Spanish Program Courses
Spring 2024 OfferingsFall 2023 Offerings Summer 2023 Offerings Course Info on SIS Archives
Course Descriptions
The list below includes descriptions of all undergraduate and graduate courses offered by the Spanish Program.
Review specific course requirements for a BA in Spanish or Minor in Spanish. For up-to-date information on course offerings, schedules, room locations and registration, please visit the Student Information System (SIS).
SPN 0001 Elementary Spanish I. This course uses the communicative approach to teach listening comprehension, speaking, reading, writing and culture. In particular, it promotes the development of oral/aural skills and the practical use of language in a variety of social situations. Conducted in Spanish. No prerequisites.
SPN 0002 Elementary Spanish II. Continuation of Spanish 001. The course advances and completes the study of basic grammar and vocabulary. It provides the linguistic skills and cultural information needed in a broad range of situations met when studying, working or traveling in a Spanish-speaking country. Students must also register for a recitation section that consists of a weekly 40-minute conversation group. Conducted in Spanish. Prerequisite: Spanish 001 or consent.
SPN 0003 Intermediate Spanish I. Improvement of listening comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing of Spanish. Class discussions, compositions, and journaling to increase practical vocabulary and awareness of Spanish-speaking cultures. Review of elementary grammatical structures and vocabulary. Students must register for conversations with native speakers. Conducted in Spanish. Prerequisite: Spanish 002 or consent.
SPN 0004 Intermediate Spanish II. Develops Spanish language proficiency sufficient for conversations on practical and cultural topics and current events. Class discussions, compositions, and journaling to increase vocabulary and awareness of Spanish-speaking cultures. Continuing grammar review. Students must register for a recitation. Conducted in Spanish. Prerequisite: Spanish 0003 or consent.
SPN 0005 Intermediate Spanish For Heritage Students. An introduction to Spanish grammar created specifically for heritage Spanish speakers, and for students who understand and speak Spanish thanks to extensive exposure to the language in a non-academic setting. Designed to provide ample practice in writing, vocabulary expansion and grammatical awareness, as well as an understanding of the sociocultural diversity of the Spanish-speaking world. Strong focus on the development of reading and writing skills. Discussions based on cultural topics to improve cultural competency, listening and speaking skills. Conducted in Spanish. Prerequisite: Placement exam, SPN 03 or consent.
SPN 0006 Peruvian Spanish in Context. Small group language instruction for Civic Semester Peru participants. Reading, writing, and discussion practice with an emphasis on local vocabulary and language use. Exposure to Spanish through site visits and engagement with community organizations.
SPN 0021 Composition And Conversation I. The course combines written and oral/aural practice of Spanish through oral reports, compositions, class discussions and debates on assigned topics, articles, songs, short literary works, and films. It offers a review of more advanced grammatical structures with the aim of achieving greater accuracy. Students are required to register for a recitation section that consists of a weekly 40-minute conversation group. Conducted in Spanish. Prerequisite: Spanish 004, Spanish 005 or consent.
SPN 0022 Composition And Conversation II. This course continues the grammar review begun in Spanish 021 with emphasis on written and oral expression of Spanish through compositions, oral reports and class discussions. Material for discussions includes literary texts, films, and topics of general interest. Students are required to register for a recitation section that consists of a weekly 40-minute conversation group. Conducted in Spanish. Prerequisite: Spanish 021 or consent.
SPN 0023 Spanish For Heritage Learners. This course develops and expands reading and writing skills for students with ability to comprehend and speak Spanish due to their heritage or to extensive non academic experience with the language. It includes the study of grammar and stylistics, differences in regional dialects, vocabulary expansion and effective communication based on literary and cultural readings as well as films. Students will read the novel "Cien años de soledad" , do oral presentations, compositions, quizzes and exams. Conducted in Spanish. Prerequisite: Spanish 21 or consent.
SPN 0024 Fundamentals Of Spanish Translation. A theoretical and practical introduction to the tools utilized in the analysis, transposition, and reconstruction of text in an alternate code. Consideration of the contrasts and similarities between languages. Translation exercises using journalistic fragments, short essays, and technical writing.
SPN 0029 The Latino Writing Experience. (Cross-listed as LAS 29). Creative writing course in prose fiction, taught in English. Writing may be in English and/or Spanish. Cross-listed with Latino Studies.
SPN 0030 Modern Spanish Literature: 18th to 21st Century. Readings in Spanish peninsular literature from the 18th century to the present which record Spain's movement towards modernity through themes of conflict between science and religion, liberal and traditional values. Emerging literary movements that contributed to this discourse, such as Romanticism and Realism, will be studied within their historical context. Authors may include Galdós, Pardo Bazán, Unamuno, García Lorca, Carmen Laforet, Paloma Pedrero. Class discussions, writing assignments, midterm and final. Conducted in Spanish. Not for senior majors or for students returning from programs abroad. Recommendations: Spanish 22 or consent.
SPN 0031 Latin American Literature from Nation-Building to the 21st Century. A survey of Latin American literature from the early nineteenth century to the twenty-first. From nation-building texts (Bolívar, Sarmiento) and Modernist poetry and prose through the groundbreaking trends of the twentieth and twenty first century, such as Regionalist and Indigenist narrative, Magical Realism, the "boom" in the Latin American letters of the sixties and seventies, and more recent and postmodern texts. Writers include Rubén Dario, Pablo Neruda, Gabriel García Márquez, Jorge Luis Borges, and others. Historical context as well as literary analysis. Conducted in Spanish. Not for seniors or for students returning from programs abroad. Recommendations: SPN 22 or equivalent.
SPN 0032 Medieval and Early Modern Spanish Literature. This course focuses on works of Spanish literature written between the 11th and 17th centuries. Texts studied span the Middle Ages, an era of intense cultural exchange between the Christians, Muslims, and Jews, through the Renaissance and Baroque period, also known as the Spanish Golden Age. Masterpieces of poetry, theater and prose will be discussed within the historical context of early modern Spain in its pursuit of imperial power. Lectures, class discussion, exams, and papers. Conducted in Spanish. Not for senior majors or for students returning from programs abroad. Recommendations: Spanish 22 or consent.
SPN 0033 Latin American Literature from Colonial Times to Nation-Building. Traces the development of Latin American literature from the earliest chronicles of discovery and conquest of the 16th century to nation-building literature of the early 19th century. Reading of key works of prose, poetry and other genres from various cultures of Spanish America (including indigenous) as well as see video clips or films related to the topics under study. Authors include Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz, Inca Garcilaso, Bernal Diaz among others. Emphasis on historical context as well as literary analysis. Varied writing assignments, oral presentations and exams; class participation is essential. Conducted in Spanish. Not for senior majors or for students returning from programs abroad. Recommendations: Spanish 22 or consent.
SPN 0050 Latin American Civilization. (Cross-listed as LAS 50) An introductory study of the main issues and debates that have shaped Latin American culture and civilization. Particular emphasis on current issues in both mainstream and alternative forms of cultural production, expressed through a variety of forms, ranging from art and music to films and essays. Conducted in English. Students may not receive credit for both SPN 50 and 150.
SPN 0091 Special Topics. (Conducted in English.) Courses on various topics in Spanish peninsular or Latin American literature or civilization.
SPN 0092 Special Topics. (Conducted in English.) Courses on various topics in Spanish peninsular or Latin American literature or civilization.
SPN 0093 Independent Study. (Conducted in English.) Guided individual study of an approved topic in Spanish peninsular or Latin American literature or civilization.
SPN 0094 Independent Study. (Conducted in English.) Guided individual study of an approved topic in Spanish peninsular or Latin American literature or civilization.
SPN 0096 Special Tps:study Abroad. No description at this time.
SPN 0097 Special Tps:study Abroad. No description at this time.
SPN 0099 Internship. No description at this time.
SPN 0101 Latin American Theatre. Development of Latin American theater from its original European affiliation to its current distinct characteristics in form, theme, and mode of production. Emphasis on the assimilation of the Western dramatic tradition to popular and native modes of performance. Discussion of single-author plays and collective creation groups. Conducted in Spanish. Recommended: Two 30-level Spanish courses or consent of the instructor.
SPN 0102 Latin American Short Story. Development of the Latin American short story in the 20th and 21st centuries. Examination of a wide array of short stories in their historical, literary, and cultural contexts. Topics may include short narrative as a genre, the relationship between fiction and history, metafiction, and larger questions of identity. Conducted in Spanish. Recommended: Two 30-level Spanish courses or consent of the instructor.
SPN 0103 Contemporary Latin American Novel. Development of the Latin American novel in the 20th and 21st centuries.
Examination of a wide array of novels in their historical, literary and cultural contexts. Authors may include Adolfo Bioy Casares, Juan Rulfo, Gabriel García Márquez, among others. Conducted in Spanish. Recommended: Two 30-level courses or consent.
SPN 0104 Poetry In Spanish America. (Cross-listed as LAS 104) Introduction to the rich Spanish-American poetic tradition developed throughout the 20th century. Poets may include Martí, Darío, Vallejo, Neruda, Borges, Mistral, and Palés Matos. Introduction to critical concepts and ideas traditionally used to think about poetry. Topics include diversity of cultural contexts, avant-garde movements, larger questions of memory and identity, and debates on the public role of poets and poetry. Conducted in Spanish. Recommended: Two 30-level Spanish courses or consent of the instructor.
SPN 0105 The Dictator In The Latin American Novel. Historical, political, and social aspects of dictatorship in Latin America as seen in novels of Valle-Inclán, García Márquez, Carpentier, and Martín Luis Guzmán, among others. Conducted in Spanish. Recommended: Two 30-level Spanish courses or consent of the instructor.
SPN 0106 Literature And Revolution: Mexico And Cuba. Fiction reflecting the Mexican Revolution of 1910 and the Cuban Revolution of 1959. The Mexican conflict as seen in novels by Mariano Azuela, Martín Luis Guzmán, Agustín Yañez, Juan Rulfo, and Carlos Fuentes. The Cuban Revolution in Edmundo Desnoes's Memorias del subdesarrollo and in short stories and poetry of the past twenty-five years. Recommendations: SPN 31 or 34, and 32 or 35, or permission of instructor.
SPN 0107 Testimonial Literature Of Latin America. (Cross-listed with LAS 107) Exploration of testimonial and chronicle writing that redefines the scope of fiction and journalism by transforming factual information into experienced accounts of a given reality. Examination of how this genre intertwines with questions of truth and writing in Latin America. Course may include works and films from Cuba, Bolivia, Mexico, Guatemala, and Argentina. Conducted in Spanish. Recommended: Two 30-level Spanish courses or consent of the instructor.
SPN 0108 Latin American Women Writers. Works in various genres by women from South America, Central America, and the Caribbean, ranging from the 17th-century Mexican Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz to emerging writers of the 21st century. Authors may include Alfonsina Storni, Nancy Morejón, Luisa Valenzuela, Cristina Peri Rossi, and Samanta Schweblin. Conducted in Spanish. Recommended: Two 30-level Spanish courses or consent of the instructor.
SPN 0111 Latino American Literature. No description at this time.
SPN 0121 Advanced Composition And Conversation I. Practice and improvement of oral and written skills in Spanish in a variety of contexts and situations, both formal and informal. Reading of daily texts to serve as a backbone for the in-class activities. This course covers different literary genres: poetry, drama, and prose, as well as other forms of art (film, photography, comics, etc.). Creative and analytical writings will follow and reflect upon these genres. There is a grammar review, organized by A Handbook of Contemporary Spanish Grammar. Three tests, three live conversations with native speakers, an oral exam, one project on poetry, three short reflections/creative writing and a final project. No final exam. Not for native speakers or for those who have studied in Spanish-speaking countries. Prerequisites: SPN 22, SPN 23, or consent.
SPN 0122 Advanced Composition And Conversation II. This course aims to improve the student's written and oral expression. The focus of the course will be four-fold: the discussion and critique of daily reading assignments; the creation of creative and analytical work; the study of key grammar points; and the study of colloquial expressions in Spanish. Seven one-page reflections, four longer creative/ analytical papers (2-3 pages), grammar and activities in class, two skits, two grammar quizzes, and a project-based midterm and final. Conducted in Spanish. Prerequisite: Spanish 121 or 23, or equivalent.
SPN 0123 Advanced Spanish Grammar. Spanish grammar has never been more useful! In this class, you will review concepts and techniques that focus on the application of grammar to communication in contemporary Spanish in formal and informal situations. We will review the finer uses of verb tenses, mood, and voice in addition to the semantic and sociolinguistic aspects of language so you can learn to communicate using advanced Spanish in any situation you face. Conducted in Spanish. Recommendations: One course above Spanish 22 or consent.
SPN 0124 Spanish To English Translation Workshop. Techniques to mediate the contrasting communicative strategies of Spanish and English, emphasizing lexical differences and options. Methodical use of mono- and bilingual dictionaries and other reference materials, including web-based tools, to explore the complexity of the lexicon and the background knowledge necessary for a closer reading of Spanish. Translation assignments in literature, humanistic social sciences, and early creative journalism exemplified by Gabriel García Márquez. Conducted in Spanish. Recommended: Two courses above Spanish 22 or consent of the instructor.
SPN 0125 English To Spanish Translation Workshop. Concepts, techniques, and translation skills applied to the translation of English into Spanish. Journalistic, academic, and literary texts from Latin America and the Latino community in the US, including Tomás Rivera, Jesús Colón, and Sandra Cisneros. Exploration of issues regarding the theory and practice of translation. An effective way to consolidate the command of the syntax and lexicon of the foreign language. Recommended: Two courses above Spanish 22 or consent of the instructor.
SPN 0128 Medical Spanish. This course provides an overview of the practice of medical interpretation in Spanish. Students will build their skills in communications, ethics, and medical vocabulary while exploring cultural and advocacy questions. It offers students an opportunity to practice interpretation in a simulated medical setting. Role-play, cultural readings, vocabulary expansion, videos and a movie will be used in class discussions. This course will be taught in Spanish. Recommendations: SPN 22 or consent.
SPN 0129 Creative Writing In Spanish. In this course students will write creative works in Spanish in four genres: short story, personal essay, theater and poetry. Following the reading of selected works in each area, students will develop, revise and complete original work. After a combination of theory and creative modeling, students will engage in extensive brainstorming, outlining, writing and revising, in and out of class, on both their own work and that of peers, to not only understand the dynamics of each genre from a theoretical and practical perspective, but to also gain expertise in the creation and appreciation of each genre through the development of their own writing. The ultimate goal is for each student to compile a personal anthology of her/his work done in this course. Recommendations: Two courses above Spanish 22 or consent of the instructor.
SPN 0130 Civilization Of Muslim Spain. Historical outline of the Islamic culture of Spain from 711 to 1492. Readings in Islamic law and Islamic mysticism, poetry (translated from Arabic), and philosophical works from Spain. Some parallel Jewish works of poetry (translated from Hebrew), philosophy, and mysticism from Spain. Examination of art, architecture, and music. Conducted in Spanish. Recommended: Two 30-level Spanish courses or consent of the instructor.
SPN 0131 Spanish Literature Of The Middle Ages. Major poetic and prose works of medieval Spanish literature read in the original texts. Works may include “El Poema del Cid” and epic poetry, Berceo and the mester de clerecía, El Conde Lucanor, El libro de buen amor, and La Celestina as a work of transition. Conducted in Spanish. Recommended: Two 30-level Spanish courses or consent of the instructor.
SPN 0140 Spanish Civilization. Spanish cultural history as reflected in essays, novels, newspapers, music, and films. Topics include Spain of the three religions, the Golden Age of Imperial Spain, Spanish women and men in the 19th and 20th centuries, the Spanish Civil War, and the contemporary context. Conducted in Spanish. Recommended: Two 30-level courses or consent of the instructor.
SPN 0141 Spanish Drama Of The Siglo De Oro. An intensive study of Golden Age drama, with special attention to the works of Lope de Vega, Tirso de Molina, and Calderón de la Barca, among others. Conducted in Spanish. Recommended: Two 30-level Spanish courses or consent of the instructor.
SPN 0142 Don Quijote. A careful reading of both books of Don Quijote (1605 and 1615) as expressions of the Renaissance and Baroque visions of man and his destiny. Conducted in Spanish. Recommended: Two 30-level Spanish courses or consent of the instructor.
SPN 0143 Exemplary Narrative of the Golden Age. Close reading of the short story collections of two of the most innovative authors of the period, Miguel de Cervantes and María de Zayas. Analysis of their respective collections of tales, known as novelas ejemplares, designed to instruct as well as entertain. Examination of the novelas as well as Zayas' cautionary desengaños within the historical and literary context of the Baroque period, with focus on the unstable representation of gender and identity in 17th-century Spanish society. Conducted in Spanish. Recommended: Two 30-level Spanish courses or consent of the instructor.
SPN 0144 Spanish Lyric Poetry Of The Siglo De Oro. New poetry arising from the Renaissance vision of man and the world, studied from its beginnings at the court of the Emperor Charles V through its manifestations in the works of mystics and humanists of the Counter-Reformation, together with the traditionalist reaction to it. Poets may include Garcilaso, Aldana, San Juan de la Cruz, and Fray Luis de León. Conducted in Spanish. Recommended: Two 30-level Spanish courses or consent of the instructor.
SPN 0146 Spanish In The Community. Application of academic study of Spanish language and Hispanic cultures to volunteer work in bilingual situations with organizations that serve Latino communities. Focus on the history, literature, and politics of Puerto Ricans on the island and the mainland and the experiences of Salvadorans and Mexicans in their native countries and in the United States. Minimum of four hours of volunteer work per week. In Spanish. Prerequisite: At least two courses above SPN 0022 or consent. Native Spanish-speakers require consent of the instructor.
SPN 0147 Business Spanish Seminar. Course aimed at giving students the skills to conduct business in Spanish – from business-specific vocabulary to a general understanding of business practices in the Spanish-speaking world. Readings and discussions focus on such topics as cultural differences between the US and Spanish-speaking countries, human resources, real estate, marketing, and investment banking. Students will also do case studies. Recommended: Two courses above Spanish 22 or consent. This course is not open to native Spanish-speakers without consent.
SPN 0148 Health in the Spanish-Speaking World. This course considers the social determinants of health in Latin America. We will explore the impact that a variety of factors, including social status, sex, age, education, and culture have on an individual's access to health services. Students will examine health systems in several Latin American countries, including Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Peru. Special attention will be paid to such topics as women and health, nutrition and child and infant health, pesticide use, and HIV-AIDS. Texts include scholarly articles, narrative, poetry, and film. Oral presentations, 3 short papers, final project, and an exam. Conducted in Spanish. Prerequisite: Two courses above 22 or consent.
SPN 0150 Latin American Civilization. (Cross-listed as LAS 150) Introductory study of the main issues and debates that have shaped Latin American culture and civilization. Emphasis on current issues in both mainstream and alternative forms of cultural production, expressed through a variety of forms, ranging from art and music to films and essays. Conducted in Spanish. Students may not receive credit for both SPN 50 and 150. Recommended: Two courses above Spanish 22 or consent of the instructor.
SPN 0151 New Latin American Film. This course analyzes some representative films of past and current Latin American schools of cinema: the Brazilian Cinema Novo, Argentine "Tercer Cinema", the Cuban "Cinema de la Revolución", Mexican post – revolutionary film, Andean " indigenista" film, and contemporary production. The purpose is not only to familiarize the students with canonical directors such as Glauber Rocha, Fernando Birri, Tomás Gutiérrez Alea, Jorge Sanjinés, Carlos Diegues, Walter Salles, and Armando Robles Godoy, but also with new directors and with the social, political and cultural contexts of their work. Conducted in Spanish. Prerequisite: Two SPN-0030-level courses or instructor’s consent.
SPN 0152 Latin American Cinema. Examination of the history of Latin American film focusing on key political moments. Using a variety of theoretical approaches, an exploration of the relation between form and content, from melodrama to political documentaries to the most recent trends in a number of countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Cuba, and Mexico. Directors discussed may include Luis Buñuel, Alejandro Iñárritu, Fernando Pérez, Fernando Meirelles, Lucretia Martel, and Albertina Carri. Conducted in Spanish. Recommended: Two 30-level Spanish classes or consent of the instructor.
SPN 0153 Borges and the Encyclopedia of the World. The works of Jorge Luis Borges already occupy a major place in the canon of twentieth century literature. One of the key features of those works is the permanent dialogue Borges engaged in with literatures and ideas from a wide range of cultures and traditions: Jewish mysticism, the Arabian Nights, the poetry of Walt Whitman, or Buddhism, to mention just a few examples, are part of this dialogue. This course has a double goal. On the one hand, to introduce new readers to the world of what we call the Borgesian: a world made of infinite libraries, tiny universes, unforgettable objects, invented writers. On the other hand, to explore those dialogues Borges developed with other cultures. We will also consider the conditions in which dialogues between languages and cultures can occur, as well as the role and significance of translation. Readings will include some of Borges' major stories and essays, and also lectures and conversations, trying to offer a most complete portrait of this central figure of contemporary literature. Prerequisite: Two 30 level courses or consent.
SPN 0154 Experiments with Reality in Latin American Fiction. Exploration of mainstream fiction produced in Latin America that departs from realistic models to develop different registers that range from literatura fantástica to literature of the absurd, magic realism, nonsense, parables or allegorical forms. Focus on the intellectual and creative forces driving these major literary modes. Authors may include Jorge Luis Borges, Felisberto Hernández, Silvina Ocampo, Juan Rulfo, Gabriel García Márquez, Virgilio Piñera, Carolina Sanín, and Samanta Schweblin. Conducted in Spanish. Recommended: Two 30-level Spanish courses or consent of the instructor.
SPN 0155 Film and Representation in Latin America. (Cross-listed as LAS 156) Exploration of the different ways recent Latin American films have dealt with the issue of representation. Focus on a number of topics such as political unrest, sexuality, and immigration. Analysis of the effect camera techniques and editing have on the stories conveyed, both in documentaries as well as in fiction-films. May include films from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, and Uruguay. Conducted in Spanish. Recommended: Two 30-level Spanish courses or consent of the instructor.
SPN 0156 Afro-Latin American Literature. Literary and historical analysis tracing the African roots of different Latin American regions, including Brazil, from the colonial period through the contemporary one. Impact of slavery and multiracial societies on literary and artistic expressions and on the formation of national identities through fiction, poetry, autobiography, music, and film. Prerequisites: Completion of one Spanish 30-level course, or permission of instructor.
SPN 0158 Puerto Rican Literature and Culture: The Floating Nation and the Flying Bus. Examination of Puerto Rican literature and culture with emphasis on interpretations of Puerto Rican identity, the statehood debate, narrative of immigration, and works of Nuyorican writers. Authors may include Luis Palés Matos, Ana Lydia Vega, Rosario Ferré, Mayra Santos-Febres, Tato Laviera, and Pedro Juan Soto. Conducted in Spanish. Recommended: Two 30-level Spanish courses or consent of the instructor.
SPN 0159 Mapping the Latin American Metropolis. How do we read a city? This course explores the process of modernization in Latin America through fiction, film, and the redesigning of the spatial landscapes. From the rebuilding of Medellín to the Latinization of L.A. we analyze the cultural and political transformations Latin American cities have undergone from a variety of perspectives, unpacking how those changes have been represented in film, literature and art. Readings include works by Roberto Arlt, Angel Rama, Clarice Lispector and Fernando Vallejo, among others, as well as films by Brazilian, Mexican, and Cuban directors. Recommendations: Two 30 level courses or consent.
SPN 0164 Modern Spanish Poetry. Spanish poetry of the 19th and 20th centuries, considered in the context of changes in the European sensibility and continental philosophical currents. Modern poetry traced from its roots in Romanticism through symbolism, modernism, and surrealism to the social and existentialist poetry of this century. Authors may include Espronceda, Bécquer, Darío, Unamuno, Machado, Jiménez, Salinas, Guillén, Alberti, and Lorca. Conducted in Spanish. Recommended: Two 30-level Spanish courses or consent of the instructor.
SPN 0170 The Generation Of 1898. Novels, essays, poetry, and plays by the most important writers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries in Spain: Unamuno, Valle-Inclán, Baroja, Azorín, Machado, Benavente, among others. Conducted in Spanish. Recommended: Two 30-level Spanish courses or consent of the instructor.
SPN 0171 Literature and Film of Post-Civil War Spain. Study of literature and films produced in Spain between 1939 and 1975, an era of censorship under the Franco dictatorship. Emphasis on the artists’ representation of reality and its comparison with the “New Spain” envisioned by the regime. Works by Buero Vallejo, Sastre, Martín Gaite, García Berlanga, Bardem and Buñuel. Conducted in Spanish. Recommended: Two 30-level Spanish courses or consent of the instructor.
SPN 0172 Memory & Reclaiming the Past. Examination of the role of memory in recreating the past, once official censorship of the Franco dictatorship ended in 1975 with the coming of a democratic government. Through a study of late 20th early 21st-century novels and films based on the Spanish Civil War and the Franco regime, special attention will be paid to metafiction, collective memory, and the Law of Historical Memory. May include works by Martín Gaite, García Berlanga, Martín Patino, Cercas, Riera, Rosa, and Trapiello. Conducted in Spanish. Recommended: Two 30-level Spanish courses or consent of the instructor.
SPN 0173 Twentieth-century Spanish Prose. Exploration of the 20th-century novel as a tool of philosophic speculation, challenging the nature of the genre. Emphasis on the representation of Spaniards, Spain, and the nature of man through periods of hope and despair, climaxing in the Spanish Civil War. Authors may include Ortega y Gasset, Baroja, Unamuno, Machado, Pérez de Ayala, Miró, and Cela. Conducted in Spanish. Recommended: Two 30-level Spanish courses or consent of the instructor.
SPN 0174 Saints & Sinners: Images of Women in Hispanic Literature. Examination of the representation of women in Hispanic Literature as either paragons of virtue or practitioners and disseminators of vice and desire. Focus on the authors’ representations of gender as not only a biological but also a social and political construct will be supplemented by readings of philosophical, scientific and religious views of women's nature from classical times through the late 19th century. Authors may include Berceo, Santa Teresa de Ávila, Fray Luis de León, Cervantes, Zayas, Pardo Bazán, Valle-Inclán and Lorca. Conducted in Spanish. Recommended: Two 30-level courses or consent.
SPN 0175 Enchantment & Fantasy in Spanish Literature. Exploration of the treatment of the themes of fantasy and enchantment as they emerged in 19th-century Spain, a period shaped by civil war and defined by the opposing ideals of Romanticism and Realism. Authors may include Bécquer, Clarín, Valera, Pardo Bazán, and Galdós. Their diverse treatment of magical and supernatural elements in short fiction will be considered within the social, historical and literary background of Spain's tumultuous 19th century. Conducted in Spanish. Recommended: Two 30-level Spanish courses or consent of the instructor.
SPN 0176 Evolution of Heroic Figure. This course will trace the evolution of the heroic figure in early modern Spanish prose, poetry, and drama. We will examine the development of the hero as a prototype whose representation reflects the social, historic and cultural circumstances of the period. Gendered representations as well as counter-culture models of heroic behavior will also be considered as we focus on identifying the compelling and uniquely Hispanic conceptualization of heroism during the Golden Age of Spanish literary production. Readings include works by Garcilaso de la Vega, Miguel de Cervantes, Lope de Vega, Calderón de la Barca and María de Zayas. Midterm and final exams, oral presentations, 1 paper (8-10 pp). Prerequisite: Two level 30 courses or consent.
SPN 0177 Mirroring Strategies of Modern Spanish Theater. Study of 20th- and 21st-century Spanish theatrical texts as mirrors of society. Focus on the relationship between playwright, social context, and stylistic innovation. Readings may include works by Valle-Inclán, García Lorca, Buero Vallejo, Sastre, Arrabal, and Pedrero. Conducted in Spanish. Recommended: Two 30-level Spanish courses or consent of the instructor.
SPN 0178 Women’s Voice in Spain and Latin America. This course focuses on the emergence of women's voices in 20th century Latin America and Spain through a representative sampling of essays, poetry, narrative and theater from both this and the early 21st century. We will examine the rich diversity of style and theme (gender, race, political violence, environmental concerns) as well as the historical context in which these voices took shape, beginning with the efforts to achieve equal rights for women during the early 1900's. Authors that may be included: Storni, Burgos, Castellanos, Martín Gaite, Ferré, Morejón, Rossetti, Chacón, Partnoy, Toledo Paz. Class discussion, oral presentations of scholarly articles, two papers, one exam. Prerequisite: Two 30 level courses or consent.
SPN 0179 Redefining Spain in Words and Images. Examination of 20th and 21st-century writers’ and filmmakers’ response to the major political and social upheavals of their times. Study of changing views of national identity through the lens of Spanish history, gender and immigration. Authors may include Unamuno, Machado, Chacón, Ortiz, Almodóvar, and Bollaín. Conducted in Spanish. Recommended: Two 30-level courses or consent.
SPN 0180 Icons of Latin America. Examination of some revolutionary and political figures including Tupac Amaru, Malinche, Simón Bolívar, Emiliano Zapata, Che Guevara, and Eva Perón, and visual, cultural, and literary figures such as Frida Kahlo, Carmen Miranda, Diego Maradona, and Pablo Neruda. Exploration of myths, historical realities, and misconceptions associated with them. Emphasis on historical contextualization to examine how the visual and literary renditions have fused with political events, both within Latin America and abroad, to construct these iconic figures. Co-taught and conducted in Spanish. Prerequisite: two 30-level Spanish courses or consent of the instructor.
SPN 0181 Women and Film in Latin America. Critical study of the representation of women in Latin American cinema. Beginning with Mexico's edad de oro (1930-1940) to the present, an exploration of the positioning of a gendered spectator, the role of melodrama, as well as issues of race and class in the construction of women's identity through film. Includes a variety of films, primarily from Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, Mexico and Peru. Conducted in Spanish. Recommended: Two 30-level Spanish courses or consent of the instructor.
SPN 0184 Mexican Cinema & Identity. This course will focus on the great films of 20th Century Mexico in order to study the pivotal moments in the creation of Mexican identity. We will go from Santa, the first sound film of Mexican cinema, by Antonio Moreno to the acclaimed Amores Perros, the film of Alejandro González Iñarritu among many others. While we study the films and their audiences, we will discuss the symbolic invention of the modern Mexican State from the post revolution to modern days, with a special emphasis on the "Mexican Miracle" films and its posterior critique in directors as Luis Estrada.
SPN 0185 - Poetics of Song in South America: Caetano Veloso, Luis Alberto Spinetta, and Jaime Roos. Study of the production of three major South American songwriters from the second half of the 20th century: Caetano Veloso from Brazil, Luis Alberto Spinetta from Argentina, and Jaime Roos from Uruguay. Musically, they draw both from the rich traditions of local genres and rhythms and from the Anglo tradition of rock and pop, while their lyrics are informed by avant-garde poetry, contemporary thought, popular traditions, as well as historical, ethical, or political concerns. The history of song in the West, the ways song has been thought or conceptualized, and the functions of song in contemporary society will also be considered. Conducted in Spanish. Recommended: Two 30-level Spanish courses or consent of the instructor.
SPN 0191 Special Topics. Courses on various topics in Spanish peninsular or Latin American literature or civilization. Conducted in Spanish. Prerequisite: Two 30-level courses or consent of the instructor.
SPN 0192 Special Topics. Courses on various topics in Spanish peninsular or Latin American literature or civilization. Conducted in Spanish. Recommendations: Two 30-level courses or consent of the instructor.
SPN 0193 Independent Study. Guided individual study of an approved topic in Spanish peninsular or Latin American literature or civilization. Variable credit. No more than one Independent Study may be counted toward the major. Conducted in Spanish. Prerequisite: Two 30-level Spanish courses and one 100-level literature course, or consent of the instructor.
SPN 0194 Independent Study. Guided individual study of an approved topic in Spanish peninsular or Latin American literature or civilization. Variable credit. No more than one Independent Study may be counted toward the major. Conducted in Spanish. Prerequisite: Two 30-level Spanish courses and one 100-level literature course, or consent of the instructor.
SPN 0195 Special Tps: Study Abroad. No description at this time.
SPN 0196 Special Tps: Study Abroad. No description at this time.
SPN 0199 Honors Thesis A. Open to qualified students. Conducted in Spanish. Each semester counts as 4 credits towards a student’s credit load. Students will earn 8 credits at the end of the second semester. Prerequisite: Two 30-level courses and one 100-level literature course, or consent.
SPN 0199 - Honors Thesis B. Open to qualified students. Conducted in Spanish. Each semester counts as 4 credits towards a student’s credit load. Students will earn 8 credits at the end of the second semester. Prerequisite: Two 30-level courses and one 100-level literature course, or consent.
SPN 0294 Special Topics. No description at this time.