Course Learning Objectives
To acquire a deeper understanding of Arts, Politics and Society in recent Spanish history through some of the best Spanish and Catalan art produced in the 19th, 20th and 21st Century. Other Cultural manifestations such as Football, Spanish Pop Music, or Bullfighting will also be analysed for the same purpose.
30 hour long course (10 sessions, 3 hours each), taught in English, to discuss main Spanish artists and Cultural traditions, which illustrate Political and Social changes in Spain through the XIXth, XXth and XXIst centuries.
CONTENT
1. Spanish Pop Music through History, 1959-present |
2. Joan Miró (1893-1983) and the Meaning of Art |
3. Barcelona and the Arts: 2.000 Years of Beauty |
4. Salvador Dalí (1904-1989), Art and Morals |
5. Spanish Food: main ingredients, Spanish dishes by Regions, best restaurants in BCN |
6. Gaudí and other Catalan Modernist artists |
7. Pablo Picasso (1881-1973). Best painter of the 20th Century? |
8. Bullfighting: Art? Tradition? Brutality? |
9. FCBarcelona vs Real Madrid: Spanish Football |
10. Spain and the Movies. An overview |
Methodology
A different artist or Cultural manifestation will be discussed every class. 80% attendance and active participation from students will be required. Participants will have to write two mini-follow-up tests, two final short essays, make one individual and one a mid-term, group presentation about a relevant local site or museum, and contribute to on-line forums of discussion.
Bibliography
About the Civil War :"The Spanish Civil War: "Reaction, Revolution & Revenge". Paul Preston. Harper Perennial, 2006
¿Homage to Catalonia¿. George Orwell. Penguin Books. First Edition, 1938.
"For whom the bells toll". Ernest Hemingway. Scribner Classics, 1996
About Barcelona + Catalunya: ¿Barcelona¿. Robert Hughes. Harvill-HarperCollins. 1992
About the Basque Country: ¿The Basque History of the World¿. Mark Kurlansky. Vintage, 2000
About Recent History: ¿The New Spaniards¿. John Hooper. Penguin Books, 2006
About football + society: ¿Morbo:The Story of Spanish Football¿. Phil Ball. WSC Books, 2001
About Working effectively with Spaniards: "Spain is different", Helen Wattley-Ames. Intercultural Press, 1999
Web pages: About Spanish History: Library of the Congress. Country Studies: http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/
Generalitat de Catalunya webpage (English option): www.gencat.net/catalunya/cat/historia.htm
