war and state violence. As such, students are obliged to complete the assigned readings prior to class meetings and come prepared to contribute to in-class debates.
Classroom Behavior
The interactive nature of this course requires that all participants, at all times, conduct themselves with the proper decorum appropriate to an academic setting. Personal affronts, insults and shouting will not be tolerated.
Correspondence with Professor Hyland
Email correspondence is an important tool for students and professors. Usually lost in this revolutionary and instantaneous message system is a sense of formality and courtesy. Since this course expects and demands students to act in a professional manner, one should expect to continue on this front when communicating with the professor via email. As such, please begin all correspondence with the simple greeting “Dear Professor Hyland:”. This simple formula will guarantee a response from me, either in the form of an email message or verbal communication. There is no similar guarantee for emails without this greeting. At the end of the day, student and professors have a business and professional relationship and it is important for students to distinguish this fact from more informal communication with family and friends.
I should add that it is important for you to have a subject header that is meaningful. I receive dozens of emails every day. Please include “WNAT -” in your header plus any additional information you think relevant, e.g. “WNAT - questions regarding readings for Friday, 11/29”.
Finally, do not send an email to me after an absence asking whether or not you missed anything important in class. Of course you did. Either get the information from a classmate or speak to me in person.
Honor Code
By enrolling in this course, students agree to abide by the Wingate University Honor Code.
Disability Services
Students with disabilities that have registered and received certification by the Academic Resource Center (ARC) will be appropriately accommodated, and should inform the instructor as soon as possible of their needs. The ARC is located on the second floor of the Ethel K. Smith Library; telephone 704-233-8269. For further information, please consult http://www.wingate.edu/academics/disability-services.
Enrollment
All students must be officially enrolled in the course by the end of the fourth day of the semester (August 25). No requests to add the course will be approved by the Instructor after that time. Enrolling officially and on time is solely the responsibility of the student.
History courses develop students’ knowledge of how past events influence today’s society and help them understand how humans view themselves.
- Students acquire a perspective on history and an understanding of the factors that shape human activity.
- Students display knowledge about the origins and nature of contemporary issues and develop a foundation for future comparative understanding.
- Students think, speak, and write critically about primary and secondary historical sources by examining diverse interpretations of past events and ideas in their historical contexts.
- Students exhibit an understanding of political, economic, cultural, physical, and social differences among the nations of the world, including a specific examination of non-Western culture.
- Students show an appreciation of the influence of the Cuban Revolution on the arts, popular culture and public memory, and its consequences on the economy, society, and politics.
- Students engage and reflect upon the pedagogical uses of public museums.
- Students attend a rumba or salsa show at the Casa de la Musica.
- Students abide the Wingate Honor Code at all times.
Grading Policy
A: 93 and above; A-: 90-92; B+: 87-89; B: 83-86; B-: 80-82; C+: 77-79; C: 72-76; C-: 70-73; D+: 67-69; D: 60-66; F: below 60
Graded Assignments
- Map Quiz 10%
- Week 3 Presentation 10%
- Take Home Quiz 10%
- Study Questions & Quizzes on Assigned Readings 15%
- Reflection papers on Movies/Documentaries 15%
- Reflection paper on Cuban Revelations 20%
- Digital Project based on trip 20%
- Comportment during the trip Pass/Fail
Any students unable to appear on the examination dates must present a written excuse and receive clearance from the course instructor before the scheduled examination date. Without such clearance, a student cannot expect to take a make-up examination. Make-up exams may be either written or oral, and they must be taken during one of the department's scheduled dates.
In extenuating circumstances, such as travel for NCAA sanctioned student-athlete competitions, students may take exams and quizzes. Students may not complete such assignments after the given date. Late work will not be accepted.
Professionalism
Professional conduct and attendance is mandatory. Students are preparing to travel to a foreign country. As such, we must abide by the host country's laws and customs. Common decency, basic humility, and a genuine interest in the welfare of Cubans will go a long in securing an educational and enriched experience.
Participation in class discussions is expected too and forms the critical component of one’s professional approach to the course. We will discuss many controversial issues, such as slavery, global war and state violence. As such, students are obliged to complete the assigned readings prior to class meetings and come prepared to contribute to in-class debates.
Classroom Behavior
The interactive nature of this course requires that all participants, at all times, conduct themselves with the proper decorum appropriate to an academic setting. Personal affronts, insults and shouting will not be tolerated.
Correspondence with Professor Hyland
Email correspondence is an important tool for students and professors. Usually lost in this revolutionary and instantaneous message system is a sense of formality and courtesy. Since this course expects and demands students to act in a professional manner, one should expect to continue on this front when communicating with the professor via email. As such, please begin all correspondence with the simple greeting “Dear Professor Hyland:”. This simple formula will guarantee a response from me, either in the form of an email message or verbal communication. There is no similar guarantee for emails without this greeting. At the end of the day, student and professors have a business and professional relationship and it is important for students to distinguish this fact from more informal communication with family and friends.
I should add that it is important for you to have a subject header that is meaningful. I receive dozens of emails every day. Please include “WNAT -” in your header plus any additional information you think relevant, e.g. “WNAT - questions regarding readings for Friday, 11/29”.
Finally, do not send an email to me after an absence asking whether or not you missed anything important in class. Of course you did. Either get the information from a classmate or speak to me in person.
Honor Code
By enrolling in this course, students agree to abide by the Wingate University Honor Code.
Disability Services
Students with disabilities that have registered and received certification by the Academic Resource Center (ARC) will be appropriately accommodated, and should inform the instructor as soon as possible of their needs. The ARC is located on the second floor of the Ethel K. Smith Library; telephone 704-233-8269. For further information, please consult http://www.wingate.edu/academics/disability-services.
Enrollment
All students must be officially enrolled in the course by the end of the fourth day of the semester (August 25). No requests to add the course will be approved by the Instructor after that time. Enrolling officially and on time is solely the responsibility of the student.
