The module introduces first year students of Spanish (Advanced) tokey concepts in Spanish and Hispanic American history and culture. Short texts from different eras and a range of genres (historiography, narrative, drama, poetry, film) will be examined with regard to their context of production and specific way of constructing meaning. Basic critical concepts and methods for textual analysis will be introduced and applied to the materials studied.

• Demonstrate comprehension of the geographical and linguistic diversity of Spain and Hispanic America;
• Show a knowledge and understanding of key periods in history that shaped modern Spain and Hispanic America;
• Write discursively on a number of historical and cultural topics;
• Show familiarity with basic issues of literary and cultural history as relevant in the Hispanic context;
• Show awareness of and analyse formal aspects of texts written in Spanish;
• Analyse textual strategies in relation to the construction of meaning; and
• Express informed judgements about the Spanish and/or Hispanic American texts studied.

The module is team-taught by Spanish staff in weekly lectures and seminars. Lectures give an introduction to any given topic; they are a starting-point, designed to guide students’ own independent reading. Seminars will address in more detail specific aspects of the texts studied and give room for discussion.

• Close reading;
• Organisational skills;
• Study skills; and
• Presentation skills.

• Key concepts in the history of Spain and Hispanic America
• History and current status of the Spanish language
• Periods and concepts of Hispanic literary history, cultural history and film history
• Poetic forms
• Basic concepts of literary studies, film studies, and visual culture

A detailed syllabus containing a list of primary texts and relevant secondary reading will be provided at the beginning of the course.

A detailed syllabus containing a list of primary texts and relevant secondary reading will be provided at the beginning of the course.