Contemporary Spanish Literature
A.Y. 2019/2020
Learning objectives
The course offers a fourth optional step in the diachronic study of Spanish Literature and it's aimed at both undergraduated and graduated students. It focuses on Spain's history, society and culture from the end of the Civil War (1939) to nowadays, including the francoist dictatorship (1939-1975), the political transition and the democratic era. It offers a multifaceted approach to Spanish contemporary literature, starting from some fundamental works in which literary writing is closely connected with historical environment and social changes. Special attention will be paid to how literature deals with Spain's astonishing progress during the democratic period, a crucial phase marked by the rise of a hyper-consumeristic society in a globalized market. In fact, in such complex circumstances, authors explore new forms of expression and techniques that lead to the hybridization of genres and the use of other languages in the literary context (music, films, television, new media, etc.).
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding: Essential outlines of Spain's contemporary history, from 1939 to nowadays; fundamental authors, literary movements and publishing phenomena in the Spanish book market; evolution of narrative, poetic and theatrical genres.
Applying knowledge and understanding: Analytical reading, literary commentary, historical and critical contextualization of the most important contemporary Spanish authors and works. Implementation of critical skills and autonomous thinking, developing a full consciousness of how literature constantly interacts with history, culture, arts and society.
Applying knowledge and understanding: Analytical reading, literary commentary, historical and critical contextualization of the most important contemporary Spanish authors and works. Implementation of critical skills and autonomous thinking, developing a full consciousness of how literature constantly interacts with history, culture, arts and society.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
The course is entitled Literature during Francoism and in Democratic Spain and is divided in the following three didactic units, that will be developed in sequence:
A: From the Civil War to the 1960s.
B: Transition and democratic consolidation (1970-1996)
C: From 20th to 21st century (1996-2018)
The course aims to offer a diachronic and multifaceted cultural overview of contemporary Spain, from 1939 to the present day, contextualizing literature in the historical and social environment. Particular attention will be paid to relationships between Iberian letters and international culture, although emphasizing the peculiarities resulting from the political circumstances to which they were subjected during the long dictatorship (1939-1975) of Francisco Franco. The democratic era, on the other hand, will be read not only in the light of the many changes that will favour a very rapid and complex socio-economic and cultural progress, but, in particular, we will focus on the responses offered by literature to such a situation, with the flourishing of an experimental writing interested in hybridizing literary genres. We will then consider the changes imposed by the advent of consumer society and the prevailing global market, which have had a decisive impact on the act of writing and publishing, forcing us to reflect on the meaning of the term "literature" today.
Finally, by analyzing some of the implications of today's media discourse, we will focus on the impact that television has had on current Spanish fiction.
Students interested in acquiring 6 cfu will study units A and B; students interested in acquiring 9 cfu have to study the complete syllabus (recommended choice).
The course syllabus is valid until July 2021.
A: From the Civil War to the 1960s.
B: Transition and democratic consolidation (1970-1996)
C: From 20th to 21st century (1996-2018)
The course aims to offer a diachronic and multifaceted cultural overview of contemporary Spain, from 1939 to the present day, contextualizing literature in the historical and social environment. Particular attention will be paid to relationships between Iberian letters and international culture, although emphasizing the peculiarities resulting from the political circumstances to which they were subjected during the long dictatorship (1939-1975) of Francisco Franco. The democratic era, on the other hand, will be read not only in the light of the many changes that will favour a very rapid and complex socio-economic and cultural progress, but, in particular, we will focus on the responses offered by literature to such a situation, with the flourishing of an experimental writing interested in hybridizing literary genres. We will then consider the changes imposed by the advent of consumer society and the prevailing global market, which have had a decisive impact on the act of writing and publishing, forcing us to reflect on the meaning of the term "literature" today.
Finally, by analyzing some of the implications of today's media discourse, we will focus on the impact that television has had on current Spanish fiction.
Students interested in acquiring 6 cfu will study units A and B; students interested in acquiring 9 cfu have to study the complete syllabus (recommended choice).
The course syllabus is valid until July 2021.
Prerequisites for admission
The course is held in Spanish. The materials and the bibliography suppose a solid linguistic knowledge and advanced skills in history of literature, use of specific terminology and critical analysis, gained in previous courses. From a chronological point of view, the period covered follows the one studied in Spanish Literature 3.
Teaching methods
The course adopts the following teaching methods: frontal lessons; reading and commentary of narrative and poetic texts, essays and theatrical excerpts taken from the works in the syllabus; seminar discussions; individual and group works; viewing and commentary of short documentaries.
Teaching Resources
The reference manual for all the didactic units is "Letteratura spagnola contemporanea", by Danilo Manera (coord.), Marina Bianchi, Giuliana Calabrese, Alessandro Cassol, Simone Cattaneo (Milano, Pearson, 2020).
The course has a website on the online platform Ariel (https://dmaneralsc.ariel.ctu.unimi.it/), where students will find a detailed bibliography of each didactic unit, with a large list of readings to choose, critical articles for in-depth analysis and a digital anthology of original texts that will be commented in class.
Students who are not attending class have to study the same manual and will find on the Ariel platform the complete list of readings to choose with critical texts.
The course has a website on the online platform Ariel (https://dmaneralsc.ariel.ctu.unimi.it/), where students will find a detailed bibliography of each didactic unit, with a large list of readings to choose, critical articles for in-depth analysis and a digital anthology of original texts that will be commented in class.
Students who are not attending class have to study the same manual and will find on the Ariel platform the complete list of readings to choose with critical texts.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam consists of an individual interview, which includes questions asked by the professor, interactions between professor and student and the analysis and commentary of one or more excerpts taken from the works in the syllabus. It will be held partially in Spanish, in order to verify the development of adequate language skills in the context of literary studies. The interview also aims to verify the knowledge and understanding of the texts, the ability to contextualize authors and works, the expression skills, the precision in the use of specific terminology, the ability to reflect critically and personally on the proposed issues. Students must bring with them the bibliographic materials used to prepare the exam. The final mark is expressed on a scale up to 30, and the student has the right to refuse it (in which case it will be recorded as "withdrawn").
International students or incoming Erasmus students are invited to contact the professor as soon as possible. The examination procedures for students with disabilities and/or with DSA must be agreed with the professor and the competent office.
International students or incoming Erasmus students are invited to contact the professor as soon as possible. The examination procedures for students with disabilities and/or with DSA must be agreed with the professor and the competent office.
Unita' didattica A
L-LIN/05 - SPANISH LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor:
Manera Danilo
Shifts:
-
Professor:
Manera Danilo
Unita' didattica B
L-LIN/05 - SPANISH LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor:
Cattaneo Simone
Shifts:
-
Professor:
Cattaneo Simone
Unita' didattica C
L-LIN/05 - SPANISH LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor:
Cattaneo Simone
Shifts:
-
Professor:
Cattaneo SimoneProfessor(s)
Reception:
Tuesday: from 1.00 p.m. to 3.30 p.m. Friday: from 10.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m.
Piazza S. Alessandro 1, Department of Spanish and Portuguese, 2nd floor. It is also possible to arrange a meeting on the platform Microsoft Teams by sending an e-mail to the following address: [email protected]