CLANG 3600 The Cultures of Spain
“España, una” (Spain, one) became an important motto for Spain during the Francoist Regime (1936-1975) that imposed an artificial homogenous culture of one religion, one language, and one race. Franco borrowed his unrealistically homogenous Spain from Isabella and Ferdinand, the Catholic Monarchs, who established the Spanish Inquisition in 1478 to annulate religious, linguistic, racial and ethnic diversity in Spain. This course aims to challenge the imposed dictatorial motto, and explore cultural identity as a heterogenous and complex concept in contemporary Spain, particularly from 1975, the end of the Francoist dictatorship, to the present. Through careful readings of various texts, images and films, we will approach definitions of cultural nationalisms in Spain, representations of gender and sexuality, and narrative constructions of religion, race, ethnicity and migration, among others.
The idea of a harmonized cultural identity has been constantly problematized through literary and cultural practices. That is why we will analyze and historically contextualize a variety of cultural media that deal with how identities are shaped and contested in contemporary Spain. Literature, music, art, and other cultural manifestations become the tools in the construction of the national imaginaries of the Spanish cultures. Thus, we will gain critical awareness of the many communities that form Spain, whether through the creation of myths, the claim of language, the exaltation celebration? of popular customs, or dynamic migrations.
This course will allow us to develop a critical understanding of the causes and ramifications of homogeneity. We will analyze the formal and thematic aspects of primary and secondary sources that will allow us to discuss the political, social and cultural contexts of contemporary Spain with its many identities.
Prerequisite
CLANG 2104 or permission of instructor
Offered
As needed