HISTORY OF SPANISH CULTURE

Knowledge of Spanish culture in its historical development through some of its recurring motifs, key moments and fundamental works.

At the end of the course, students will have to demonstrate knowledge of the concept of culture from the point of view of semiotics and sociology of culture. In the context of this dynamic, they will have to be able to relate elements of political and social history, art history and literature starting from the vision of a painting, a film and the interpretation of a page of one of the texts commented on during the course. They must also be able to develop their own independent judgment in the interpretation of texts and films, with the extra ability to re-elaborate bibliographic sources. Independent learning skills that allow you to apply the knowledge acquired to study texts and to current problems.

Good knowledge of Spanish language, spoken and written; ability to analyze and critically comment on the literary text.

Definition of the concepts of culture and cultural history from a contemporary perspective. Knowledge of the crucial moments in the history of culture and society of Spain. Analysis of literary texts, essays, paintings and other cultural products that testify to contemporary mentalities, customs and habits.

Critical texts:

—Alvar, Carlos; Mainer, José-Carlos; y Navarro, Rosa: Breve historia de la literatura española. Madrid: Alianza, 2014.
—Fusi, Juan Pablo, Historia mínima de España, Madrid, Turner, 2017.
—Mainer, José-Carlos, Historia mínima de la literatura española, Madrid, Turner, 2017.
—Lotman Juri; Uspenkij, Boris: «Sul meccanismo semiotico della cultura», in Tipologia della cultura. Milano: Bompiani, 2001, pp. 39-68. En español: Iuri M. Lotman: La semiosfera III. Semiótica de las artes y de la cultura. Madrid: Cátedra/Universitat de València, 2000, pp. 168-193.
—Eco, Umberto, Cultura y semiótica, Madrid, Círculo de Bellas Artes, 2009.
—Bourdieu, Pierre, «El campo literario: prerrequisitos críticos y principios de método» Criterios, 25-28 (19889-1990), pp. 20-42.
—Even-Zohar, Itamar, «La literatura como bienes y como herramientas», en Darío Villanueva, Antonio Monegal y Enric Bou, coords., Sin Fronteras: Ensayos de Literatura Comparada en Homenaje a Claudio Guillén, Madrid, Castalia, pp. 27-36.

Literary texts:

—Cervantes, Miguel de: «El casamiento engañoso y el Coloquio de los perros». Madrid: Alianza Editorial, 2006.
—Lope de Vega, Félix: El caballero de Olmedo, ed. Francisco Rico. Madrid: Cátedra. 2006.
—Larra, Mariano José de: Artículos. Ed. Alejandro Pérez Vidal, Madrid, Real Academia Española, 2016. [Selección disponible en Moodle]
—Unamuno, Miguel de: La novela de don Sandalio, jugador de ajedrez. Madrid: Alianza Editorial, 2009.
—Generación del 27 [F. García Lorca; R. Alberti; C. Méndez; J. de la Torre; L. Cernuda; P. Salinas; J, Guillén]: poesía y prosa. [Selección disponible en Moodle]
—Carmen Martín Gaite: El cuarto de atrás. Ed. José Teruel. Madrid: Cátedra, 2023.
—Javier Cercas: Soldados de Salamina. Ed. Domingo Ródenas de Moya. Madrid: Cátedra, 2017.

Further teaching materials will be made available online during the course.

Verification of learning occurs through two methods:
1) different short practical exercises (comparative analyses, reviews, comments...) that will be included throughout the semester, and
2) the preparation of a short essay on a topic related to the course which will be presented both orally and in writing

The course will combine theoretical and practical lessons: in addition to the teacher's lessons, the student will have to prepare the compulsory and supplementary readings to critically discuss during the lessons. Some critical materials and selections of literary texts are available on Moodle platform.

Teaching language: Spanish.

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