*Syllabus


 * University Honors 222-009 - Spring 2010**
 * Mexico****: Legacy Of Paradox**

3:30-4:45 T-Th SHC#12 Instructor: Michael Thomas 277-4211 (UHP), 573-1656 (Cell) E-mail Address: mthomas@unm.edu Office: SHC#2-E Office Hours: 11:30-12:30, 2:45-3:30 T-Th

“Mexico poses the greatest threat to U.S. security after al Qaeda” Former C.I.A. Director Michael Hayden (as quoted in the Wall Street Journal Feb. 12, 2009)

“Mexico is the most surrealist country in the world" André Breton, poet and founder of the Surrealist movement in art and literature.

“Mexico makes Americans fall down.” Michael Thomas, anthropologist, novelist, and raconteur

Mexico is an enigmatic contradictory nation. The center of the country, Mexico City, is one of the largest and most sophisticated cities in the world. It is also, as novelist Carlos Fuentes points out, surrounded by peasants speaking Indian languages and living a folk agrarian lifestyle that has changed little in 500 years. Mexico is the wealthiest country in Latin America and is home to Carlos Slim, communications magnate and richest individual on earth. It is also a nation so afflicted with poverty that its most significant export has long been desperate people seeking a better life. A Catholic country with profound religious traditions, Mexico is also one of the most anticlerical countries on earth. Similarly, Mexico regionally diverse in terms of ecology, language, and customs is also strongly nationalistic and patriotic, seemingly obsessed with national sovereignty. The country is notorious both as a party destination, committed to the fiesta AND as a bastion of prudery. It is at once anarchic and bureaucratic, hyper-individualistic and communalistic, corrupt and compassionate, refined and vulgar. Perhaps, to outsiders, the oddest thing about the contradictions of Mexican life is that those contradictions don’t much bother Mexicans. This seminar challenges students to investigate Mexican culture, to immerse themselves in the contradictions. The seminar is also a great way for those contemplating travel to Mexico to familiarize themselves with their destination while picking up survival skills. Doing so, we will also address an American contradiction. Mexico is one of the United States most important allies. We share a long border and a troubled history. And most Americans know very little about Mexico and Mexican culture. This seminar will, importantly, address that contradiction.

**REQUIREMENTS:** Each student will focus on a particular topic or phenomenon in Mexican culture. Research on that topic should focus on the topic itself, its context in Mexican culture, and its implications for the human endeavor in general. Collaboration is encouraged. Requirements include: 1) Two research progress reports (oral) along with written 1-2 page synopses ( 12.5 + 12.5 = 25 points). 2) A final research paper (35 points) 3) A brief, research-based presentation. This presentation can be a conventional formal presentation of a paper, a poster presentation, or a PowerPoint presentation (20 points).
 * REQUIREMENTS** **(Cont.):**

4) Participation: This is a discussion based seminar. Students should participate in all discussions and be attentive and courteous during presentations. Since this is a discussion class, attendance is crucial and students are expected arrive in a timely manner. Students should be attentive and involved in the wiki. There will be two student-organized Saturday field trips. Students who miss class **//for any reason//** will lose participation points[1] (20 points possible).

**Readings**: 1) Gilbert M. Joseph and Timothy Henderson, Editors – THE MEXICO READER 2) Other readings will be provided on E-reserves or the seminar wiki.
 * Grades**: **A** - 85-100, **Cr** - 55-84, **Ncr** - 54 points or less.
 * LEARNING OUTCOMES (skills that students should attain through meeting course requirements):**

1) Students should be able to organize a research project investigating a topic or phenomenon of Mexican culture that has particular relevance or interest for them. 2) They should be able to write a paper based on the results of their investigation that: a) Provides a survey of that topic or phenomenon. b) Provides a context for understanding the topic/phenomenon in Mexican culture. c) Articulates the implications of the phenomenon for the human endeavor in general. 3) Students should, likewise be able to organize and deliver a 10 minute presentation based on the research project and facilitate a lively 5 minute discussion afterwards. 4) Students should be able to format and present their papers and presentations in a professional manner according to the parameters of professional discourse in their major. 5) Students should be able to understand and articulate briefly via the written ( two pages) and spoken (5 minutes) word the major traits that characterize Mexican culture. 6) Students should be able to understand and articulate via the written (two pages) and spoken (5 minutes) word, the contrastive traits that differentiate Mexican subcultures. 7) Students should be able to collaborate successfully with fellow students to organize a field trip or seminar presentation.

“Each student is expected to maintain the highest standards of honesty and integrity in academic and professional matters. The University reserves the right to take disciplinary action up to and including dismissal against any student who is found guilty of academic dishonesty or otherwise fails to meet the standards. Any student judged to have engaged in academic dishonesty in course work may receive a reduced or failing grade for the work in question.” //Pathfinder, The UNM Student Handbook// p. 58
 * NOTE:** This is the first paragraph of the UNM Policy on Academic Dishonesty:

[1] Procrastination, printing problems, misplaced thumb drives, etc. sometimes result in students facing the following situation: they have not completed an assigned paper by class time on the due date. In this case, students should come to class and make arrangements to submit the paper late. The penalty for submitting a paper late will be one point if the paper is submitted before the next class meeting, two points if within the week, and one point per week after that. The penalty for missing class on the day an assigned paper is due will be three participation points (this is **in addition** to the aforementioned late paper penalty).