Studies in Spanish Literature: Text and Context I 3305-BLH1-1U
Spanish Literary Studies: Text and Context I focuses on trends in contemporary Spanish literature and culture from the last two decades of the 20th century and the 21st century. The course analyses themes and issues present in the cultural sphere, taking into account both the context in which texts are produced and their impact on contemporary social and cultural environments. On the one hand, it examines the conditions of artistic production and their influence on the form and content of cultural texts; on the other hand, it explores how these works participate in shaping and articulating current cultural and material discourses.
The course is interdisciplinary in nature and combines theoretical discussions of key trends in Spanish literature and culture with the analysis of selected literary, audio, and audiovisual texts. The syllabus includes theoretical texts, novels, films, music albums, and television series/programmes that illustrate the phenomena discussed in class.
Syllabus:
1. Introduction: Text in context, context in text. Selected categories of literary analysis.
2. Studies in Spanish popular culture. Song as an object of research.
3. Literary essay: Vicente Luis Mora, El lectoespectador (selected excerpts).
4. Modern deconstruction of the classical myth: on the contemporary Don Juan.
5. Engaged poetry and “poetry of normality”: poems by selected female and male authors.
6. Fairytale posthumanism: Irene Solà, Te di ojos y miraste las tinieblas.
7. The fantastic and its socio-political context: Cristina Fernández Cubas, David Roas, and Gemma Solsona Asensio (selected short stories).
8. The return to the countryside in contemporary Spanish culture.
9. Ecocriticism and environmental narratives in literature and film.
10. Migration and migrants – media and social discourse. On post-migrant society.
11. Contemporary Spanish children’s literature and its socio-political context.
Course coordinators
Term 2025Z: | Term 2026Z: |
Type of course
Mode
Prerequisites (description)
Learning outcomes
The student knows and understands: the specific subject matter and methodology of Hispanic literary studies, which they are able to develop creatively and apply in professional practice; they have an advanced knowledge of terminology and methodology in the field of prose genre theory; they know and understand the connections between literary studies and other disciplines within the humanities and social sciences; they possess in-depth knowledge of research and achievements of academic centres dealing with contemporary Spanish literature studies. (K_W01, K_W02, K_W04, K_W05, K_W06).
The student is able to: apply acquired research skills, including the critical analysis of literary texts, particularly prose works from Spanish-speaking countries; synthesize research ideas and perspectives and select appropriate methods of analysis and interpretation; develop and present analytical results that enable creative solutions to complex problems in Hispanic literary studies; independently acquire knowledge about contemporary prose literature and further develop their research skills, as well as undertake autonomous actions aimed at developing competencies and managing their own professional career; use acquired skills in understanding and producing oral and written texts with the appropriate terminology of literary studies (K_U01, K_U02, K_U03).
The student is also prepared to cooperate in a group and assume different roles within it (K_K01).
Assessment criteria
Teaching methods:
- mini-lectures introducing theoretical concepts;
- student-led presentations;
- group work, including the think–pair–share method;
- close (differential) reading;
- discussion.
Assessment criteria and passing threshold:
The course can be passed based on a passing grade (above 60%) on the oral final exam, which weighs 100% (50 points). A grade increase of up to 10% (5 points) can be achieved for active participation in the classes, such as presentations (up to 2 points), participation in in-class debates, and engagement in the analysis and interpretation of texts (up to 3 points).
Grading scale: 60–67% = 3.0 | 68–75% = 3.5 | 76–83% = 4.0 | 84–91% = 4.5 | 92–99% = 5.0 | 100% = 5!.
The exam assesses both the acquisition of knowledge regarding key theories and trends in Spanish literature and culture, as well as the development of analytical skills in working with literary, audio, and audiovisual texts.
The requirement for admission to the final exam is class participation. Attendance is mandatory. A maximum of two unexcused absences are permitted. In the case of more than two absences, whether excused or unexcused, the student is required to contact the course instructor to make up the missed content by attending the instructor's office hours or by completing an additional assignment. Missing 50% or more of the classes scheduled for a given academic semester will result in a 'not classified' (NK) status.
* The use of AI systems is not permitted during classes and when preparing presentations. The lecturer may use publicly available tools to determine the likelihood of undisclosed use of AI systems when verifying students’ work.
Practical placement
N/A
Bibliography
- Literary corpus
Abadía, Ximo, Dictador, 2018, Dibbuks..
Campos García, Jesús, d.juan@simetrico.es (La burladora de Sevilla y el Tenorio del siglo XXI). Asociación de Autores de Teatro y Consejería de Cultura de la Comunidad de Madrid, 2009.
Carrasco, Jesús, Intemperie. Seix Barral, 2013.
Equipo Plantel, Luci Gutiérrez, Kobiety i mężczyźni.
Equipo Plantel, Mikel Casal, Oto jest dyktatura.
Fernández Cubas, Cristina, La habitación de Nona (2015), selected short stories.
Mora, Vicente Luis, El lectoespectador. Deslizamientos entre literatura e imagen (2012).
Roas, David, Horrores cotidianos (2007), Monstruario (2021), selected short stories.
Solá, Irene, Te di ojos y miraste las tinieblas (2023).
Solsona Asensio, Gemma, Casa volada (2019), selected short stories.
- Audiovisual materials
Sorogoyen, Rodrigo, As bestas, Arcadia Motion Pictures, 2022.
- Music albums
Rosalía, El mal querer, Columbia Records, 2018.
Rosalía, Lux, Columbia Records, 2025.
- Theoretical texts
Becerra Mayor, David; Arias, Raquel; Sanz, Marta; Rodríguez, Julio, Qué hacemos con la literatura, Akal, 2013.
Gallardo-Saborido, Emilio J.; Geršak, Urša; Šabec, Maja (eds.), Literatura en práctica. Retos profesionales de lectura, traducción y edición en la era digital. Manual y cuaderno de actividades, 2024 (online access).
Gallego Cuiñas, Ana (ed.), Novísimas: Las narrativas latinoamericanas y españolas del siglo XXI. Madrid: Iberoamericana Vervuert.
Gregori i Gomis, Alfons, La dimensión política de lo real: el componente ideológico en la narrativa fantástica española y catalana, 2015.
Mora, Vicente Luis, Singularidades: ética y poética de la literatura española actual, 2006, Bartleby Editores.
Piglia, Ricardo, Tesis sobre el cuento, 1986.
Roas, David, Tras los límites de lo real. Una definición de lo fantástico, 2011, Editorial Páginas de Espuma.
Segarra, Marta, Humanimales, 2022, Galaxia Gutenberg.
Selden, Raman et al., La teoría literaria contemporánea. Barcelona: Ariel, 2002.
Sontag, Susan, Notes on “Camp” (1964/2023), La Micro Ediciones.
Storey, John, Cultural Theory and Popular Culture, Octaedro, 2002.