Andalusia through the Arts

USF Course Code: ARH 4930

Prerequisite: none; taught in English.

Students: foreign students from the academic program ISA

Contact hours: 45

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I. Course Objective:
Within a historical-cultural framework, this course introduces students to Andalusia and its people, and explores both artistic expression within Andalusia and Andalusia as a source of artistic inspiration.  Contributions of early civilizations to the formation of Andalusian culture will be explored in relation to the evolution of creative expression.  Students shall study various architectural masterpieces of Andalusia (the Alhambra of Granada, the Mezquita of Córdoba, and the Giralda and Real Alcázar of Seville), selections of literary works that reflect Andalusia and its cultural richness (poetry of Al-Andalus, Tales of the Alhambra, poetry of Antonio Machado, Bécquer and García Lorca, Don Juan Tenorio) and flamenco music and dance.  Visual arts as reflections of Andalusia’s past and present shall also be considered (sculptural fragments from Itálica, paintings of García Ramos, Bilbao Martínez, Bacarisas, etc.).  To complement the coursework students shall visit related sites within Seville.  

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II. Learning outcomes: 
-    Learn the vocabulary relevant to the history of art. 
-    Identify, analyse and critically evaluate artistic movements, manifestations and relevant authors
-    Relate the idiosyncrasy of Andalusia to History and Art. 

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III. Course contents (order of content may be modified):
 
UNIT 1 – MEETING POINT / MELTING POT OF CIVILIZATIONS
The land, its early inhabitants.  Andalusia, the gateway through which conquerors from many different countries have reached Spain: Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greeks, Celts, Romans, Visigoths. Vestiges left behind.  

Visit: Archaeological Museum of Seville.

UNIT 2 – THE CONVERGENCE OF CULTURES IN ANDALUSIA
The arrival of the Muslims.  Religion and the formation of Spanish Art: Jews, Christians and Muslims.  Merging of cultures in architecture, customs, language, cuisine, daily life objects, etc.

UNIT 3 - ARCHITECTURAL MASTERPIECES OF AL-ANDALUS
Introduction to the architectural masterpieces of Al-Andaluz: the Giralda and the Real Alcázar of Seville, Alhambra of Granada, Madina al-Zahra and the Great Mosque of Cordoba. Andalusia's architecture as a source of creative inspiration, literary and concrete.

Visit: Barrio Santa Cruz

UNIT 4 - ARTISTIC MANIFESTATIONS
Guadalquivir and Andalusian landscape (countryside and city) as creative inspiration. The Don Juan’s of Seville and Carmen.

UNIT 5 - FLAMENCO 
Flamenco, its origins and influences.  Flamenco and Lorca; flamenco in visual arts (paintings and sketches).  The April Fair of Seville as a source of inspiration. 

Guest Speaker:  Flamenco musician

Visit: Fine Arts Museum of Seville

UNIT 6 - ARTISTIC PROJECTION FOR THE XXI CENTURY
Multiculturalism, artistic expression and 21st century reality.  Al-Andaluz as represented through music, dance and concrete art.  

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IV. Bibliography:  
Students will be provided with selections from various sources including:

Crow, John A.  Spain, the Root & the Flower: an Interpretation of Spain and the Spanish 
    People. 1963. Berkley and Los Angeles: U of California, 2005.   

Hirsch, Edward.  The Demon and the Angel: Searching for the Source of Artistic Inspiration.  Orlando,     Florida: Harcourt Books, 2002.

Mann, Vivian B., Glick, Thomas F., and Dodds, Jerrilynn D., eds.  Convivencia: Jews, Muslims, and     Christians in Medieval Spain.  New York: George Braziller, 1992.

Menocal, María Rosa.  The Ornament of the World: How Muslims, Jews, and Christians Created a Culture of     Tolerance in Medieval Spain.  New York:  Back Bay Books,     2002.

Nash, Elizabeth.  Seville, Córdoba and Granada: a Cultural and Literary History.  Oxford:
    Single Books Limited, 2005.

Tremlett, Giles.  Ghosts of Spain: Travels through Spain and its Silent Past, New York:
    Walker & Company, 2006.   

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V.I. How to succeed in this course? 
Everyone participates in this course. Participation and meaningful interaction with the professor and peers is as essential to the course as writing the assigned paper and taking the exam. Keeping the tasks of the subject up-to-date is key to assimilating the contents, something that cannot be achieved if only the study time is concentrated before the midterm or final. 

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VI. Grading scale:
Final grades will be calculated according to the following scale:

Grading Scale (%)

94-100         A

90 – 93        A-

87 – 89        B+

84 – 86        B

80 – 83        B-

77 – 79        C+

74 – 76        C

70 – 73        C-

67 – 69        D+

64 – 66        D

60 – 63        D-

0 – 59          F

Grade dispute: 
The deadline for claiming grades is 30 days from the receipt of the certificate at the university of origin.

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VII. Course Policies

VII.I. Attendance: 
Class attendance is mandatory and is taken every class day and it is reflected in the course attendance sheet.
An 85% attendance rate is required for the successful completion of the course. Perfect attendance will be taken positively into account in the participation section. 
If a student exceeds this limit, 1 point will be taken off of the final grade (Spanish grade). Reaching a 20% of unexcused absences means that the transcript for this subject will show “not attended course”. 
Excused absences: Medical Certificates that will be considered only if issued by a physician (not notes from the family explaining the student’s absence). The certificates must include the exact dates for which a student should be excused for having missed classes. Courses cannot be audited, so attendance is possible only for students enrolled in a specific class. 
Punctuality: Students are expected to arrive on time to class and to return directly to class after class breaks. Arriving 10 minutes late (or more) and/or early class departures are considered unexcused absences and will be taken into account as half an absence. 

Attending class is not only the presence in the classroom. The professor will encourage active participation in the course and it will be taken into account as part of the evaluation.  

Auditors: Courses cannot be taken as auditors, thus attendance is possible only for students enrolled in a specific class.

VII.II. Conduct in class.
Students who actively participate in classroom activities and who maintain a professional and respectful attitude will be evaluated positively. Students must not eat or use laptops during the class (unless specifically authorized by the teacher).  

VII.III. Late work. 
One half point will be taken off (from the learning activities grade) for homework that is submitted late repeatedly. Late assignments will be corrected but will not be graded. 
Missing a class does not release the student from completing the homework assigned or studying the topics covered in class that day. 

VII.IV. Make-up exams:
If a student cannot be present for an examination for a valid reason (see V.II.) and approved by the teacher and academic direction, a make-up exam will be given. 

VII.V. Quizzes retention:
After quizzes are graded, the professor will review the examination with the class and collect all exams. The quizzes will be retained for one semester following the current one, and then they will be destroyed. 

VII.VI. Academic Honesty:
Students are expected to act in accordance with their university standards of conduct concerning plagiarism and academic dishonesty. 

VII.VII. Special accommodations: 
Students with special needs who require reasonable accommodations, special assistance or specific aid in this course (either for properly making-up classes, taking exams, etc.) should direct their request to Academic Coordination during the first days of the course in the case that they did not report it when submitting the Health Form. 

Teaching staff is required to report any disclosures harassment or violence of any kind.