Spanish

This course introduces students to the basic critical skills for literary and cultural analysis, develops reading fluency across genres (such as poetry, prose, and theatre) and literary periods, and examines interdisciplinary cultural discourses as connected to a topic or topics related to the Hispanic world. Representative works and products studied are placed within their historical, cultural and theoretical contexts. The course pays particular attention to the development of oral and written argumentation across cultural frameworks and perspectives. Emphasis is placed on oral interpretations and presentations, critical oral and written responses, as well as on the original application of critical methodologies in written work. Students will develop writing and research skills pertinent to future coursework in the discipline. Topics may rotate among the following: Gender and Representation in Hispanic Literatures and Film; Spain, Latin America, the U.S.: An Odyssey of Cultures; Short Fictions in the Spanish Speaking World; The Hispanic Imagination: Poetry and Narrative; Identity, Performance and Self-Representation in Spanish-Speaking Cultures; The Hispanic Novella Tradition from Cervantes to Garcia Marquez.

Offered: every semester.

Prerequisite: Completion of the advanced intermediate sequence, placement, or special permission.

An advanced seminar on a topic relating to the linguistics, culture, and/or literature of the Hispanic world. Emphasis on research and critical thinking. Required of all majors not completing an Honors thesis. Seminars may rotate among the following topics: Diaspora and Space in Hispanic Fiction and Film; Transatlantic Exchanges - A Cultural Food History from 1492 to the Present; Exclusions, Exiles and Displacements in the Spanish-Speaking World; The Filmic Discourse of Contemporary Spain; Language and Nationalism.

Offered: every semester.

Prerequisite: SPAN 310 and at least one advanced elective taught in Spanish or special permission.

The Capstone is the culmination of a student’s work in the Spanish major. Required of all majors during their senior year. It is a summative experience of the skills and approaches acquired by an undergraduate student throughout the major in correspondence with National Standards. It will consist of three components: • An oral defense of an Honors Thesis or a revised research paper drawing on the work, content and methodologies from one of the Hispanic Studies Seminars regularly offered by the Spanish department, or from the work of an undefended Honors Thesis in Spanish. In consultation with Spanish Department faculty, students will complete revisions and any further research/expansion of the paper, and also prepare to present that research to peers and faculty members at the Spanish Department’s Hispanic Studies Colloquium – a public forum showcasing the research of graduating Spanish majors • Completion of an oral proficiency exam.• Completion of a writing proficiency exam.

Prerequisite: SPAN 394, or concurrent registration with SPAN 394.

This course addresses the theme of love, both human and divine, as expressed in Spanish poetry, narrative, and drama from the late 15th to the early 17th centuries. Discussions of literary selections will address each work in its specific historical contexts during the early modern period, while also addressing the theories of love that inform these works. We will pay particular attention to the diverse modalities of amorous representations, both earthly and spiritual, as well as the roles of women as writers and characters.

Prerequisite: SPAN 310 or special permission.

After providing a historical foundation, through representative texts and films this course traces the evolution of courtship and affective and institutional relationships, from the Golden Age to contemporary settings in the Hispanic world. Works studied are placed within their historical and theoretical contexts, in terms of public and private spaces, as well as power and dependency. We also consider the erosion of traditional values and mores as modern Hispanic culture has become more liberal and homogenized in industrial, globalized and media-saturated environments.

Prerequisite: SPAN 310 or special permission.

This course studies works that follow the tradition of the (auto)biographical and life writings modes of self-representation as they examine the migration, dislocation and settlement in the U.S. of individuals and communities and their process of cultural negotiation and integration. We will focus on their discursive strategies in relation to the past, nostalgia and memory. We will engage these works with current social elements, such as mass media and local and national policies. Using postcolonial theories of discourse, we will also examine how these works situate themselves in light of emerging cultural identities and new cultural realignments.

Prerequisite: SPAN 310 or special permission.

This course examines representative cultural production from a wave of young writers, filmmakers, and artists who have opted for a neo-realist aesthetic to represent current national and transnational realities. Focusing on movements like the Generacion X group in Spain and the McOndo and Crack groups in Latin America, the course explores the connections between this new production and urban identities. We pay special attention to the role of U.S. influences, audio-visual media, violence, disease, emerging marginalities, and rearticulated sexualities as elements of this new urban reality.

Prerequisite: SPAN 310 or special permission.

A study of the complex relationships between individuals and their physical environments, from the countryside to the jungle, in represenative literary works of the 19th and 20th centuries. We will address how interactions withp lace and geography become discursive tools by which to explore various social, cultural and national discourses. The manifestations and permutations of the environmental imagination across various literary movements, from Romanticism to Regionalism, are explored, while also addressing the role of eco-criticism within literary cultural studies.

Prerequisite: SPAN 310.

A multidisciplinary study of the discourses of gender and ethnicity during shifting moments of nation construction in Latin America after independence, revolution and modernization projects. Discourse analysis, gender and postcolonial theories will be applied to selected literary texts as well as to films, art movements, political manifestos, and national myths.

Prerequisite: SPAN 310 or special permission.

This course traces Hispanic cultural presence in North America through three key historical moments. Starting with Spain's colonial expansion and cultural imprint in North America, followed by the 1848 transition of these territories to the U.S. and resulting cultural production, the course then focuses on the migrations and political exiles of the late 19th and the 20th century, the civil rights movement, contestatory writing and the rise of ethnic literatures and films in both Spanish and English. Lastly, the course views recent works by first- or second-generation authors who write in English, but occupy a space of enunciation that is neither Hispanic nor Anglo, but fluid, hybrid, and multicultural.

Prerequisite: SPAN 310 or permission of instructor.

This course focuses on the interdisciplinary aspects of literature and texts that represent colonial, neo-colonial and post-colonial encounters (Columbus and the "cannibals;" Malinche and Cortez; Pocahontas and John Smith; Prospero and Caliban; contemporary migrants and the immigration officials at the sea or land border of USA or Spain). Our task will be to discuss the notions of power and powerlessness, center and periphery, purity and hybridism, First and Third World, cultural identity and globalization that may be present in these encounters.

Prerequisite: SPAN 310 or special permission.

This course explores the notions of cultural contact and conflict in several socio-geographic contexts in the Spanish-speaking world including: the U.S.-Mexico border region, indigenous and mestizo communities in Mexico and Central America, and the sociocultural and political influence of the U.S. in Puerto Rico. The course examines the concepts of cultural hybridity, contact and conflict, ethnicity and race, adaptation, and cultural/language contact. Course readings draw on a combination of historical analysis, ethnographic studies, autobiography, fiction, poetry, essays, and film in order explore the many manifestations of contact in these three unique contexts.

Prerequisite: SPAN 310 or special permission.

The defining event of 20th-century Spain and a prelude to Europe's Second World War, the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) captured world attention and the imagination of writers, artists, and workers. This course explores historical events that brought about the proclamation of the liberal Second Republic and the ensuing civil war resulting in the long-endured Fascist repression of Francisco Franco and the anti-Francoist guerrilla movement. This course also explores the role of the American Abraham Lincoln Brigade in his fight against fascism during and after the Spanish Civil War. Ideological and social changes (women, minorities, and language communities) are also investigated. This course also analyzes artistic production (literature, art, film, and music) in Spain and US (Hollywood) that shows the rhetoric of war and propaganda.

Prerequisite: SPAN 310 or special permission.

The study of a topic or topics related to a literary or cultural aspect of the Hispanic world not covered by the current offerings of the Spanish department. In any given semester the course may be offered as a single four-credit unit or divided into two separate topics, each carrying two credits.

May be repeated for credit as topic changes.

Prerequisite: SPAN 310 or special permission.

The study of a topic or topics related to a literary or cultural aspect of the Hispanic world not covered by the current offerings of the Spanish department. Papers and course work are completed in Spanish. Recommended for students taking SPAN 382 while studying in the Barcelona Summer Program.

An advanced study of Spanish cinema and its cinematographic expression through a systematic analysis of the filmic processes. Based on four basic issues in Spanish films: hybridization; violence; sexual allure; and regional cinemas (Catalan and Basque), students will explore how language mechanisms - ellipsis, transitions, metaphors, symbols, dialogues, narrative processes, time and space are utilized by filmmakers to create unique discursive texts.

Prerequisite: SPAN 310 or special permission.

An advanced study of the Spanish language examining its history and development from Latin to the phonological and syntactic descriptions found in present-day usage. Topics include comparative data on Spanish-American and peninsular Spanish, dialectology, sociolinguistics, and idiomatic usage. Linguistic study as applied to literature and pedagogical implications is explored.

Prerequisite: Prerequisite: SPAN 310 or concurrent registration with SPAN 310 or special permission.

This survey course introduces the primary fields of Spanish linguistics including: phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, historical linguistics, and sociolinguistics. We will examine the terminology and theoretical frameworks used in each field for the analysis of the Spanish language. Students will put linguistic theory to practice through the completion of exercises and the analysis of speech and text. We will also examine the social contexts that structure the use of language and its speakers by exploring the Spanish language in various settings around the world.

Prerequisite: Prerequisite: SPAN 310 or concurrent registration with SPAN 310 or special permission.

This course will familiarize students with issues of language use in context in Spanish-speaking communities around the world. Students will learn the field's main findings and methods for sociolinguistic analysis. They will become familiar with concepts such as linguistic variation, linguistic change, standard vs. non-prestigious varieties, bilingualism, diglossia, language attitudes, language planning, and conversation analysis.

Prerequisite: Prerequisite: SPAN 310 or concurrent registration with SPAN 310 or by special permission.

An advanced course in creative writing. Based on the practices of creative writing in different genres and subgenres, translations, and oral production, students will refine their linguistic skills and work towards acquiring a personal style across written contexts. Students will also work toward the development of critical thinking skills when creating new texts. Prerequisite: Gateway course or concurrent registration with Gateway course or special permission.

Prerequisite: Prerequisite: SPAN 310 or concurrent registration with SPAN 310 or special permission.

The study of a topic or topics in Spanish language and linguistics not covered by the current offerings of the Spanish department. In any given semester the course may be offered as a single four-credit unit or divided into two separate topics, each carrying two credits.

May be repeated for credit as topic changes.

Prerequisite: Prerequisite: SPAN 310  or ocncurrent registration with SPAN 310 or special permission.

This course is designed to give students of Spanish a foundation in business vocabulary, basic business and cultural concepts as well as an in-depth reflection of what it means to do business in a variety of culturally diverse Hispanic countries. This perspective is conducted through literary readings, contemporary and historical comparisons, mass media analysis, and linguistic descriptions of products or brand names.

Prerequisite: SPAN 310 or concurrent registration with SPAN 310 or special permission.

A study of a topic or topics in a linguistic, cultural, or literary aspect of the Hispanic world not covered by the current offerings of the Spanish department. Papers and course work are completed in English. Recommended for students taking SPAN 181, SPAN 182, and SPAN 281 while studying in the Barcelona Summer Program.

This course explores the experiences of the Latino/a community in the U.S. by examining regional and national trends in topics such as immigration, labor, family, community, cultural adaption, education and language. Students engage in critical, reflexive thinking and civic responsibility through their participation in a community-based learning project. Students will learn about Latinos/as in various social settings and the impact they have on communities where they live. This course will be complemented by an off-campus component in collaboration with a community partner. Students will partner with organizations that serve the local Latino/a community, and will examine their role and responsibility in relation to issues of citizenship, social and economic justice, and social change.

Prerequisite: Prerequisite: SPAN 310, or concurrent registration with SPAN 310, or special permission.

A study of a topic or topics in the linguistics, literature, or culture of the Spanish-speaking world outside of the United States not covered by the current offerings of the Spanish Department. The course may focus on one or more countries/groups/regions within the Spanish-speaking world outside of the United States; explore identity, national, collective or regional representations across an array of social categories as articulated in the production of one or more of these countries/groups/regions; or it may examine the linguistic, literary, or cultural production resulting from institutional, traditional or social entities/movements within the international Spanish-speaking world. In any given semester the course may be offered as a single four-credit unit or divided into two separate topics, each carrying two credits.

Course may be repeated for credit as topic changes.

A study of a topic or topics in the linguistics, literature, or culture of the Latin and/or Latino/a communities of the United States not covered by the current offerings of the Spanish Department. The course may focus on one or more Hispanic groups/regions within the United States and its outposts, such as Mexican-Americas, Cuban-Americans, and Puerto Ricans; explore identity, national, collective or regional representations across an array of social categories as articulated in the production of one or more of these groups/regions; or it may examine the linguistic, literary, or cultural production of these groups/regions resulting from institutional, traditional or social entities/movements within the United States.

May be repeated for credit as topic changes.

This course addresses the origins, impact, and currency of the melodramatic across Spanish and Latin American culture, literature, film, music, and television. The course examines the recourse of the melodramatic within diverse emotional contexts (romantic, erotic, familial) and their relationship with varying cultural and social attitudes. The course will pay particular attention to the repetitions and excesses of melodramatic representations, and their implicit and explicit connections to gender, gender performance, sexual identity, and nationalism.

This course is designed to offer an overview of Spanish theatre through representative works from the seventeenth century Golden Age to the early 20th century. Through an analysis of different dramatic genres the course explores the background and the historical, social and aesthetic development of the Spanish theatre, as well as its principal themes. We pay particular attention to these plays not just as literary artifacts, but also as texts for performance. In particular, we examine gender and sexuality both in performance and as performance - analyzing the meanings produced by gendered and sexualized bodies on stage and in audiences, as well as the constructions and manifestations of gender and sexuality through performance itself across different contexts and time periods.

This interdisciplinary course examines the sociopolitical construction of the border between the United States and Mexico. Students will examine the history and culture of the border region on both sides of the international boundary and how the border has defined each nation. We will examine environmental issues, labor and economic systems, tourism, immigration and migration, grassroots activism, and border security in our exploration of the complex relationship between these two countries and their citizens.

A study of a topic or topics in a linguistic, cultural, or literary aspect of the Hispanic world not covered by the current offerings of the Spanish department. In any given semester the course may be offered as a single four-credit unit or divided into two separate topics, each carrying two credits.

May be repeated for credit as topic changes.

A study of the major developments in Latin American literature and film in the past half century. First we concentrate on the literary aesthetics of the "Boom" - the movement that propelled Latin American literature into world recognition - and will consider theoretically the use of magical realism through close readings of representative canonical works. The second half of the course will center on the most recent prose and film of new generations of artists (such as the "McOndo" and "Crack Generation" movements, among others) depicting the impact of globalization, transnational forces, consumerism, migrations, and external influences upon Latin American identity. Taught in English.

A study of the many contributions that African Diaspora added to the richness of the present-day cultures of Latin America, Brazil and the Spanish Caribbean. The course will emphasize the influences that the African cultures have had in areas such as the language, economy, religion, music, art, dance and gastronomy. In addition to literary selections, readings in socio-historical sources, films and other art forms will be introduced and discussed.

This course will focus on visual and textual representations of Latinos, representing the individual and the family, both by the hegemonic media and by members of these communities. We will follow a multidisciplinary approach as we trace the development of Latinos in Hollywood cinema, television, re-construct representations in newspapers and the general media and place them in historical context. We will engage these texts in a dialogue with contestatory and revisionist representations in film, literature, and other popular forms from within the community.

Offered: Check department listings.

This course provides a broad understanding of how gender and sexuality are articulated in fiction, film and other images in the Spanish-speaking world today. We approach these texts using multidisciplinary approaches, and examine their intersection with race, class and Hispanic cultural values and traditions. It will be organized thematically and by region to better understand the diversity of the Hispanic world. Using recent theoretical approaches (feminist, post-feminist, queer), we will study various gender representations (male, female, performative) as we elaborate on issues of authorship, representation and reception.

This course explores how language shapes the ways people communicate and how language forms social identities and influences group membership. It examines the cultural beliefs and ideologies embedded in language and how they inform the organization of society. The course will explore topics such as language and power, linguistic ideologies, language socialization, language and identity, linguistic variation, and linguistic ethnography. This course puts linguist theory into practice through the exploration and application of theory from the fields of sociolinguistics and linguistic anthropology. Students will learn the theory and method of linguistic research and collect original data for analysis. 

Prerequisite: LING 101, or LING 220, or ENGL 220, or ANTH 104, or SPAN 310, or special permission.