| Unit name | Barcelona: Culture and Representations |
|---|---|
| Unit code | HISP20117 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | I/5 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Dr. James Hawkey |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
None |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department | Department of Hispanic, Portuguese and Latin American Studies |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
As the modern-day capital of Catalonia, Barcelona is of indisputable importance as a major European city. However, Barcelona has captured the imagination of key cultural figures for centuries, and diverse representations of the city abound. In this unit, students will examine some of these perspectives of Barcelona in order to better understand the culture and experiences of its inhabitants. In turn, this will allow students insight into discourses relating to Catalan identity.
The unit will explore the social, cultural and political history of Barcelona through the analysis of a range of texts and sources. Students will therefore develop analytical skills drawing on one or more of the following disciplines: literature, history, film, linguistics, art, and visual cultures.
Students will, at the end of the unit, be able to:
1. Identify and explain key elements of Barcelona’s socio-political and cultural status;
2. Analyse and evaluate relevant material from a significant body of primary sources across a range of different cultural forms;
3. Select and synthesise appropriate critical material to contextualise these analyses;
4. Formulate independent judgements in an appropriately clear style and at an advanced level of complexity at level I/5;
5. Demonstrate the ability to work collaboratively;
6. Develop and apply effective presentation skills.
Teaching will be delivered through a combination of synchronous sessions and asynchronous activities, including seminars, lectures, and collaborative as well as self-directed learning opportunities supported by tutor consultation
1 x group presentation (25%), testing ILOs 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6
1 x 3000-word essay (75%), testing ILOs 1-4.
Set texts may vary from year to year, depending on staff research interests, but
the following list is illustrative of the range that will be on offer:
Primary Sources: - Maragall, Joan (1909). Oda Nova a Barcelona. - Pla, Josep (1966). El Quadern Gris. - Rodoreda, Mercè (1938). Aloma. - Rodoreda, Mercè (1962). La Plaça del Diamant. - Verdaguer, Jacint (1883). A Barcelona. Secondary Sources / Introductory Reading: - Aibar, Eduardo et al. (1997) Constructing a City: The Cerdà Plan for the Extension of Barcelona. - Boyd, Carolyn P. (2008) The Politics of History and Memory in Democratic Spain. - Eaude, Michael (2007). Catalonia: A Cultural History. - Fernández, Antoni S (2013) Teaching the History of Catalonia: Past, Present and ‘Futures’. - McRoberts, Kenneth (2001). Catalonia: Nation Building without a State.
