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BA Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American Studies

Year of entry: 2021

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Course unit details:
History and Culture in Modern Spain

Unit code	SPLA20332
Credit rating	20
Unit level	Level 2
Teaching period(s)	Semester 2
Offered by	Spanish, Portuguese and Latin
Available as a free choice unit?	Yes

Overview

This course will introduce students to the history and culture of Spain from the start of the nineteenth century to the death of Franco. By exploring the intersection between literature, culture and history, it will help students to understand the different processes that have shaped Spain’s modern history and society. The course is divided into three chronological blocks: 1) from the War of Independence (1808-1814) to the 1868 Revolution; 2) the Restoration (1874-1936); 3) from the Civil War (1936-1939) to the death of Franco (1975). Each block starts with a historical survey, which is followed by an analysis of the most representative works of literature and art of the period. Works will be studied in their cultural and historical context, attending to the ways in which history and cultural production structure one another.

Aims

To broaden students’ knowledge of Spanish language as a route to intercultural awareness, understanding and competence
To explore the history and cultural production of modern Spain
To raise students’ cultural awareness by giving them access to some of the most relevant cultural and historical texts produced in modern Spain

To acquire the methodology necessary to analyse cultural and historical texts
To deepen students’ understanding of the historical development and cultural context of Spanish cultural production from the early nineteenth century to the death of Franco
To raise students’ awareness of the role played by culture in structuring historical processes
To equip students with the ability to communicate verbally and in writing lucidly and accurately

Knowledge and understanding

Outline the main stages in the history and development of culture in modern Spain
Interpret modern Spanish cultural and historical texts in their context
Apply relevant methodologies to the study of literature and art
Formulate complex and sophisticated thinking in clear and structured prose

Intellectual skills

Reflect critically on the social and cultural questions raised by works of literature and art
Articulate reasoned arguments about literature and art
Understand complex historical processes

Practical skills

At the end of this course it is expected that students will be able to:

Read works of literature in Spanish
Plan, structure and write essays on literature and art
Find critical literature through independent research

Transferable skills and personal qualities

Information retrieval: ability to independently gather, sift, synthesise and organise material from various sources (including library, electronic and online resources), and to critically evaluate its significance
Literacy: capacity both to make written presentations using appropriate language for a target population and to collect and integrate evidence to formulate and test a hypothesis
Applying Subject Knowledge: use of discipline specific knowledge in everyday situations

Research: ability to plan and implement an effective research project

Employability skills

Other: Intercultural awareness, understanding and competence Ability to use and present material in the target language and English in written and oral forms in a clear and effective manner This course will be particularly useful for students willing to pursue a career as translators, interpreters or secondary school teachers. In addition, this course will be useful for students willing to work as journalists or teachers of English as a foreign language

Assessment methods

Essay 1

50%

Essay 2

50%

Feedback methods

Feedback method	Formative or Summative
Oral feedback during seminar discussions	Formative
Written feedback on essays	Summative
Additional one-to-one feedback (during the consultation hour or by making an appointment)	Formative

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Lectures	11
Seminars	22

Independent study hours
Independent study	167

Teaching staff

Staff member	Role
Samuel Llano	Unit coordinator

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