Contemporary Spanish Literature

Course Description

Description
This subject covers the most prominent Spanish literary works of the 20th century and the first decade of the 21st century. This course also deals with the relationship between literature and other cultural aspects such as visual arts, music, popular culture, religion and philosophy. Literary works and essays will be read throughout the course. The students are expected to link previous knowledge with what is learnt in class, and analyse the information received in a critical way.

Content
Introduction

rom the crisis at the end of the 19th century to the Spanish Civil War
1. The origins of literary modernity
2. The crisis at the end of the 19th Century and Modernism
3. A new kind of novel: the beak away from narrative realism and artistic prose
4. New poetry and new theatre
5. Modernity and avant-garde movements
6. Modernist essays
7. Typology of avant-garde Modernity
8. Social crises and Modernity in crisis: pure versus revolutionary literature

From the Post-war period to the beginning of the 21st Century
1. The Post-war period: the so called “Years of Lead”
2. Dialectics between exiles: inside and outside Spain
3. Poetry, novel and theatre. From existentialism to social realism
4. Attempts to end the Post-war period
5. Return to Modernity: aesthetic coordinates
6. Post-Modernity, democracy and literature
7. Spanish literary trends during the last two decades

 Assessment
- Readings, attendance and participation: 30% of the final grade
- Mid-term exam: 30% of the final grade
- Final exam: 40% of the final grade