OBJECTIVE
This course aims to explain the basic points considered to be the basis of Spanish culture. Cultural aspects of different fields will be covered and interrelated through explanations, articles and media resources. At the same time a thorough and detailed study will be undertaken of the phenomena considered universally to be genuinely Spanish.
SYLLABUS
CHAPTER 1: What does it mean to be Spanish? Universality and Particularity of a Culture.
•Spanish Autonomic Communities.
•Stereotypes in Spain.
•Spanish in the World: Spanish Varieties.
CHAPTER 2: Spanish Habits and Social Life.
•Spanish Habits.
•Manners and Mannerisms.
•Social Festivities.
•Eating and Drinking in Spain.
•The Spanish Family Structure: Names and Surnames and Family Models.
•The Royal Family.
•Childhood, Youth and Old People.
•Education in Spain.
•Women: The Evolution of her role in the Society.
CHAPTER 3: Main Problems in Spain Today.
•Terrorism.
•Unemployment.
•Ilegal Immigration.
CHAPTER 4: Religion and Folklore Expressions.
CHAPTER 5: Gipsies and Flamenco. Other Music in Spain.
CHAPTER 6: Bullfighting: Symbol, Rite and Metaphor.
CHAPTER 7: Icons and Archetypes.
•Spanish Classical Icons.
•Protagonists Today: Cinema, Music and Fashion.
ACTIVITIES AND GRADING:
-Attendance and Class Participation: 20%
-Presentation in Class: 20%.
-Final Project: 20%
-Midterm Exam: 20%.
-Final Exam: 20%
Presentation: Students will be asked to present, individually or in groups of maximum three people, one of the Autonomic Communities of Spain in about 10-20 minutes. All presentations must include basic information about the community and the development of several cultural aspects of that community for example food, festivities, monuments etc.
Project: Students will write a research project about one cultural aspect of Spain included or not in the syllabus. The project will have between three and five pages and it must include at least four resources of Bibliography. This project is individual and it will be given three weeks before the final exam.
Attendance Policy: Students are expected to attend at least 80% of classes in order to get the right to be evaluated. Each absence must be justified.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Cortés, Maximiano (2003): Guía de usos y costumbres de España. Madrid, Edelsa.
Castro Barroso, Natalia (2004): Sin Fronteras. Taller de Civilización. Milan, La Spiga Languages.
Corpas Viñals, Jaime (2001). Un paseo por España. Barcelona, Difusión.
Hooper, John (1995): The New Spaniards/Los Nuevos españoles. London, Penguin Books.
López Moreno, Cristina (2005): España Contemporánea. Madrid, Sgel.
Quesada Marco, Sebastián (2001): España siglo XXI. Madrid, Edelsa.
Richardson, Bill (2001): Spanish Studies. New Cork, Oxford University Press.
Tremlett, Giles (2006): Ghosts of Spain. London, Faber and Faber.
Print this page