Spanish Art and Architecture

OBJECTIVES

-To intimately know Spain?s rich cultural heritage through its main artistic movements, artists, and maximum exponents.
-To know how to read, interpret, analyze, and contextualize works of art, artists, and monuments.
-To improve Spanish language abilities, particularly reading and listening comprehension and public speaking.
-To strengthen argumentative capabilities, the defense of ideas, and critical analysis through classroom discussion.
-With Barcelona as a classroom, special attention will be focused on the city?s history, with field trips to locations and museums relevant to topics discussed throughout the course

CURRICULUM

Introduction: from Altamira to Zaragoza?s International Exhibition

-Brief introduction to Spain?s rich cultural heritage from pre-Roman to modern times.
-Barcelona as an example. Visit the Barcelona History Museum.

ART BLOCK

1. Velázquez: Main works. Art, artist, society, and power. Selected work: ?Las Meninas.?
2. Goya: Main works. Art, artist, society, and power. Selected work: ?La Familia de Carlos V.?
Movie: ?Goya? by Carlos Saura. Analysis and commentary.
3. Salvador Dalí: Beyond surrealism. The power of money and merchandising.
Supporting visuals: ?Un perro andaluz? and fragments from ?La edad de oro? by Luís Buñuel.

Picasso: The power of a XXI century genius. Cubism and much more. A creator and born genius, Analysis of his main works. ?Gernika? and its significance. Supporting cinematic visuals: ?Surviving Picasso? by James Ivory. Analysis and commentary.

Miró: Surrealism and painted poetry: primitivism. Beyond Miró?s art.

ARCHITECTURE BLOCK

1. Muslim art: Granada?s Alhambra, Córdoba?s Mezquita, and Sevilla?s main architectural works.
2. Roman-Spanish Art: A Cataluña case study
3. Spanish Gothic Art: Barcelona in focus.
4. Catalan Modernism: Social and economic context. Antonio Gaudí heading the movement. Other architects of the period and their works.
5. Present day architecture: Focus on Barcelona?s Olympic transformation and the city?s maritime facade.

EVALUATION AND METHODOLOGY

-Course based on lectures and written assignments.
-The professor will provide supporting materials (specialized texts, slides, photos, documentaries, movies, etc.) to compliment the course.
-In-depth analyses of each style?s representative work or artist.
-Beyond lectures and supporting materials, there will be a practice session in which students and professor make a group synthesis as well as an evaluation of the movement?s or artists? most relevant aspects through ?key questions.?