RLSP 201
The Cultures of Spain Fall 2013
Division I
This is not the current course catalog

Linguistically, culturally, and historically Spain is a composite of the groups that have inhabited the peninsula in the past, which include Iberians, Celts, Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans, Visigoths, Arabs, and Jews. The contributions of these different groups, combined with other factors such as geography and climate, will be our starting point in understanding Spain’s past. Today, Spain’s cultural diversity also reflects the many distinct autonomous regions of which the country is composed, such as Cataluna and the Basque country, and the recent influx of immigrants from all over the world. In this course we will consider Spain past and present. We will study periods of tolerance and cultural brilliance, such as the co-existence of Arabs and Jews in Medieval Cordoba, as well as times of violence, censorship and repression such as the Inquisition, the Civil War and the post-war under Franco. Materials will include representative works from literature, art, architecture, music, and film. Secondary texts will also be provided for historical and socio-political background and reference. Conducted in Spanish.