This module examines different representations of the Jewish-Argentine identity based on national, transnational and personal histories appearing in contemporary Argentine films. To gain insight into how the Jewish-Argentine identity is negotiated, contested and shaped some of the most salient experiences of the Jewish-Argentine community are studied in this module. Divided into five parts, the module gives a broad overview of what it means to be Jewish and Argentine. Therefore, after introducing the image of the Jew in films from Latin America and Argentina, the module hones in on the arrival of the Ashkenazi Jews in the Argentine countryside at the turn of the twentieth century. The second part of the module addresses the transformation of Jewish men into gauchos while the third part hinges on one of the most traumatic events ever experienced by the Jewish-Argentine community, the 1994 terrorist attack known as the AMIA bombing. Whereas the fourth part deals with intermarriage in the diaspora and intergenerational conflict, the final part of the module addresses the memory of the Shoah. Each part also deals with specific film terminology and critical theories to equip the students with the vocabulary and knowledge necessary to analyse the films.
There are no prerequisites for this module. It builds on the critical and analytic skills that students will have developed in Studies Modules in Years 1 and 2. Having previously studied either CULT2013 Intercultural Studies or MED2019 World Cinema may be an advantage as students who have successfully completed those will either have some knowledge of cultural representation and/or of critical approaches to the study of film as a cultural product.
Themes:
Introduction to Latin American cinema. Portrayals of Jews in Latin American cinema.
Introduction to Argentine cinema. Depiction of Jews in Argentine cinema.
The history of Jewish colonization in Argentina.
The figure of the Jewish gaucho and the idea of masculinity.
The role of the rural Jewish woman and the idea of femininity.
The aftermath of the 1994 AMIA bombing.
The role of cultural memory in Argentine society.
Intermarriage.
Family issues and representation of conflict and conflict resolution.
The memory of the Shoah.
Cultural trauma and reconciliation.
This a research-led module delivered in small groups through interactive lectures that stimulate class discussion. Viewing the films beforehand and students’ participation are essential for the successful outcome of this module. As some of the classes will be flipped, students’ commitment is imperative.
| Module Content & Assessment | |
|---|---|
| Assessment Breakdown | % |
| Other Assessment(s) | 100 |