Manuela Borzone is a literary scholar whose work focuses on the representation of the Argentine gaucho in literature, illustration, and film.
She has earned several awards, including best peer-reviewed article, distinguished teacher, and scholar of the year, and her research has appeared in award-winning collections. At Oxy, she teaches a variety of courses which range from Spanish language to upper-level literature and culture. Borzone has a Ph.D. in comparative literature from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and comes to Occidental from Nebraska Wesleyan University.
What attracted you to Occidental?
I love working with students in the liberal arts. I attended college in Spain, where the higher education model is vastly different, and when I first came to work for a small New England college after my bachelor鈥檚, I saw the wonderful and highly creative connections between disciplines that students were making and I knew I wanted to be a part of that. Oxy鈥檚 location in Los Angeles was another important factor in my decision. I come from big cities with warm weather; I love the coast, hiking, and spending time outdoors in general.
How did you take an interest in Spanish and French studies, and in your specialty in particular?
As a native Spanish-speaker, I鈥檝e always enjoyed learning about and sharing the intricacies of language: from paradigms and variations to how Spanish compares to English and other Romance languages, which is why I enjoy teaching language courses. But as a Spanish reader, I admire writers and artists for their ability to create worlds through words and images. I love delving into literature and artistic expression for its power to compel us to think about the human condition. My own experiences with migration from Argentina to Spain led me toward comparative studies for my doctoral work before I settled in Southern Cone studies more fully.
Can you talk about a favorite class you have taught (or are currently teaching) and what students can expect to take away from it?
Last fall I taught 鈥淭he Argentinian Imagination,鈥 which is a course I designed to introduce students to the country鈥檚 culture through its literary and cultural production from the 1810s to the present. Focusing solely on one literary tradition from multiple angles (we cover short stories, novels, music, film, graphic narrative, as well as history, politics, and a bit of economics) allows us to go really deep, and I think students come away really interested in studying abroad in Argentina or, if they are returning from study abroad, to continue to broaden their interest in the country.
Outside of work, what do you enjoy doing in Los Angeles?
I enjoy exploring the city through its neighborhoods, museums, and restaurants. I both love to spend time near the coast relaxing and going on challenging hikes in the San Gabriel mountains.
Anything else you would like to add?
I was born and raised in Argentina, where I lived until I was 18, when my family moved to southern Spain. I did my licenciatura at the Universidad de M谩laga, and spent the next six years living between the United Kingdom (England, Scotland) and North America (U.S. and Canada) before settling in the U.S. for my Ph.D. I still travel frequently to Spain and Argentina to visit family and friends.