Knowing Spain: Insights from Recent History, Current Affairs, Art and Culture (2235.YR.015648.2)

General information

Type:	OPT	Curs:	1	Period:	S semester
ECTS Credits:	5 ECTS

Teaching Staff:

Group	Teacher	Department	Language
Year 1	Alex Fernández de Castro Krings	Sección Español	ENG

Students are encouraged to read some of the books (or watch any of the movies) listed on the Bibliography

To provide social and poliical context about modern Spain and Catalunya, and valuable insights, specially to foreign students, to better interact with Spanish professionals.

To acquire a deeper understanding of Politics, Economy, Culture and Society in recent Spanish history through some of the most relevant events since the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939): Franco's dictatorship (1939-1975), the Transition Towards Democracy (1975-1982), the effects of the Financial Crisis (2008-2014), the recent shift from a 2 party system to a 5 party system, the appearence of Vox or Podemos or the independentist drive in Catalunya since 2012. Further Insights will be gained by discussing the work of some of the most cellebrated Spanish and Catalan modern artists (Picasso, Miró). Ultimately, the course aims to provide students with a wel-rounded outlook of Barcelona, Catalunya and Spain, which should help them to better understand Spanish professionals.

1. spain and Catalunya since 2011

2. The Second Republic

3. The Spanish Civil War (1931-1939)

4. Pablo Picasso (1881-1973)

5. Francisco Franco (1939-1975) + Mid-Term Mini-Test

6. Joan Miró (1893-1983)

7. The Transition Towards Democracy (1975.1982)

8. Salvador Dalí (1904-1989)

9. Working With Spanish Professionals + Final Mini Test

Students will contribute opinions to forums of discussions, and will present individually or as a group about a piece of news, site or work of art which might provide valuable insights into recent Spanish History, current events or Catalan/Spanish Culture
Each students will write to 2 Final essays: one longer paper about a recent history event in Spain, a piece of news, site or work of art which might provide valuable insights into recent Spanish History, current events or Catalan/Spanish Culture. A second, a shorter essay will relate to main take-aways and most important insights gained from the four-day seminar. There will be two mini-tests (one mid-term, a second one on the last session)

Assesment: Contributions to forums + presentation 30%, Mini-tests, 40%, final essays, 30%

ASSESSMENT BREAKDOWN

About Spanish Recent Politics/History:

The Civil War (1936-1939):

"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


Francisco Franco's Dictatorship (1939-1975):

"Franco: A Biography?, Paul Preston, Basic Books, 1995

Post-Franco Spain: "The New Spaniards?. John Hooper. Penguin Books, 2006

About Barcelona + Catalunya:

"Barcelona?. Robert Hughes. Harvill-HarperCollins. 1992

"The Struggle For Catalonia: Rebel Politics In Spain?, C.Hurst & Co, 2017

About The Basque Country: ¿The Basque History of the World¿. Mark Kurlansky. Vintage, 2000

Films about Spanish recent history:

"La Lengua de las mariposas", by José Luís Cuerda (1999), about the year prior to outbreak of the Spanish Civil War
"Mientras Dure La Guerra" by Alejandro Amenábar (2019), a great film about the early stages of the Spanish Civil War, with valuable insights into Francisco Franco's personality
"La Colmena", by Mario Camus (1982). Based on a novel by Nobel Prize Winner Camilo José Cela, it portrays Madrid in the years after the Civil War, the hunger and repression suffered by those on the losing side.
"Los Santos Inocentes", by Mario Camus (1984). Based on a novel by Miguel Delibes, it is a rural drama set in post-Franco Spain, depicting the huge divide between the rich and the poor during the long dictatorship (1939-1975)

Group	Teacher	Department
Year 1	Alex Fernández de Castro Krings	Sección Español