The ambiguous nature of the genre and the hybrid nature of many texts will force us to uncover the autobiographical, for example, in otherwise fictional or historical narratives, as well as to analyze different styles and strategies of selffiguration. The texts selected, mostly from men and women writers from the 19th and 20th Centuries, will yield valuable and cultural information about Spanish America. These texts will also serve as 'models' for writing exercises and the participants' own attempts at writing their lives.
Attendance is required.
Advanced Spanish level. Introduction to the course. General problems of the autobiography -biography, autobiography, memoirs, testimonies, etc. Traditional and recent approaches to reading autobiographical writings. Comments on various critical approaches -W.Gass, G.Gusdorf, PhLejeune, S.Molloy, etc.