CIEE in Seville, Spain Course name: Spanish Culture and Civilization Course number: HISP 3101 SELS Programs offering course: Language and Society Program Language of instruction: Spanish U.S. semester credits: 3 credits Contact hours: 45 hours Term: Fall 2018 Course Description This course will thoroughly examine the knowledge of the Spanish identity formed thanks to the succession of cultures, societies and people that over the centuries have had an important impact on Spain. Taking into account the cultural and artistic expression of each moment as a point of reference, the class will analyze the different periods that have formed the history of this country, as well as the frequent contact with other people that has completed and enriched Spanish civilization. The class will begin with Prehistory and Roman Spain, through the dark centuries of the Middle Ages and the blooming Hispano-Muslim age, until reaching the important influence of Christianity between the Renaissance and Baroque epochs. However, the class will place special interest in Contemporary society and culture, as well as in the main artistic, literary or cinematography expressions that shape it. Learning Objectives Although this is a history class, the professor will give the student a plural and objective vision of a period full of political, social and religious controversy, but always from a cultural and artistic view. This class will have strong practical part and while the class will follow a historic-theoretical base, the class will have frequent contact with the remains of this culture that, to this day, surrounds us. The fact that this subject will be studied in a city of overwhelming historic artistic importance, such as Seville, will favor the practical part of the course, allowing the class to visit places of interest and attend events related to the material (concerts, exhibits). In class, we will use a large amount of audio-visual support (slides, video), as well as documents or literary works which will help complete the study of this material. Course Prerequisites This course is recommended for students with an intermediate level of Spanish. It is recommended that the students have certain knowledge of history, although it s not necessary. The humanistic profile of this subject makes it especially ideal for those foreign students interested in the cultural plurality of Spain. Students need to have a GPA of at least 2.5. Students language level, as evidenced by their result on the Online Language Placement Test, will determine their participation in this or other Regular Session course. Methods of Instruction As stated above, the dynamics of the classes will combine the presentation of topics by the teacher with the projection of slides and other media that will support the theoretical dimension of the course occasionally. Also, there will be regular direct contact with various places of interest (monuments, cultural
centers, public living spaces...), which will illustrate the student's learning. Attendance and behavior during these visits must be equivalent to that required in the classroom. On some occasions, we will adjust the class schedule to that of the places we ll visit. This will be announced by the teacher in advance. Assessment and Final Grade The final grade will be made up of the following components: Participación 25% Examen parcial 25% Ensayo final 25% Examen final 25% Policies: a. Attendance: class attendance is mandatory. b. Punctuality: if the student arrives late it will be considered half an absence. c. Assignments: all assignments should be turned in by the due date. Late assignments will suffer a grade reduction. Course Requirements The grading system of the course, given its practical character, will be continuous, student participation in the theory class as well as the frequent activities and visits mentioned in the program will hold a special value. Additionally, the student will take a mid-term and a final exam. The remainder of the grade will be made up of the completion of a paper (five to six pages) on a topic chosen by the student and professor. It will be handed in at the end of the course. Attendance Policy Students are not allowed to miss class for unjustified reasons. For each unexcused absence, the participation portion of the grade will be lowered. Hence, it will be very difficult to receive a 100 in the class. Please keep this in mind. If a student misses class twice without a valid excuse (a note from a physician in the event of an illness), then the professor will automatically lower the final grade by 5 points (on a 100-point scale) for each class missed thereafter. Students with 6 or more absences will fail the course. Students should arrive to class on time. Arriving more than 15 minutes late for a class will count as an unexcused absence. Please note that an excused absence is one that is accompanied by a doctor s note: signed stamped and dated. Travelling and/or travel delays are not considered valid reasons for missing class. * Notes from a physician will only be valid and admitted by the Program Manager if the doctor confirms that the visit could not have been arranged at another time, or that the student was too ill to attend class that day. Academic Honesty
Students are expected to act in accordance with their university and CIEE s standards of conduct concerning plagiarism and academic dishonesty. Use of online translators for work in Spanish will result in an automatic failure. Language Resource Center As this is a content course, it is highly recommended students use the center for the revision of their written assignments. Weekly Schedule Week 1 - A. Introduction to the subject. What is Spain? Geographic and general political observations. Richness and mix of culture of your new country. o Slides of Spain in its distinct epochs (geography, countryside, the people...) - B. Primary cultural expression in the Iberian Peninsula. Prehistory and eastern colonization. o Slides: Tartessian and Iberian cultures Week 2 - C. The Hispano-Roman civilization. Híspalis, Seville as the Nova Roma. o Visit to Templo de la Calle Mármoles and Palacio de Lebrija. o Slides: Itálica and the Roman culture Week 3 - D.- The great Muslim legacy. The stages of Islamic culture in Al-Andalus, from the Caliphate of Cordoba to almohade splendor. The andalusi music. o Audio: Sephardic music o Visits to Torre del Oro and Murallas almohades. o DVD: Muslim religion and culture. The legacy of Al-Andalus Week 4 - E.- The effects of the Christian reconquest. The cultural richness of the kingdom of Granada. Mudéjar society. o Visit to Santa Cruz neighborhood o Slides: Caliphate of Cordoba, the Almohade Seville and Nazarí Granada. Week 5 - F.- Light and darkness of the Medieval- Renaissance period. The effects of the Inquisition on Spanish society and culture. o Visit to the exterior of the Seville Cathedral and Archive of the Indies. o Slides: Gothic cathedrals Week 6
- G.- Golden Age I: Renaissance epoch. Evolution of literature, music and plastic arts. Seville in the Discovery Era. MIDTERM EXAM 1 Week 7 - H. - Golden Age II: The Baroque epoch. The height and crisis of 16 th century Seville. Exuberance and social misery during the Counter-Reformation reflected through Cervantes and Velázquez. Literary splendor in the Golden Age. - Visit to Seville s Baroque churches o Slides: Baroque art o Visit the Baroque churches of Seville Topic Presentation for the Final Essay Week 8 - I.- Literary tradition in the Golden age. From the picaresque to Quijote. Seville s tradition of Semana Santa. Week 9 - J.- Spain during the Enlightenment and Goya. Political transformations and the Napoleonic Spain. Romanticism. Literature and Romantic thought. The consolidation of Spanish folklore. o Visits to Plaza de Toros de la Real Maestranza and Museo Taurino. Week 10 - K.- The tradition of the Gypsies and Flamenco in Spain. The Romantic image of Andalusia. o Film Projection: Carmen ; Vicente Aranda. MIDTERM EXAM 2 Week 11 - L.-The Contemporary world. The transition from the 19th to the 20th century. The two Spains. Conservative and liberal culture. The literary and artistic vanguard. o Slides: Gaudi, Picasso and Dali. Week 12 - M.- The political events of the 20th century. From dictatorships to democracy. Music and cinema as a reflection of Spaniards today. o General Review o Presentation of final projects FINAL PROJECTS DUE FINAL EXAM
Course Materials Readings A.- Text book: - Readings selection. - Quinta Garrobo, Ángel de. Lecciones de Cultura y Civilización Española. Diada, 2012 B.- Recommended Bibliography: - Barroso, Miguel A. y Gil Delgado, F. Cine español en cien películas. Ed. Jaguar. Madrid 2002. - Bozal, V: Historia del Arte en España II. Ed. Espasa Calpé. Madrid, 1995. - Carr, Raymond (ed.). Spain, a History. New York,Oxdford University Press, 2000. - García de Cortázar, F. Historia de España. De Atapuerca al Euro. Ed, Planeta. Barcelona, 2002. - Greus, Jesús. Así vivían en Al-Andalus. Ed.Anaya. Madrid, 1988. - Mitjana, Rafael. Historia de la música en España. Centro de documentación musical. Madrid, 1993. - Pedraza, F. y Rodríguez, M. Las épocas de la literatura española. Ed. Ariel. Barcelona 1997. - Quesada Marco, Sebastián. Diccionario de civilización y cultura españolas. Ed. Istmo. Madrid, 1997. - Roldán, J.M. Historia de España. Ed. Edelsa. Madrid, 1989. - Sánchez Jiménez, José. La España Contemporánea. Ed. Istmo. Madrid 1991. - Sánchez Mantero, Rafael. Historia breve de Sevilla. Ed. Sílex. Madrid, 2000.