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An Introduction to the Literature and Film of Spain

Module description

This course is a team-taught module. It explores some key aspects of Spanish history, culture and society from the seventeenth century to contemporary times though literature and film. You will cover a variety of significant materials relating to early-modern and modern Spain, and you will acquire skills necessary for critical analysis. The lectures will offer you an overview of key themes and the seminars will provide an opportunity for in-depth, more individualised, study.

Module aims - intentions of the module

This module aims to:

• Introduce you to Spanish history, culture and society by exploring key historical and socio-cultural developments through literature and film.
• Encourage independent and specialised study of selected topics and texts, preparing you for the formative and summative assessments, and for further study of different areas of Hispanism throughout your degree

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Demonstrate an understanding of key aspects of historical, cultural and social developments in Spain
• 2. Read/watch and analyse passages from selected Spanish texts and films, relating them to specified aspects of their historical, cultural and social contexts

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 3. Describe and evaluate, under guidance from the module tutor, key critical responses to topics/texts and apply standard critical approaches to the historical and cultural material covered
• 4. Mount an argument in sound written English using basic textual or other evidence
• 5. Use a reading list and other sources to identify critically material relevant to a given aspect of the subjects covered, and report critical findings orally or in writing where appropriate

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 6. Present a simple but cogent argument orally or in writing where appropriate, in English, on a specified topic and following guidelines provided

Syllabus plan

Whilst the specific course content may vary from year to year, it is envisioned that after introductory lectures the module will explore major aspects of Spanish culture through a selection of at least four topics, distributed between literature and film.

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Re-assessment notes

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Illustrative resources:

• Gies, David (ed.), Modern Spanish Culture (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1999)
• Gil Andrés, Carlos, 50 cosas que hay que saber sobre la historia de España (Barcelona: Ariel, 2013)
• Graham, Helen and Jo Labanyi (eds.), Spanish Cultural Studies (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1995)
• Preston, Paul, The Spanish Civil War: Revolution, Reaction and Revenge (London: Harper Perennial, 2006)
• Romero Salvadó, Francisco J., Twentieth-century Spain: politics and society in Spain, 1898-1998 (Basingstoke : Macmillan, 1999)
• Ross, Christopher J., Spain, 1812-2004 (London: Arnold, 2004)
• Saura, Carlos, Cría cuervos (film) (1976)
• Unamuno, Miguel de, San Manuel Bueno, mártir (Cátedra edition)

A full bibliography of prescribed and recommended resources will be provided at the start of the module

Key words search

Spain; Peninsular Literature; Peninsular film; Spanish society; Spanish culture