Spanish Culture and History through Film (in English)

Course Description
The course presents a general introduction to the main aspects of Spanish Culture and
History through the cinematographic representations of various films and texts. The
class covers the most important social, political, and economic aspects of Spanish life
from the beginning of the twentieth century until today, with special emphasis on
current affairs. Analysis of audiovisual material and textual sources will help to illustrate
the connections and discontinuities of various periods of recent Spanish reality, among
them: the Civil War, the Franco dictatorship, the new Democratic period, and the
current postmodern Spain.

Classes will be structured considering the central topics which have marked the history
of the nation: the conflict between urban and rural environments, the role of women in
society, youth problems, education, film as ideological propaganda, traditional
religiosity vs. sexual liberation, and cultural and national diversity. We will study the
way in which these feature films offer multiple visions of Spanish identity, and how they
build alternative models to the ones constructed by Hollywood. Besides exploring
topics and contents, the class will also cover general aspects of film aesthetics and
narrative devices used by the film makers such as camera angels, use of sound track
and lighting, framing and filmic discourse.

We will study both renowned directors such as Pedro Almodóvar and Fernando
Trueba, as well as the most recent Spanish creators Montxo Armendáriz, Chus
Gutierrez, and Benito Zambrano. Some of the questions to explore during the semester
will be the following: what events, names, and social issues have shaped
Contemporary Spain? Which national identity issues are constructed in Spanish films?
What are the main problems of Spaniards as presented in these films? What
similarities and differences exist between Spanish and American societies?

Course Goals and Methodology
The goals of this course are:
• To explore the main historical and cultural issues of contemporary Spain.
• To understand how filmic discourse represents and, at the same time,
undermines culture and reality.
• To familiarize students with the main film directors, movie techniques, and
aesthetic concerns of recent decades in Spain.
• To relate current social and national problems in Spain to its historical roots in
recent History

A variety of methodologies will be used, including lecture/presentation, discussions,
debates, student presentations, and cooperative group work. The course includes both
texts and films to be analyzed by students. Students are expected to read and reflect
on the reading/audio+visual material and also to complete the handouts for each
specific text and film before the class period. Films will be screened during class and
require active work with questions and references to be completed before, during and
after the screening.

Students will be given reading and filmic material to study during the semester and will
be required to complete hours of preparatory work on which they may be tested in
order to understand their level of knowledge and understanding in key areas. Course
participants will be required to complete pre- and post-course tests, a class oral
presentation, ICT activities by mobile phone, tablet or computer, exams and a final
project.

Learning Objectives
Through this course, students will:
• Be able to explain the main Historical events of Contemporary Spain
• Define basic concepts from the field of cultural theory.
• Outline the main Spanish cultural events from the 20th century to the present.
• Recognize significant social developments in Spanish contemporary period.
• Identify and critically explore the cultural foundations of the Spanish nation.
• Describe and classify basic concepts related to film aesthetics/form.
• Evaluate film under a critical perspective encompassing the political/ideological.
• Enhance inter-cultural awareness towards similarities and differences between
Spanish and U.S. history and culture.

Required Texts
There will be a COURSE PACK with the compulsory reading assignments available at
the copy center in the Celestino Mutis Building (Building #17) on campus. Students
should buy the one for this course and professor (Span 319E Professor Alberto Egea).
Supplementary materials may be provided during the course. Power point
presentations, extra readings, study guides for every reading and film handouts for the
screenings will be available on Blackboard (virtual platform).

Films
Films will be screened in class and are available at the Centro Universitario
Internacional library. Students may also obtain copies of the movies from the professor
by bringing a laptop to class.

1. Belle Epoque. Fernando Trueba. 1992. (109´).
2. La lengua de las mariposas. José Luis Cuerda. 1999. (96´).
3. La niña de tus ojos. Fernando Trueba. 1998. (121´).
4. El calentito. Chus Gutierrez. 2005. (90´).
5. Campeones. Javier Fesser. 2018. (124´).
6. Ocho apellidos vascos. Emilio Martínez Lázaro. 2013. (95´).

Content Warnings
The films of the course may contain explicit content that some viewers may find
disturbing, scenes of a sexual nature, adult language, violence, etc.

Course Requirements and Grading
Students’ progress will be checked by class participation, in-class quizzes, a response
essay, and a final exam. Your final grade will be calculated as follows:
• Presentation (10%)
• Cell Phone Game (10%)
• Essay (10%)
• Participation (20%)
• Exams [Midterm+Final] (50%)

Essential factors in order to qualify for an A/A+ grade in this course are:
• To comply with reading assignments on a weekly basis.
• To develop analytical and critical skills and present them in class discussions
and activities.
• To participate in class voluntarily and to contribute to discussions with informed
reactions.
• To show excellent writing and interpretative skills when submitting papers
and/or exams.

Participation

Students will come prepared to class, reading the daily assignment from the course
pack, and completing the screening of the films when necessary. Lively discussions will
be encouraged at all times. Classes will be structured around class discussion
(focusing on the readings and the films presented) moderated by the professor. Class
participation will therefore be graded in accordance to both the students’ previous
readings and reflection about the assigned texts and films, and also their contribution to
class discussion daily with relevant comments. (N.B.: ´being there´ does not =
´participation´).

Active participation includes, but it is not limited to, the following behaviors:
1. Asking and answering questions in class;
2. Volunteering to answer questions and to engage in discussions;
3. Questioning information presented and discussed;
4. Engaging in class discussions and dialogues with class mates;
5. Participating in peer critiques with your class groups; and
6. Grappling with course content on a personal-level.

Course contents
1. Course Introduction: Constructing History and Representing Culture in film
2. Introduction to Spanish History. Republic and Civil War
3. The Franco Regime
4. Introduction to Cinematography and Cultural Differences
5. Censorship and Propaganda during Franco
6. Religion and Popular Faith
7. School, Gender Issues and Sexual Diversity
8. The Democratic Period
9. Spain´s cultural icons: Flamenco & Gastronomy
10. 1990s to 2007: from Boom to Recession
11. Spain Today: 2008-2018
12. National Diversity and Catalonia