Module description
Using a variety of texts and genres as case studies this course explores the way in which writers in the Hispanic world have reflected upon their social and cultural realities.
Through an examination of aesthetic trends and treatments of stock themes such as religion, politics, and love, it appraises the very characteristics of what constitutes the 'modern' in Latin American and/or Peninsular Spanish cultures. Lectures serve to situate writers and texts within the cultural shifts of their period, while seminars provide the forum for a closer investigation and discussion of set texts.
Assessment details
Coursework assessment, 1 x essay (2000 words) – 40% of final grade, 1 x essay (2000 words) – 60% of final grade
Educational aims & objectives
- To examine the literary representation of social and cultural realities in some key 20th century Hispanic texts.
- To introduce students to the study of different genres in Spanish and/or Latin American texts.
- To examine key concepts of modernity, politics and aesthetics in these texts.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the module, students will be able to demonstrate intellectual, transferable and practicable skills appropriate to a Level 4 module and in particular will be able to:
- Begin to employ a conceptual framework to analyse and write on the primary texts studied;
- Show awareness of the role played by historical context in the development of the key concepts;
- Have a good knowledge of the modern critical approaches to the subject;
- Show a good understanding of the link between literary form and the construction of key discourses;
- Gain the confidence to develop appropriate study and research strategies in order to plan, draft, author and complete the module assessment elements.
Teaching pattern
1-hour lecture and 1-hour seminar, weekly
Suggested reading list
Core texts
- Federico García Lorca, Romancero Gitano (trans: Gypsy Ballads)
- Luis Buñuel’s and Salvador Dalí’s film Un Chien Andalou
- Federico García Lorca, Poeta en Nueva York (trans: Poet in New York)
- Carmen Laforet, Nada
- Camilo José Cela, La familia de Pascual Duarte (trans. The Family of Pascual Duarte)
Students are expected to own copies of the following texts and/or of their translations.
- Federico García Lorca, Romancero Gitano (trans: Gypsy Ballads) (any edition)
- Federico García Lorca, Poeta en Nueva York (trans: Poet in New York) (any edition)
- Carmen Laforet, Nada (any edition)
- Camilo José Cela, La familia de Pascual Duarte (any edition)