1. Introduction
The program of this class has been established from a comprehensive perspective with the general objective that the students obtain a collective view of Spanish in its diverse manifestations. The layout of the program should underline that general underlying feeling to the distinct themes. The program deals with the initiation and formation, for the students, of the themes that are not found contemplated in the remaining fundamental disciplines that constitute the course of Hispanic studies, having paid special attention to avoid repetition.
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2. Program
1. Introduction to Spanish culture. Particularity and universality of a culture. Historic-geographical conditions of Spanish idiosyncrasy. Distinct, conceptual definitions the theme by Sanchez Albornoz, Americo Castro, Lain Entralago.
2. Cultural manifestations in the distinct autonomies. Problems within cultural unity and diversity. Spain as a State and the plural state of the autonomous regions.
3. Spanish, human archetypes universally known. La Celestina, Don Quijote, Don Juan, Lazarillo, Carmen. Diverse opinions about these characters: popular implication and intellectual analysis. Stereotypes of Spanish culture.
4. The Gypsies in Spain. Social problems. Integration or change. Contributions of the Gypsy culture to Spanish culture in its different manifestations. Opposition to progress and the tradition of an oral culture.
5. Bullfighting and Spanish culture. The Taurine celebration as a party and ritual. The survival of symbols and the renewal of an ancestral tradition. Language and techniques of bullfighting. The influence of bulls in Spanish creativity: literature, arte, film, music.
6. The popular Spanish celebration throughout history. Specific characteristics of Spanish cultural history with respect to celebration. Plural integration hierarchy in social celebrations. The celebrations as a syncretic manifestation between the religious and pagan. Everyday life and festive life. Times of splendor and of the prohibition of celebrations.
7. Celebration in modern Spain. Tradition and renovation in the contemporary celebration cycle. Interrelation between the festivals and their socio-political advantage. Analysis of the most important celebrations: Carnaval, Holy Week, Spring celebrations (Fallas romerias, ferias) Night of St. Juan, St. Fermin, Moores and Christians, The Cascamoros, summer celebrations, grape harvest, deceased, Christmas.
8. Flamenco as a manifestation of Spanish culture. The origin and development of Flamenco. Purity and the Mestization of a cultural manifestation. Interrelation with other musical forms of Spanish culture. Diversity and unity in the language and in the forms of Flamenco expression.
9. Popular music in the XX century. Diverse currents of Spanish music of this century. Popular manifestations in the distinct regions. Interrelation between cultured and popular music. The Spanish song: the ballad. Tradition and conservatism in the Spanish music of the dictatorship: nationalism and foreign censorship. Song as a form of subjective and collective opposition. Musical liberty after Franco. Social music and politics.
10. Other manifestations of Spanish culture, I. Crafts. Popular architecture. Style and forms of corporal adornment. Sports.
11. Other manifestations of Spanish culture, II. Proverbs and other forms of popular literature. Gastronomy. Popular justice. Popular beliefs : curanderismo, magic.
12. Spanish film up to the Civil War. The arrival of cinematography in Spain. Influences and autonomy with respect to the theatrical medium. Traditionalism and the renewal of the cinematographic theme. Vanguard and the literature of manners in the epoch of the second republic. The arrival of the Civil War.
13. Spanish cinema up to Franco's death. Exile in Spanish cinematography. Censorship and propaganda in the cinema of Franco's Spain. The first intents of modernization: the permanent fight against censorship. International view and the national reality of cinema up to Franco's death.
14. Contemporary Spanish cinema. The liberty of expression and the last censorships of democratic transition. The final end of censorship. International opening of Spanish cinema. Problems between creative liberty and subsidy. The fight for international markets with international productions: free market or Protectionism. Debate over the reality of Spanish cinematography.
15. Spanish sociability. The life of relationship in contemporary Spain: historical antecedents and actual characteristics. Towards a coexisting and tolerant culture. The socio-political forms in contemporary Spain and its cultural projection: central state, autonomous, provincial, and municipal government.
16. Forms of socio-cultural expression in modern Spain, I. Cultural tradition as a form of modern sociability: the family institution, infancy and old age. The start of the contemporary problems in the Spanish social model: religion, unemployment, and economic crisis. Towards a welfare state.
17. Forms of socio-cultural expression in modern Spain, II. Intellectuals in contemporary Spanish culture. Scientific investigation and socio-cultural progress. The socio-cultural institutions. The communications mediums and their great socio-cultural power.
18. Debate over Spanish culture before the end of the millennium. Stereotypes, topics and the renewal of modern Spanish culture. Clues to a debate over the traditional and the opening towards a new millennium.
3. Activities
Each thematic block of the program includes the analysis of material and practical activities by either tours or excursions to centers of general interest, studies and commentary of audio-visual, bibliographic and disco graphic documents; always aimed at increasing the active participation of the students. It is important to consider the availability of the collections of discs and videos in the Center of Modern Languages in the same manner as with the individual availability of the professors. For example, the Magna Anthology of the Flamenco Song, the collection The Spanish Song, or The Golden Age of Spanish Pop can be checked out. As a video reference the collections of the center perfectly cover the distinct categories of documentaries and cinematographies.
4. Evaluation
The fulfillment of individual or group work over whatever question related to the themes of the course and correspondingly advised by the professor, will be valued up to 25%. The fulfillment of a final exam has been considered in which the possibility of choosing between several previously raised questions will be given. This test will be worth up to 50% of the final grade.
5. Bibliography
LAIN ENTRALGO, P., A qué llamamos España, Madrid, 1971.
CARO BAROJA, J., Los pueblos de España, Madrid, 1981-
GUBERN, R. (Coord.), Historia del cine español, Madrid, 1995.
RAMOS GASCÃ"N, A. (Editor), España hoy, Madrid, 1991.
VIDAL VENEYTO, 1. (Editor.), España a debate, Madrid, 1991.
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