Spanish Cultures I
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
Il corso si propone di fornire a studenti e studentesse approfondite conoscenze teoriche e metodologiche nel campo degli Studi Culturali e della loro applicazione in ambito spagnolo. Obiettivo primario è il capovolgimento dello sguardo abitualmente rivolto all'alterità per individuare le chiavi di ridefinizione della cittadinanza europea attuale. Si studieranno le principali dinamiche di relazione tra la presunta "identità" spagnola e l'alterità secondo una prospettiva diacronica che dall'epoca medievale giunga fino all'età contemporanea. Oggetto privilegiato di tale prospettiva saranno i gruppi di persone nei cui confronti è sempre risultata evidente la dinamica di subalternità esercitata dalle egemonie che, di volta in volta, si sono avvicendate nei secoli della Spagna medievale, moderna e contemporanea.
Expected learning outcomes
Comprensione e capacità di analisi di produzioni culturali di rilievo appartenenti a varie discipline (soprattutto letteratura e arti visive, senza trascurare espressioni musicali, teatrali e appartenenti al patrimonio culturale in senso lato); capacità di contestualizzazione della produzione culturale spagnola entro un profilo storico e politico.
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
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
The course aims to analyse some of the main social conflicts affecting 21st century Spain as well as to investigate the different narratives that help define the cultural imaginaries related to them.
In the first part (Unit 1), we will focus on issues such as precarious conditions in the context of the labour market and then shift our attention to the broad case history associated with the phenomenon of "sinhogarismo". In addition, a space of reflection will be devoted to the reworking of these issues from a gender perspective. In particular, a series of cultural productions will be examined in order to critically reflect on the ways in which the hegemonic political discourse renders invisible or neutralises the aforementioned issues and conflicts; to this end, an interdisciplinary path will be outlined that includes literature and cinema, but also journalism and the documentary genre.
The second part of the course (Unit 2) will provide the tools to analyse and problematise the dimensions of gender violence and vulnerability that have characterised Spanish society, focusing on domestic violence from the modern age to the most immediate present. Through references to the history and evolution of feminist thought, the factors that promote gender violence as a cause and consequence of structural and systemic inequalities will be identified. By analysing cinematographic (films and documentaries), journalistic and literary productions and studying the legislative context relating to gender-based violence, as well as distinguishing its types and modalities, one will understand the need to avoid processes of "re-victimisation" and acquire the tools for cultural and discursive practices aimed at combating gender-based violence.
In the first part (Unit 1), we will focus on issues such as precarious conditions in the context of the labour market and then shift our attention to the broad case history associated with the phenomenon of "sinhogarismo". In addition, a space of reflection will be devoted to the reworking of these issues from a gender perspective. In particular, a series of cultural productions will be examined in order to critically reflect on the ways in which the hegemonic political discourse renders invisible or neutralises the aforementioned issues and conflicts; to this end, an interdisciplinary path will be outlined that includes literature and cinema, but also journalism and the documentary genre.
The second part of the course (Unit 2) will provide the tools to analyse and problematise the dimensions of gender violence and vulnerability that have characterised Spanish society, focusing on domestic violence from the modern age to the most immediate present. Through references to the history and evolution of feminist thought, the factors that promote gender violence as a cause and consequence of structural and systemic inequalities will be identified. By analysing cinematographic (films and documentaries), journalistic and literary productions and studying the legislative context relating to gender-based violence, as well as distinguishing its types and modalities, one will understand the need to avoid processes of "re-victimisation" and acquire the tools for cultural and discursive practices aimed at combating gender-based violence.
Prerequisites for admission
The course, held entirely in Spanish, is reserved for students who have completed their three-year degree and who have already achieved good language skills and an overview of 20th century Spanish history and culture.
Teaching methods
The following teaching methods will be adopted: lectures; PowerPoint materials; reading and commentary on excerpts from the study corpus; analysis of fragments of film screenings; collaborative activities with students: classroom reflection and discussion on the topics covered in the course.
Teaching Resources
Reference material for attending and nonattending students:
Unit 1:
- Power Point presentations and materials provided by the lecturer and available on MyAriel
- Viewing of the following short documentary film: César de Nicolás, Juan Martínez, 'La pantalla en la calle', 2018 (available at the link: https://youtu.be/AWXVVBb0dN0)
- One of the following films:
(a) Fernando León de Aranoa, 'Los lunes al sol', 2002 (available at: https://youtu.be/cArXLu3eHrs?si=z_sMErOSK2XCQ6Jy)
b) Gerardo Herrero, 'El principio de Arquímedes', 2004 (available at: https://youtu.be/lgMy3VS-lSc?si=0OVk3WLVc7PWAoIn)
- Reading of the following journalistic reportage: Jorge Bustos, "Casi. Una crónica del desamparo', Barcelona, Libros del Asteroide, 2024.
- One of the following novels:
(a) Belén Gopegui, "El comité de la noche", Barcelona, Penguin Random House, 2014.
b) Elena Medel, 'Las maravillas', Barcelona, Anagrama, 2020.
- Recommended supporting bibliography:
(a) Guy Standing, 'Precariado. Una carta de derechos', Madrid, Capitan Swing, 2014.
b) Alejandra De la Fuente, "La España precariado", Madrid, Akal, 2021.
(c) Sergio C. Fanjul, 'La España invisible', Barcelona, Arpa, 2023.
Unit 2:
- Anthological selection and critical material available on MyAriel;
- Film 'Te doy mis ojos', Icíar Bollaín, 2003 (available at: http://ok.ru/video/7543915874863)
- One of the following documentaries:
or 'Mujeres, protección y penas' (available at the link: https://www.rtve.es/play/videos/informe-semanal/mujeres-proteccion-penas/6745134/)
or 'El crimen de Ana Orantes' (available at the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRlq5yNrn1I&pp=0gcJCdgAo7VqN5tD)
- One the following novels:
o Caso, Ángeles, "Contra el viento", Barcelona, Planeta, 2013.
o Chacón, Dulce, "Trilogía de la huida", Barcelona, Debolsillo, 2016;
o Jiménez, Carmen, "Madre mía, que estás en los infiernos", Madrid, Siruela, 2008.
o Lienas, Gemma, "Atrapada en el espejo", Sandía, 2019.
o Aurora Freijo Corbeira, "La ternera", Barcelona, Anagrama, 2021.
o Cristina Rivera Garza, "El invencible verano de Liliana", New York, Literatura Random House, 2021.
- Recommended supporting bibliography:
d) Nerea Barjola, "Microfísica sexista del poder. El caso Alcàsser y la construcción del terror sexual", Barcelona, Editorial Virus, 2018.
e) Dorlin, Elsa, "Defenderse. Una filosofía de la violencia", Buenos Aires, Heckt Libros, 2018.
f) Gay, Roxane (ed.), "No es para tanto. Notas sobre la cultura de la violación", Madrid, Capitán Swing, 2018.
g) Valencia, Sayak y Pérez Flores, Ana Laura, «Sobre los cuerpos y la imagen. Entrevista a Sayak Valencia», "Contraficciones", 11 (2019) (http://correspondenciascine.com/2020/01/sobre-los-cuerpos-y-la-imagen-entrevista-a-sayak-valencia/)
h) Calabrese, Giuliana, «Krínein, entre la vida y la muerte. Alternativas discursivas en el relato sobre violencia de género», "Tintas. Quaderni di Letterature Iberiche e Iberoamericane", 12 (2023), pp. 145-157 (https://riviste.unimi.it/index.php/tintas/article/view/22419/20076)
i) Calabrese, Giuliana «Los medios de comunicación como posibles agentes de cambio frente a la violencia», en Sara Santa Aguilar, Ana Laguna y Ana López Lindstrom eds., "No pudiste vencerme. Violencia de género y resistencia", Granada, Editorial Comares.
Further bibliographical support and critical materials will later be indicated by the lecturers and made available on MyAriel.
Unit 1:
- Power Point presentations and materials provided by the lecturer and available on MyAriel
- Viewing of the following short documentary film: César de Nicolás, Juan Martínez, 'La pantalla en la calle', 2018 (available at the link: https://youtu.be/AWXVVBb0dN0)
- One of the following films:
(a) Fernando León de Aranoa, 'Los lunes al sol', 2002 (available at: https://youtu.be/cArXLu3eHrs?si=z_sMErOSK2XCQ6Jy)
b) Gerardo Herrero, 'El principio de Arquímedes', 2004 (available at: https://youtu.be/lgMy3VS-lSc?si=0OVk3WLVc7PWAoIn)
- Reading of the following journalistic reportage: Jorge Bustos, "Casi. Una crónica del desamparo', Barcelona, Libros del Asteroide, 2024.
- One of the following novels:
(a) Belén Gopegui, "El comité de la noche", Barcelona, Penguin Random House, 2014.
b) Elena Medel, 'Las maravillas', Barcelona, Anagrama, 2020.
- Recommended supporting bibliography:
(a) Guy Standing, 'Precariado. Una carta de derechos', Madrid, Capitan Swing, 2014.
b) Alejandra De la Fuente, "La España precariado", Madrid, Akal, 2021.
(c) Sergio C. Fanjul, 'La España invisible', Barcelona, Arpa, 2023.
Unit 2:
- Anthological selection and critical material available on MyAriel;
- Film 'Te doy mis ojos', Icíar Bollaín, 2003 (available at: http://ok.ru/video/7543915874863)
- One of the following documentaries:
or 'Mujeres, protección y penas' (available at the link: https://www.rtve.es/play/videos/informe-semanal/mujeres-proteccion-penas/6745134/)
or 'El crimen de Ana Orantes' (available at the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRlq5yNrn1I&pp=0gcJCdgAo7VqN5tD)
- One the following novels:
o Caso, Ángeles, "Contra el viento", Barcelona, Planeta, 2013.
o Chacón, Dulce, "Trilogía de la huida", Barcelona, Debolsillo, 2016;
o Jiménez, Carmen, "Madre mía, que estás en los infiernos", Madrid, Siruela, 2008.
o Lienas, Gemma, "Atrapada en el espejo", Sandía, 2019.
o Aurora Freijo Corbeira, "La ternera", Barcelona, Anagrama, 2021.
o Cristina Rivera Garza, "El invencible verano de Liliana", New York, Literatura Random House, 2021.
- Recommended supporting bibliography:
d) Nerea Barjola, "Microfísica sexista del poder. El caso Alcàsser y la construcción del terror sexual", Barcelona, Editorial Virus, 2018.
e) Dorlin, Elsa, "Defenderse. Una filosofía de la violencia", Buenos Aires, Heckt Libros, 2018.
f) Gay, Roxane (ed.), "No es para tanto. Notas sobre la cultura de la violación", Madrid, Capitán Swing, 2018.
g) Valencia, Sayak y Pérez Flores, Ana Laura, «Sobre los cuerpos y la imagen. Entrevista a Sayak Valencia», "Contraficciones", 11 (2019) (http://correspondenciascine.com/2020/01/sobre-los-cuerpos-y-la-imagen-entrevista-a-sayak-valencia/)
h) Calabrese, Giuliana, «Krínein, entre la vida y la muerte. Alternativas discursivas en el relato sobre violencia de género», "Tintas. Quaderni di Letterature Iberiche e Iberoamericane", 12 (2023), pp. 145-157 (https://riviste.unimi.it/index.php/tintas/article/view/22419/20076)
i) Calabrese, Giuliana «Los medios de comunicación como posibles agentes de cambio frente a la violencia», en Sara Santa Aguilar, Ana Laguna y Ana López Lindstrom eds., "No pudiste vencerme. Violencia de género y resistencia", Granada, Editorial Comares.
Further bibliographical support and critical materials will later be indicated by the lecturers and made available on MyAriel.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The final examination will consist of an oral test and will be aimed at ascertaining the ability to describe the social, cultural and political phenomena addressed during the course, to be able to contextualise them historically and to explain how these issues are elaborated in the study corpus. The abilities to analyse the materials with a critical perspective and independently, to express with terminological precision and using an appropriate register will be assessed.
The test will be held in Spanish and the grade will be expressed in thirtieths. The student has the option of refusing it.
Examination arrangements for students with disabilities and/or SLDs will have to be agreed with the teacher, in agreement with the relevant department.
The test will be held in Spanish and the grade will be expressed in thirtieths. The student has the option of refusing it.
Examination arrangements for students with disabilities and/or SLDs will have to be agreed with the teacher, in agreement with the relevant department.
L-LIN/05 - SPANISH LITERATURE - University credits: 9
Lessons: 60 hours
Professor:
Calabrese Giuliana Antonella
Professor(s)