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HU Credits:
2
Degree/Cycle:
1st degree (Bachelor)
Responsible Department:
Spanish & Lat. Amer. Studies
Semester:
1st Semester
Teaching Languages:
Hebrew
Campus:
Mt. Scopus
Course/Module Coordinator:
Prof. Aldina Quintana-Rodriguez
Coordinator Office Hours:
Wednesday, 14:15-11:15 By appointment (set via email).
Teaching Staff:
Prof Aldina Quintana-Rodriguez
Course/Module description:
The objective of this course is for the student to become familiar with the social and cultural diversity of Spain today, taking into account the various political, economic and social currents that have contributed to its development throughout the 20th century, especially since the sixties. This course requires students to search the Internet to expand their knowledge of the cultural landscape of Spanish society.
Course/Module aims:
Spain is a country of many languages, cultural traditions, and customs - perhaps more than any other nation in Western Europe - and it has been able to create a vibrant democracy that also gives a maximum of local self-expression to this cultural diversity. Although many Israelis have visited Spain, they have very little knowledge of its language, society, institutions, traditions, literature, music, cuisine, sports, religious character, holidays and way of life, or the current social, political, and economic issues. Many still have a monolithic, stereotyped Spain image based on bullfighting, gypsies, and flamenco scenes. Others reduce its history to the time of Al-Andalus or contemplate the Jews' expulsion as if time had stopped at that point. If they get to talk about the Civil War, Stalinist propaganda still seems to be alive. This course aims to introduce the students in the study of current Spanish society and convey to them a holistic knowledge of the fundamental concepts and ideas that have shaped modern-day Spanish society and fashioned its identity. Last but not least, the purpose is to correct that distorted vision and demolish the cliché on which it is based.
Learning outcomes - On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:
• to approach the Spanish socio-cultural reality.
• to participate in meaningful discussions about the Spanish history, society and culture in a reasonable way.
• Students will develop their critical thinking and their observation, research, and interpretation skills.
Attendance requirements(%):
100
Teaching arrangement and method of instruction:
Reading of specific short articles (in English) that the teacher will distribute weekly through Moodle. In addition, students are expected to do their own bibliographical and web research.
Virtual fieldtrips and visits to museums, institutions, local popular festivals and historical areas of Spain play a remarkable roll in the structure of the course. Thus, students are expected to take notes and explain aspects of what they have seen at least once during the course.
Students will write an individual brief research paper (max. 5 pages) about a relevant topic related to the course content.
Course/Module Content:
The course includes the following topics (always subject to small changes, depending on the pace of the classes):
1. Introduction: Geography and Society;
2. Spain in the 21st-Century: History (From Iberia to the 21st-Century);
3. Spain in the 21st-Century: Politics and Economy (Spanish Political, Linguistic and Economic Diversity);
4. Spain in the 21st-Century: Culture and the Arts (Literature, Music, Film, Plastic Art);
5. Spain in the 21st-Century: Religion (Catholic, Jewish, Muslims in the present and the past);
6. Spain in the 21st-Century: Gender and Social Changes;
7. Spain in the 21st-Century: Science, Technology, Architecture;
8. Spain in the 21st-Century: Migration and Foreign Relation (EU, Africa, Latin America, Middle East, Asia);
9. Spain in the 21st-Century: Leisure, Tradition, Entertainment (Sport, Folklore, Pop Culture).
These topics will be combined with virtual visits to different web pages or the projection of fragments of documentaries or films (in English or with subtitles).
Required Reading:
Specific readings distribute weekly through Moodle, and consultation of specific web pages.
Additional Reading Material:
None.
Course/Module evaluation:
End of year written/oral examination 0 %
Presentation 0 %
Participation in Tutorials 30 %
Project work 0 %
Assignments 20 %
Reports 0 %
Research project 0 %
Quizzes 0 %
Other 50 %
Take-home
Additional information:
-Students are expected to do the readings assigned before class.
-Each student should make a 5-minute presentation or submit a report of up to one page on some of the places that will be visited virtually during the course.
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