Dhaka lit fest is a platform to celebrate Bangladeshi culture and literature and it also celebrates the principles on what Bangladesh is formed such as secularism, pluralism, democracy, and freedom of thought and speech. It is showcasing the rich literary heritage of Bangladesh to help young people about the spirit of Bangladesh. In this three-day fest, 200 local and international literary figures, performers and intellectuals from five continents attended. In this fest base is invisible. Lit fest is superstructure because superstructure is consist of educational and cultural institutions and lit fest is also cultural and educational instruction. It is ‘emergent culture’ because it creates new practices.

1. Do you feel you need to
understand the background
of an author in order to fully
understand his/her work?
Why or why not?
**There will be a quiz THIS week on today’s notes

2. Latin American Literature
History and Background

3. Latin America
 Latin is the base language of Spanish,
Italian, Portuguese, and French
 For example, in Spanish the word for
cave is “cueva,” in Portuguese “cova,”
Italian “cava.”
Now you can describe that
in 4 languages!

4. Latin America
 Latin America is
a geographic
location
 Every nation
from Mexico to
the tip of South
America is
considered
“Latin America”
 Approx. 21
countries

5. Four Main Population Groups
Indian (Native American) White
Black
Mixed Heritage
Mestizo= Indian and White
Mulatto= Black and White

6. Latin America
 INTERESTING
FACT:
–People from
Latin America
are all Latin, but
not all Hispanic
–For example,
Brazilians speak
Portuguese,
making them
Latin not
Hispanic.

7. Languages

8. Use of Metaphor
 Like texts of other nations, Latin
American stories use many metaphors
 Metaphor is the master trope/device.
1. Define metaphor.
2. Create an example of a metaphor?

9. Metaphor & Theme
 Metaphors help build the theme of a
story.
3. Define theme.
4.List an example of a theme from
something you’ve read/watched?

10. Latin American Literature:
Common Topics
 Like many cultures, Latin American stories
revolve around universal themes and
explore interpersonal relationships.
 Roots in legends and myths
 Oral tradition
 Often, Latin American stories have religious
or political content.

11. Common Themes:
 Family and relationship loyalties
 Poverty
 Gender Roles
 Social Protest & Exploitation
 Religion
 Magical Realism

12. Family
Family is considered one's
strongest bond and loyalty

13. Poverty
 Poverty is largely an issue because of
the desperate situations in which many
Latin American countries find
themselves.

14. Gender Roles
 Traditionally, older customs and
cultural traditions prevail. Women were
expected to be obedient and uphold
the family honor.

15. Political: social protest and
exploitation
 Many Latin American countries have
gone through periods of social unrest.
 Cuba = communism
 Dominican Republic = dictatorship

16. Religion: Catholicism
 Many Latin American
countries have large
Catholic populations.
5. Describe the
Catholic iconography
in this painting.

17. The Boom
•a huge BOOM in number of important
novels produced
•Used literary invention in narratives to
express cultural heritage
•Experimented with language and structure,
often injecting fantasy and fragmenting time
and space
(Starting in late 1950‘s)

18. Gabriel Garcia
Márquez
(Columbia)_- Nobel
Prize Winner

19. Magical Realism
Magical
Realism
Dreams,
Magic,
Unexpected,
&
Supernatural
Everyday
Reality
(Regular
Life
Events)

20. Conclusion
 Latin American literature is rich with
culture and social commentary.
– Themes are based on life experiences
 We will use the term “Latin Americans”