Spanish Culture I
A.Y. 2019/2020
Learning objectives
The course aims at providing a general overview on the history of Spanish culture, focusing on the main historical, political, social and economic changes of the country. Some meaningful moments will be examined, analysing their distinctive cultural productions. Other important features will be outlined, in particular the relationship between culture, discursive strategies, social phenomena, mass communication, production and consumption of cultural products; all these aspects will be analysed through the lens of ideology and of socio-spatial, historical and political conditions, which represent the essential prerequisite.
Expected learning outcomes
The course aims to develop the ability to understand the most significant changes of Spain from a social, political, economic and cultural point of view. It will focus on the knowledge of these phenomena, applied to the interpretation of cultural products in different fields (movies, literature, art). This will lead to a better understanding of the essential constituents and references of the context of production, as well as creating connections and comparisons.
Lesson period: First 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
First semester
Course syllabus
Unit 1 (Prof. Barbara Minesso)
Contemporary Spain: an overview
An overview of Spain in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, with an in-depth analysis of the advent of the Franco dictatorship, transition, democracy and crisis.
Unit 2 (Prof. Barbara Minesso)
Spain cultural production between the 20th and 21st centuries
The major Spanish cultural production between the 20th and 21st century in cinema, literature, radio, clubs and television will be analysed
Unit 3 (Prof. Beatriz Hernán-Gómez Prieto)
Cultural path to Spain
A brief overview of the historical development of Spanish culture over the centuries, with a section dedicated to the country's customs and traditions.
This program is divided into four sections:
A) MAPS-GEOGRAPHY
B) CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS
C) HISTORICAL MAPS AND SCHEMES
D) SPANISH CULTURE FROM THE MIDDLE AGES. SCHEMES
Contemporary Spain: an overview
An overview of Spain in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, with an in-depth analysis of the advent of the Franco dictatorship, transition, democracy and crisis.
Unit 2 (Prof. Barbara Minesso)
Spain cultural production between the 20th and 21st centuries
The major Spanish cultural production between the 20th and 21st century in cinema, literature, radio, clubs and television will be analysed
Unit 3 (Prof. Beatriz Hernán-Gómez Prieto)
Cultural path to Spain
A brief overview of the historical development of Spanish culture over the centuries, with a section dedicated to the country's customs and traditions.
This program is divided into four sections:
A) MAPS-GEOGRAPHY
B) CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS
C) HISTORICAL MAPS AND SCHEMES
D) SPANISH CULTURE FROM THE MIDDLE AGES. SCHEMES
Prerequisites for admission
Knowledge of Spanish language isn't mandatory; however, some sources will have to be consulted in the original language. Beginners will nevertheless be provided with all the support needed to correct interpreting the material
Teaching methods
Frontal lesson
Teaching Resources
Unit 1
· Notes taken during the lessons.
· The material on Ariel.
· Ramón Tamames, Sebastián Quesada, Imágenes de España, Madrid, Edelsa, pp. 126-141
· Analysis of films and / or literary or theatrical works produced and / or set at the time of the Civil War and the Francoism.
Literary or theatrical pieces produced and / or set at the time of the Civil War and the Francoism;
CIVIL WAR
Attending students will see a film among those indicated in the following list or read a text among those indicated in the list
Non-attending students will see two films among those indicated in the following list or they will see a film and read a text among those indicated in the list
FILMS:
Las largas vacaciones del 36 (1976), di Jaime Camino
La vaquilla (1985), di Luis García Berlanga
Libertarias (1995), di Vicente Aranda
Terra e libertà (1995), di Ken Loach
La lengua de las mariposas (1999), di José Luis Cuerda
TEXTS:
Federico García Lorca, La casa de Bernarda Alba
Ramón Sender, Réquiem por un campesino español
FRANCOISM
Attending and non-attending students will see a film among those indicated in the following list or read a text among those indicated below:
FILMS:
¡Bienvenido, Míster Marshall! (1953), di Luis García Berlanga
El viaje a ninguna parte (1986), di Fernando Fernán-Gómez
Las 13 rosas (2010), di Emilio Martínez-Lázaro
TEXTS:
Camilo José Cela, La familia de Pascual Duarte
Carmen Martín Gaite, Usos amorosos de la posguerra española
It should be noted that, regardless of the choices made, students must still have an overview of the Civil War reflections in cinema and fiction as well as in culture under the regime of Francisco Franco, as well as knowing and contextualizing the works of Federico García Lorca, Ramón Sender, Camilo José Cela and Carmen Martín Gaite. They will also learn about the political, social, cultural and economic transformations of post-Francoist Spain: from the transition to the consolidation of democracy, approaching the movida phenomenon.
Unit 2
· Notes taken during the lessons.
· The material on Ariel
· In-depth study of Pedro Almodóvar and an overview of contemporary cinema. At least two Almodóvar films and one film form another director, chosen from those listed below, will be seen and analysed:
Pedro Almodóvar: !Qué he hecho yo para merecer esto?!; La ley del deseo; Todo sobre mi madre; Hable con ella
Alejandro Amenábar: Tesis; The others; Mar adentro, Agorá
Álex de la Iglesia: La comunidad; Balada triste de trompeta; La chispa de la vida
Iciair Bollaín: Flores de otro mundo; Te doy mis ojos; También la lluvia;
Fernando Leon de Aranoa: Familias, Barrio; Los lunes al sol; Princesas, Perfect Day
Fernando Trueba: Ópera prima, Belle époque; La niña de tus ojos
Emilio Martínez-Lázaro Ochos apellidos vascos, Ocho apellidos catalanes
Regardless of which director they choose to go deeper, students should know the production of the directors indicated and therefore be able to contextualise it within the cultural landscape in Spain starting from the 90s. They will also be able to recognize and contextualize representation strategies such as Esperpento and postmodernism, relatable to many analysed cultural products.
Unit 3
Notes taken during the lessons or the notes' replacement bibliography specified below.
1) Attending students can, if necessary, complete the notes with the following texts:
- The updating materials, maps, diagrams and graphics on the Ariel website;
- Ramón Tamames-Sebastián Quesada, Imágenes de España. Panorama de la formación de España y de las culturas hispánicas, Madrid, Edelsa, últ. ed., pp. 6-125;
- Maximiano Cortés Moreno, Guía de usos y costumbres de España, Madrid, Edelsa, últ. ed.
2) Non-attending students will have to study the following texts:
- The updating materials, maps, diagrams and graphics on the Ariel website;
- Ramón Tamames-Sebastián Quesada, Imágenes de España. Panorama de la formación de España y de las culturas hispánicas, Madrid, Edelsa, últ. ed., pp. 6-125;
- Maximiano Cortés Moreno, Guía de usos y costumbres de España, Madrid, Edelsa, últ. ed.
Explanation. In Ariel, at the end of each of the 4 sections, the complementary bibliography is indicated. In particular:
- section A (Maps-geography): you will have to look at the geographical maps but also the entry "Spain" of the Treccani Encyclopaedia online (also in Ariel) and chapters I, II, III of the books cited "Imágenes de España;"
- section B (customs and traditions): the book "Usos y Costumbres" must be connected to the materials found in Ariel;
- sections C and D (Historical maps and schemes; Spanish culture from the Middle Ages: Schemes): these sections are closely connected with the book "Imágenes de España."
· Notes taken during the lessons.
· The material on Ariel.
· Ramón Tamames, Sebastián Quesada, Imágenes de España, Madrid, Edelsa, pp. 126-141
· Analysis of films and / or literary or theatrical works produced and / or set at the time of the Civil War and the Francoism.
Literary or theatrical pieces produced and / or set at the time of the Civil War and the Francoism;
CIVIL WAR
Attending students will see a film among those indicated in the following list or read a text among those indicated in the list
Non-attending students will see two films among those indicated in the following list or they will see a film and read a text among those indicated in the list
FILMS:
Las largas vacaciones del 36 (1976), di Jaime Camino
La vaquilla (1985), di Luis García Berlanga
Libertarias (1995), di Vicente Aranda
Terra e libertà (1995), di Ken Loach
La lengua de las mariposas (1999), di José Luis Cuerda
TEXTS:
Federico García Lorca, La casa de Bernarda Alba
Ramón Sender, Réquiem por un campesino español
FRANCOISM
Attending and non-attending students will see a film among those indicated in the following list or read a text among those indicated below:
FILMS:
¡Bienvenido, Míster Marshall! (1953), di Luis García Berlanga
El viaje a ninguna parte (1986), di Fernando Fernán-Gómez
Las 13 rosas (2010), di Emilio Martínez-Lázaro
TEXTS:
Camilo José Cela, La familia de Pascual Duarte
Carmen Martín Gaite, Usos amorosos de la posguerra española
It should be noted that, regardless of the choices made, students must still have an overview of the Civil War reflections in cinema and fiction as well as in culture under the regime of Francisco Franco, as well as knowing and contextualizing the works of Federico García Lorca, Ramón Sender, Camilo José Cela and Carmen Martín Gaite. They will also learn about the political, social, cultural and economic transformations of post-Francoist Spain: from the transition to the consolidation of democracy, approaching the movida phenomenon.
Unit 2
· Notes taken during the lessons.
· The material on Ariel
· In-depth study of Pedro Almodóvar and an overview of contemporary cinema. At least two Almodóvar films and one film form another director, chosen from those listed below, will be seen and analysed:
Pedro Almodóvar: !Qué he hecho yo para merecer esto?!; La ley del deseo; Todo sobre mi madre; Hable con ella
Alejandro Amenábar: Tesis; The others; Mar adentro, Agorá
Álex de la Iglesia: La comunidad; Balada triste de trompeta; La chispa de la vida
Iciair Bollaín: Flores de otro mundo; Te doy mis ojos; También la lluvia;
Fernando Leon de Aranoa: Familias, Barrio; Los lunes al sol; Princesas, Perfect Day
Fernando Trueba: Ópera prima, Belle époque; La niña de tus ojos
Emilio Martínez-Lázaro Ochos apellidos vascos, Ocho apellidos catalanes
Regardless of which director they choose to go deeper, students should know the production of the directors indicated and therefore be able to contextualise it within the cultural landscape in Spain starting from the 90s. They will also be able to recognize and contextualize representation strategies such as Esperpento and postmodernism, relatable to many analysed cultural products.
Unit 3
Notes taken during the lessons or the notes' replacement bibliography specified below.
1) Attending students can, if necessary, complete the notes with the following texts:
- The updating materials, maps, diagrams and graphics on the Ariel website;
- Ramón Tamames-Sebastián Quesada, Imágenes de España. Panorama de la formación de España y de las culturas hispánicas, Madrid, Edelsa, últ. ed., pp. 6-125;
- Maximiano Cortés Moreno, Guía de usos y costumbres de España, Madrid, Edelsa, últ. ed.
2) Non-attending students will have to study the following texts:
- The updating materials, maps, diagrams and graphics on the Ariel website;
- Ramón Tamames-Sebastián Quesada, Imágenes de España. Panorama de la formación de España y de las culturas hispánicas, Madrid, Edelsa, últ. ed., pp. 6-125;
- Maximiano Cortés Moreno, Guía de usos y costumbres de España, Madrid, Edelsa, últ. ed.
Explanation. In Ariel, at the end of each of the 4 sections, the complementary bibliography is indicated. In particular:
- section A (Maps-geography): you will have to look at the geographical maps but also the entry "Spain" of the Treccani Encyclopaedia online (also in Ariel) and chapters I, II, III of the books cited "Imágenes de España;"
- section B (customs and traditions): the book "Usos y Costumbres" must be connected to the materials found in Ariel;
- sections C and D (Historical maps and schemes; Spanish culture from the Middle Ages: Schemes): these sections are closely connected with the book "Imágenes de España."
Assessment methods and Criteria
A written test is scheduled for unit 3
For the other units, the exam will be oral, aimed at verifying the knowledge and understanding od the social, historical, political and economic phenomena analysed during the course. Subject of the exam are the ability of seize the existential constituent of the cultural products faced in the program as well as the reference to the historical, political and social conditions that have contributed to cause them. Furthermore, communication skills and the ability to provide argumentation will be tested. The exam will be held in Italian, unless the student specifically asks - before the exam - to do it in Spanish.
For the other units, the exam will be oral, aimed at verifying the knowledge and understanding od the social, historical, political and economic phenomena analysed during the course. Subject of the exam are the ability of seize the existential constituent of the cultural products faced in the program as well as the reference to the historical, political and social conditions that have contributed to cause them. Furthermore, communication skills and the ability to provide argumentation will be tested. The exam will be held in Italian, unless the student specifically asks - before the exam - to do it in Spanish.
Teaching Unit 1
L-LIN/05 - SPANISH LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor:
Minesso Barbara
Shifts:
-
Professor:
Minesso Barbara
Teaching Unit 2
L-LIN/05 - SPANISH LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor:
Minesso Barbara
Shifts:
-
Professor:
Minesso Barbara
Teaching Unit 3
L-LIN/05 - SPANISH LITERATURE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor:
Hernan Gomez Prieto Beatriz
Shifts:
-
Professor:
Hernan Gomez Prieto Beatriz