Cultures & Contexts: Spain

(4 Credits)

What does Spanish culture look like? How do Spanish artists and writers articulate the often complex understandings they have of themselves, their nation(s), their relation to modernity, and the broader international community? How has Spain been viewed by others, and how have these views informed individual and collective responses to Spain's place in the world. We critically approach Spanish culture by learning about specific works, their close analysis, and the contexts in which they exist (when they were made, how they were perceived, and how we come to study them today), from the 19th to the 21st century, a period of time that covers Spain's transition from its imperial pasts to its democratic present, with important historical moments throughout, including the Spanish-American War, the Spanish Civil War, and the dictatorship of General Francisco Franco. We study fiction, poetry, film, television, painting, poster art, photography, performance, and architecture; and whenever possible we connect with programs at New York’s museums, theaters, and parks.