FS-06 Gender Views in Contemporary Spanish Literature and Cinema
This course explores gender representations (ranging from feminist perspectives, gender performances, or the theory and practice of female writing, to questions of sexual identity, patterns of masculinity and queer theory) within the Spanish literature and cinema produced during the last three decades. Besides analyzing a selection of works by the most representative authors who form part of the contemporary literary panorama in Spain, students will also examine the different critical paradigms and theories within the field of gender and sexuality studies and how they are formulated within a range of cultural texts and contexts.
FS-07 Introduction to Spanish Cultural Studies
The main goal of this Course is to give students a core familiarity with Spanish history and culture. They are expected to come away from classes with a broad sense of the tensions and turning points that have shaped the Spanish past and which help us to understand its present.
FS-09 Music and Society: Theory and Practice of Flamenco
Broadly defined, Flamenco is a complex performative art which includes song (cante), dance (baile) and guitar music (toque), originally embedded in a particular lifestyle and worldview. Tracing its origins to approximately the mid-nineteenth century, Flamenco has been associated with Spanish Gypsies (gitanos), a community instrumental in its development and who represent the majority of its practitioners, and with the culture of Andalusia in Southern Spain. The exoticization of Spain during the 19th century stimulated Flamenco’s broader development and popularity until it eventually grew to become a powerful national icon, while it continues to be regarded as a quintessential expression of Spanish culture. Our emphasis is on acquiring an aural, visual, and theoretical understanding of Flamenco, of the streams of culture which created it, and of its role within Spanish culture, and on using the study of Flamenco as a vehicle to explore the relationship between art and culture, music and society, and the ways in which we think, talk and learn about Flamenco. The intention of the practical part of the Course, the Flamenco dance class, is not to train future Flamenco dancers, although many students go on to further study. Rather, it is designed to give students an understanding of the mechanics, aesthetics, and basic canons of an art form that is so often described as being purely spontaneous and free. The dance class centers on learning the basic postures and steps of the Flamenco vocabulary and the techniques of footwork. We also study the “compás” (rhythmic cycle) and learn to play “palmas” (rhythmic handclapping). Above all, we try to understand how Flamenco dance is structured and the essential relationship that links dancer, guitarist and singer. At the end of the Course, in addition to a final paper and final exam, students will perform the simple choreography they have learned, accompanied by a professional singer and guitarist. This tends to give them an entirely new appreciation of the complexity of both the dance form and the culture in which it is embedded. Evaluation in this part of the class sessions is based on attendance, effort and improvement, each student performing at his or her own level; ability or prior dance training is not necessary.
FS-15 Photographing the Literary Seville
The course will examine the literary richness of Seville through the photographic lens. We will learn about how to better control our cameras, fundamental photographic techniques and the history of photography and apply this knowledge to the myths and stories based here. We will also explore the city and its surroundings during field trips and learn to look at images critically and critique them in a group setting.
FS-16 Painting in Literary Seville
Understand the city of Seville and its artistic heritage combining the literature of Seville with the practical art of painting. To have a profound knowledge of a city and its heritage requires a very careful study of its most emblematic places. Painting gives one a greater vision of the city. We choose different techniques: pencil, charcoal, watercolor, and ink, etc. The students pass enjoyable sessions in the parks, plazas, streets and monuments of Seville, the Guadalquivir River, the Alcázar, the Barrio Santa Cruz, taking time to study their subject, its form and history. They will get to know the city, its hidden places and architecture like no other student can hope to do. At the end of the semester the students will have a fine collection of drawings and paintings which make great souvenirs and gifts for their friends and families. Also, they will acquire a great understanding of painting; perspective and composition which will help them appreciate art for the rest of their lives.
FS-19 The Image of Spain through Film and Digital Fiction
This course provides students with a route-map through those Spanish movies, as well as those from other countries, which deal with the image of Spain from different perspectives. There have been times when that same image has become distorded for reasons which are not, stricklyspeaking, cinematographic in character. Bringing to the fore the key aspects of that distorsion, while analysing a range of discourse types in film, can help bring into focus the role of Cinema as a generator of cultural stereotypes.
GS-01 Spain’s Classical Heritage: Between History and Mythology
The main goal of this course is to give students an overview of Spain’s Classical heritage. The course pays special attention to Phoenician, Greek and Roman presence in Spain, not only from a historical point of view, but also taking into account the mythological construction of Spain´s past and key cultural traditions. The course also explores Spain’s religious background, mainly the long process of Christianization of Southern Spain.
The course is divided in classes and field trips that will be key elements in helping the student to have a clearer perception of each historical period.
The program is divided as follows:
- Eastern traders and warlords in Spain: Phoenicians and Carthaginians.
- Travelling Heroes: Greeks and their myths in Spain.
- The coming of Rome and the creation of Hispania: Conquest and cultural changes.
- Pagans and Christians: the long process of Christianization of Spain.
The classes are combined with the following field trips:
- Sevilla. Roman remains in Seville. The old city in the Alfalfa and Encarnación area. Pagan Temple of Calle Mármoles. 4 hours.
- Sevilla. Roman remains in Seville. The river and the ancient port. The foundations of the Cathedral. Early Christian temples and the Iglesia del Salvador. 4 hours.
- Archaeological Museum of Seville. 4 hours.
GS-06 Spanish Cuisine, Spanish Cuisines
This course is designed as an introduction to the diversity of Spain’s cuisine. It is not intended to cover all aspects of Spanish cooking, but rather as an appetizer which will seduce you with its appearance, aromas and tastes, making you hungry to learn more about Spain´s gastronomic achievements.
GS-07 Photography: Theory and Techniques
This unit combines a theoretical and practical approach to contemporary photography, paying special attention to Spanish photography. Using slide presentations and group discussion, we will outline an itinerary throughout the main movements in the history of the medium and its evolution until today. There will be practical exercises about each of the genres discussed. The tutor will supervise and co-edit during the course every single student final project.
GS-12 Wine in Spain: History and Wine Tasting
Wine has long been part of human society and today is an important part of Spanish culture. This course provides a hands-on introduction to the world of wine. Students will meet the main Spanish wine regions and grapes, they will learn how to store and serve wine effectively, and explore different wines through sight, smell, and taste, and the principles of food and wine pairings. This course also covers a variety of topics related to the Spanish wine industry, from wine styles and winegrowing areas to sustainable production and tourism.