Note: A placement exam will be required when you arrive on site.

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This course is designed for students who have completed or tested out of a minimum of four semesters (or six quarters) of college-level Spanish. However, students must take a placement exam to determine the course level into which they will be able to enroll.

Spain's multicultural civilization from its Roman roots to the "movida" of post-Franco Spain. Recurrent themes in Spanish national ideology and culture will be examined: Spain as a crossroads of Christian, Jewish and Islamic cultures; linguistic and cultural diversity; regionalism and nationalism; dictatorship and democracy.

OBJECTIVES
This course aims to strengthen the student’s understanding of the sociocultural diversity of the Spanish people, moving away from typical topics and stereotypes, in order to analyze the culture of the Spanish people. There will be special emphasis on the customs, ways of life, ideologies, etc. that are distinctive to the Spanish people in relation to other European cultures.

CLASS FORMAT
In addition to the oral classes, audiovisual material (movies, documentaries, recordings) will be implemented to illustrate course topics. Throughout the course, the use of newspaper articles, especially on current themes of interest to the student, will be used to spark debate and study Spanish culture. The classes will be dynamic, and class participation is essential.

EVALUATION
The student should choose a specific subject (an aspect of Spanish culture) that interests him/her, and with which the student can elaborate and demonstrate his/her understanding of it in a small essay (5-10 pages). The specific topic and the assignment will be confirmed by the professor. The students will take turns presenting the essays during the final 10-15 minutes of class. The final exam consists of a written test about a topic that the student chooses from two topics that the professor proposes. Participation in class throughout the course is highly valued.
Participation in class: 25%
Written personal essay: 25%
Oral presentation: 25%
Final exam: 25%

PROGRAM
1. Introduction. Social diversity in Spain. Physical and political geography of Spain. Autonomous communities, regions, nationalities?
2. The formation of Spain (historic points): Images and stereotypes about Spaniards and distinctive peoples. Romantic travelers and tourists.
3. North and South, City and Country, traditional societies and globalization.
4. Andalucía and other regions of Spain (Castilla, País Vasco, Cataluña)
5. Minority cultures: gypsies and immigrants
6. Groups: gender, age, family
7. Economy and Society
8. Spanish language and literature
9. Religion
10. Rituals and Parties: the bulls
11. Popular music, dance, and literature: el flamenco, poetry, romances.
12. Free-time, games, and sports
13. Arts: paint, sculpture, architecture
14. Food and drink, gastronomy.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Cantarino, V., 1995, Civilización y cultura de España, Prentice Halla, Englewood Cliffs.
Caro Baroja, J., 1975, Los pueblos de España, 2 vol, Istmo, Madrid.
García de Cortázar, F., 2002, Historia de España, Planeta, Barcelona.
Hooper, J., 1996, Los nuevos españoles, Javier Vergara editor, Madrid (1995, The New Spaniards, Penguin Books, London)
Kattán-Ibarra, J., 1995, Perspectivas culturales de España, Lincolnwood, Illinois.
Lisón Tolosana, C., 1980, Invitación a la antropología cultural de España, Akal, Madrid.
Richardson, B., 2001, Spanish Studies: An Introduction, Oxford University Press, Oxford.