Discover the Hispanic world through the captivating lens of cinema by studying societies throughout the Spanish-speaking world. In this course, you will analyze Spanish-language films to understand narrative elements, characterization, and pressing societal challenges. By integrating literary stories and music with film study, you will strengthen your communication skills and reach a high level of cultural competence.
| Unit |
Timeframe |
Big Ideas (Statements or Essential Questions) |
Major Learning Experiences from Unit |
| Unit 1 |
Q1 |
- What is the main theme?
- What is the historical connection?
- What is the historical connection with contemporary life today? Is there a connection? How did the past influence life today?
- What can we learn from this film?
- What impact has an event in the film made on life, people, and/or the country?
- What cultural characteristics define the Hispanic community
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Thematic Exploration:
Analyzing films like Voces Inocentes, También la lluvia, and Cautiva to explore themes of freedom, personal rights, and totalitarian governments.
Historical & Contemporary Linking:
Investigating how past historical events influence contemporary life and identifying the impact of these events on individuals and countries.
Defining Community:
Identifying the specific cultural characteristics that define the Hispanic community.
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| Unit 2 |
Q2 |
- What are the main causes of migration in the Hispanic world?
- How does the experience of a new immigrant in the United States differ from their life in their country of origin?
- What role does family play during the migration process?
- How are the "challenges and hopes" of migrants reflected in the films?
|
Migration Analysis:
Examining the diverse causes of migration in the Hispanic world through films like La Misma Luna, Which Way Home, and Entre Nos.
Comparative Life Studies:
Comparing the experiences and challenges of new immigrants in the United States with their lives in their countries of origin.
Societal & Family Dynamics:
Exploring the role of family and the specific "challenges and hopes" faced during the migration process.
|
| Unit 3 |
Q3 |
- What is lost when a language dies, and why is it important to preserve unique visions of the world?
- How can a person become a fugitive in their own country due to their political or artistic beliefs?
- How did the colonization process graphically affect indigenous peoples?
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Linguistic Preservation:
Analyzing the loss of unique worldviews when a language dies, specifically through the film Sueño en otro idioma.
Political & Artistic Fugitives:
Studying how individuals, like the poet Pablo Neruda, become fugitives in their own countries due to their beliefs.
Colonization Impact:
Examining the graphic effects of the colonization process on indigenous peoples, as depicted in The Mission.
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| Unit 4 |
Q4 |
- How do unresolved situations from the past affect an individual's "return" to their roots?
- How can a chance encounter in a new environment change a person's entire view on life?
- What social criticisms are presented when comparing the lives of the wealthy/spoiled to those facing hardship?
|
Reconciliation with the Past:
Exploring how unresolved past situations affect an individual's "return" to their roots through the film Volver.
Transformative Encounters:
Analyzing how chance encounters in new environments, such as Peru, can shift a person's entire view on life.
Social Criticism:
Comparing the lives of the wealthy and "spoiled" to those facing significant hardships and examining the resulting social critiques in films like Nosotros los nobles.
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