Robert Lestón’s Profile Faculty Toggle navigation

This course lays the foundation for understanding the literary, cultural, and historical influences behind the work of what has come to be known as the “Latin American Boom” that culminated in Latin America’s premier writer and inventor of “magical realism,” Gabriel García Márquez. Students investigate the literary and cultural antecedents to García Márquez’s texts, including works by Federico García Lorca (Spain), Isabel Allende (Chile), Jorge Luis Borges (Argentina), Juan Rulfo (Mexico), and others. Students will also investigate the relationship between magical realism and the historico-political rhetorics against which Marquez was writing, including but not limited to the role of the United Fruit Company, Simón Bolívar and his aspirations for a “Gran Colombia,” and the corruption and politics associated with so-called Banana Republicanism. Students also analyze and discuss a wide range of cultural artifacts, study a variety of writing models, and practice both individual and collaborative research, writing, and presentation.

This course lays the foundation for understanding the literary, cultural, and historical influences behind the work of what has come to be known as the “Latin American Boom” that culminated in Latin America’s premier writer and inventor of “magical realism,” Gabriel García Márquez. Students investigate the literary and cultural antecedents to García Márquez’s texts, including works by Federico García Lorca (Spain), Isabel Allende (Chile), Jorge Luis Borges (Argentina), Juan Rulfo (Mexico), and others. Students will also investigate the relationship between magical realism and the historico-political rhetorics against which Marquez was writing, including but not limited to the role of the United Fruit Company, Simón Bolívar and his aspirations for a “Gran Colombia,” and the corruption and politics associated with so-called Banana Republicanism. Students also analyze and discuss a wide range of cultural artifacts, study a variety of writing models, and practice both individual and collaborative research, writing, and presentation.

Students critically read, analyze, and write about the popular genre of the Gothic. As represented in both literary and visual terms, in both Europe and the United States beginning in the late-18th century to today. Key concepts include horror, haunting, madness, and monsters.

Students critically read, analyze, and write about the popular genre of the Gothic. As represented in both literary and visual terms, in both Europe and the United States beginning in the late-18th century to today. Key concepts include horror, haunting, madness, and monsters.

An introduction to the relationship between language and technology by reviewing the history of various technologies of the world, including writing, printing, and digital media. The course explores the history of rhetoric and its relationship to traditional, print-based technologies, as well as new forms and meanings of digital literacy.

An introduction to the relationship between language and technology by reviewing the history of various technologies of the world, including writing, printing, and digital media. The course explores the history of rhetoric and its relationship to traditional, print-based technologies, as well as new forms and meanings of digital literacy.

The fundamental aspects of narrative in digital environments. Students will learn to identify common elements of digital stories and analyze how story creators utilize digital tools, platforms, and interfaces to add interactivity to their narratives. Hands-on introductions to a range of freely available digital storytelling tools to create narratives in a variety of interactive formats.

The fundamental aspects of narrative in digital environments. Students will learn to identify common elements of digital stories and analyze how story creators utilize digital tools, platforms, and interfaces to add interactivity to their narratives. Hands-on introductions to a range of freely available digital storytelling tools to create narratives in a variety of interactive formats.

As an advanced course in theories and practices of communication for new media, the course will explore relationships between communication theories and technologies from social, cultural, historical, and practical perspectives and the implications of these for communication projects in new media environments.

As an advanced course in theories and practices of communication for new media, the course will explore relationships between communication theories and technologies from social, cultural, historical, and practical perspectives and the implications of these for communication projects in new media environments.