SPANISH 45
SPANISH CIVILIZATION
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
1. COURSE INFORMATION
Professor
E-mail
Office
Phone
ACCENT Madrid Study Center
Office Hours
Class Location
& Times
2. COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course offers a survey of Spanish Culture and Civilization. It is based on key topics that built
contemporary Spanish society, those that will provide students with fundamental concepts and ideas to
understand the historical, sociological and anthropological development of all layers of Spanish population.
Each class will emphasize a specific topic that contributed to build Spanish culture. Starting with those that
place Spain in today’s world, it gradually increases complexity through the analysis of those civilizations that
crossed the Iberian Peninsula, focusing on the idea of multiple, cross path and diversity of Spanish identity.
3. COURSE OBJECTIVES
 Students will acquire a holistic understanding of the fundamental concepts and ideas that have shaped
contemporary Spanish society through the examination of the various civilizations and historical events
that have inhabited the Iberian Peninsula.
 Students will be able to participate in meaningful discussions about the Spanish history and culture.
 Students will develop their critical thinking and their observation, research, and interpretation skills.
 Students will be able to contrast the theoretical concepts with the Spanish socio-cultural reality during the
field trips and site visits.
4. TEACHING METHODOLOGY
The course textbook—Spanish Vignettes by Norman Berdichevsky—will be the point of departure for class
discussions. This textbook will be complemented with specific articles that the professor will handle when
needed. In addition, in order to acquire a higher academic level of understanding, students are expected to do
their own bibliographical and web research (see below).
Fieldtrips and site visits play a remarkable roll in the structure of the course. Half of the contact hours take
place in museums, local institutions, and historical areas of Madrid. Thus, students are expected to take notes
as well as play an active participation at any class moment and at any location.
5. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Required M aterials
Berdichevsky, Norman. Spanish Vignettes. Málaga: Santana Books, 2004.
Note: class and excursion dates are subject to change.
Rev: 6/2014
Recommended Materials
Allison, M., “The construction of youth in Spain in the 1980s and 1990s”, in: Jordan, B. & MorganTamosunas, R. (eds.) (2000), pp. 265-273.
Alted, A, “The Republican and Nationalist Wartime Cultural Apparatus” “Education and Political Control”,
in: Graham & Labanyi (eds.) (1995), pp. 152-160, 196-200.
Carr, R. (2001) “Liberalism and Reaction 1833-1931”, in: Spain a History, Oxford University Press, pp. 205242.
Corkill, D. “Race, Immigration and multiculturalism in Spain” in: Jordan, B. & Morgan-Tamosunas, R. (eds.)
(2000), pp. 48-57
Díaz, E. “The Left and the Legacy of Francoism: Political Culture in Opposition”, in: Graham & Labanyi
(eds.) (1995): pp. 283-290.
Elorza, A., “Some perspectives on the Nation – State and the Autonomies in Spain”, in: Graham & Labanyi
(eds.) (1995), pp. 332 -335.
Graham, H. “Women and Social Change”, in: Graham & Labanyi (eds.) (1995), pp. 99 – 115.
Graham & Labanyi (eds.) (1995). Spanish Cultural Studies. An Introduction, New York, Oxford University Press.
Hooper, John. (2006). The New Spaniards. London: Penguin Books.
Jordan, B. & Morgan-Tamosunas, R. (eds.) (2000). Contemporary Spanish Cultural Studies. London, Arnold.
Montero, E. “Reform Idealized: The Intellectual and Ideological Origins of the Second Republic”, “The
Silent Revolution: The Social and Cultural Advances of Women in Democratic Spain” in: Graham &
Labanyi (eds.) (1995), 124-132, 381-385.
Payne, Stanley (1973). A history of Spain and Portugal, University of Wisconsin Press, pp. 178-187. and 415-488.
Triana, N., “A punk called Pedro: la movida in the films of Pedro Almodovar”, in Jordan, B. & MorganTamosunas, R. (eds.) (2000), pp. 274-282.
VV.AA., “General Impressions “, in: Thomas, H. (ed.) (2005), pp. 47-62.
Williams, Mark. (2000). The Story of Spain. Fuengirola: Santana Books.
Online References and Research Tools
History of Spain: www.sispain.org/english/history
Wikipedia also has a quite thorough history of Madrid and Spain
Comprehensive list of scholarly resources on Spanish History:
www.library.yale.edu/rsc/history/spanhist
Tourism Institute of Spain (TURESPAÑA): www.spain.info
Madrid’s Municipality: www.munimadrid.es
6. COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Lectures & Study V isits
As part of the coursework, students will meet in the classroom on Mondays, and for site visits on
Wednesdays at the following locations and times:
– Museo Arqueológico:
– Madrid City Walk-Sol, Cibeles, Paseo del Prado & Atocha:
– Museo del Prado:
– Congreso de los Diputados:
– Museo Reina Sofía:
– Madrid City Walk-Mercado de San Miguel & Plaza Mayor:
Meeting points will be the sites main entrances, and for city walks the Bear Statue at Puerta del Sol. See
Academic Handbook for directions.
Class Participation and Attendance
Students are expected to do the readings assigned before class and to actively participate in class discussions
and activities conducted during class time.
Quizzes
There will be two quizzes of multiple-choice questions that will evaluate the understanding of the readings,
class discussions, and relevance of site visits.
Note: class and excursion dates are subject to change.
Rev: 6/2014
Oral Presentation
In pairs, students will prepare one 5-minute oral presentation to be shared with the class during one of the
City Walks. Presentations will briefly analyze and discuss a city monument or a regional festival including its
history, purpose, and main features. A handout with the outline of the presentation must be submitted at the
end of the exposition. Topics might include but are not limited to the following:
City Walk-Sol, Cibeles, Paseo del Prado & Atocha
Estatua del Oso y el Madroño
Círculo de Bellas Artes
Banco de España
Palacio de Cibeles
Fuente de Cibeles
Casa de América
Puerta de Alcalá
Fuente de Neptuno
Museo del Prado
CaixaForum Madrid
Jardín Botánico
Estación de Atocha
City Walk-Mercado de San Miguel & Plaza Mayor
San Isidro in Madrid
Fiestas de Cartagineses y Romanos in Cartagena
Fiestas de Moros y Cristianos in Alcoy
Semana Santa in Sevilla
Entierro de la Sardina in Murcia
Fallas in Valencia
San Fermín in Pamplona
Feria de Abril in Sevilla
Sant Jordi in Barcelona
Carnavales de Cádiz y Tenerife
Semana Grande in Bilbao
Noche de San Juan in Alicante
Individual Research Paper
Students will write an individual research paper about a relevant topic related to the following main theme:
“THE THREE CULTURES: Cohabitation and Exchanges between Jews, Muslims & Christians from the 8th
to the 15th Century”
Guidelines:
1. CHOOSE ONE of the three cultures (Hebrews, Muslims or Christians).
2. RESEARCH their origins in the Iberian Peninsula, how & when did they “appear on stage”, how did
they relate to each other, what do they have in common, differences, outstanding features...
everything you consider relevant and fundamental to the perfect understanding of the historical,
political & sociological development of this unique period in European History.
3. Then FOCUS on one specific aspect—narrowing the general topic—that will become the specific
topic of your individual research and paper. The topic will need to be pre-approved by the professor,
.
so students will submit a 150-word Topic Proposal on _[date]_
4. Paper presentation and structure:
a. Brief introduction about the GENERAL topic and a brief explanation about why you chose
that specific culture/religion and specific narrowed topic.
b. ANALYSIS. Here you have to explain the results of ALL THE RESEARCH YOU HAVE
DONE. You have to write a CRITICAL DISCUSSION organised in 2/3 supporting
paragraphs to show the main aspects or ideas about the specific topic in relationship to the
religion/culture of your choice.
c. DOCUMENTATION. Add all your bibliography and sources in a separate page, with a
minimum of three sources.
d. CONCLUSIONS. Summarize the main ideas you have come across when doing this research
and open them up to contemporary Spain.
e. PERSONAL APPRECIATIONS: what you learned; what surprised you; what gave you a better
understanding of Spanish culture and society, etc.
5. Paper format:
a. TYPED essay of no MORE than 3-4 pages (approx. 1.500 words) in academic format: title,
chapters or section titles, page numbers, footnotes, quotes & citations...
b. Word or PDF, Arial / Times New Roman / Tahoma 12, 1.5 interline space, fully justified
c. Bibliography & Sources: Three minimum, AT LEAST ONE needs to be a text book (not the
class text book!), besides any on-line sources.
NOTE: A warning on plagiarism. You must identify your intellectual indebtedness to the authors you have read. This can be
done through footnotes, bibliography, or by making a direct reference to the scholar or author in question. Failure to do so will be
considered plagiarism. Plagiarism is one of the most serious academic offenses you can incur in and could have serious consequences
for you.
Note: class and excursion dates are subject to change.
Rev: 6/2014
7. EVALUATION & GRADING CRITERIA
The final grade for the course will be determined as follows:
– Quiz #1
– Quiz #2
– Oral Presentation
– Individual Research Paper
– Class Participation & Attendance
20%
20%
15%
35%
10%
The numerical grade will correspond to the following degrees of competence:
90
80
70
60
0
- 100
- 89
- 79
- 69
- 59
Outstanding degree of competence
Good degree of competence
Adequate degree of competence
Basic degree of competence
Failure to demonstrate a basic degree of competence
8. ATTENDANCE POLICY
Both EAP and ACCENT administration consider attendance and punctuality at all classes mandatory.
Students are allowed a total of two absences during the program. Each absence beyond the limit will result in
a deduction of 3 percent from the student’s raw total. An absence occurring on a day a quiz or exam is
scheduled or an assignment is due will result in a zero for that quiz/exam or assignment. There will be no
make-ups permitted.
Poor attendance and lack of participation in all required activities will have a negative impact on your final
grade. Lateness will be considered as an absence.
9. CLASS ETIQUETTE
Students studying abroad are ambassadors for the University of California and as such, should act with
decorum and respect for others at all times. As a participant on the UCEAP Summer Program in Madrid, you
are subject to student conduct policies of UCEAP, ACCENT, and the Instituto Internacional.
Students should seek to play their part in making the class a success. Students should arrive punctually for
classes, taking special care to allow for journey times between the various venues. They should come to class
with the necessary materials for taking notes, and bringing with them any books or suchlike required for the
class. Students will be responsible for obtaining their own copies of any missed assignments and materials.
Food and drink may NOT be brought into the classroom or consumed during class. Cell phones and
other electronic devices should be switched off upon entering the classroom or lecture room.
For more information, please consult the UCEAP Student Conduct and Discipline Policy at
http://eap.ucop.edu/Documents/Policies/student_conduct_discipline.pdf.
10. ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
Students should remember that they are still subject to the academic integrity provisions of the University of
California. The principle of honesty must be upheld if the integrity of scholarship is to be maintained by an
academic community.
This means that all academic work–research papers, exams, and/or other assignments–will be done by the
student to whom it is assigned, without unauthorized aid of any kind. Likewise, any act of academic
misconduct, such as cheating, fabrication, forgery, plagiarism, or facilitating academic dishonesty, will subject
a student to disciplinary action.
For more information, please consult UCEAP Academic Conduct Policy at
http://eap.ucop.edu/Documents/Policies/academic_conduct.pdf.
Note: class and excursion dates are subject to change.
Rev: 6/2014
11. COURSE CALENDAR
Date
Contents, Readings & Study Visits
(See textbook Table of Contents)
INTRODUCTION: GEOGRAPHY & SOCIETY
Coursework Due
STUDY VISIT: MUSEO ARQUEOLÓGICO
First Settlers in the Iberian Peninsula
CONTEMPORARY SPAIN: HISTORY
From Iberia to 21st-Century Spain
Chapters 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 & 10
STUDY VISIT: MADRID, THE CAPITAL CITY
Madrid City Walk: Sol, Cibeles, Paseo del Prado, and Atocha
Oral Presentations
CONTEMPORARY SPAIN: CULTURE & THE
ARTS
Literature, Music, and The Arts
Chapters 19, 20, 21, 24 & 25
Paper Topic
Proposal Due
STUDY VISIT: MUSEO DEL PRADO
Great European & Spanish Art Masters
CONTEMPORARY SPAIN: RELIGION
Catholic, Jewish, and Muslim Spain
Chapters 5, 6 & 8
Quiz #1
TRIP TO GALICIA
No class on Wednesday
CONTEMPORARY SPAIN: POLITICS &
ECONOMY
Spanish Political, Linguistic & Economic Diversity
Chapters 22, 26, 27, 28, 29 & 30
STUDY VISIT: CONGRESO DE LOS DIPUTADOS
Spain’s Political Institutions
CONTEMPORARY SPAIN: FOREIGN RELATIONS
Migration & Foreign Relations (EU, Africa, Latin America
& Middle East)
Chapters 7, 9, 11, 12 & 13
STUDY VISIT: MUSEO REINA SOFÍA
Arts & the International Context
CONTEMPORARY SPAIN: LEISURE, TRADITION
& ENTERTAINMENT
Sports, Folklore & Pop Culture
Chapters 1, 2, 3 & 4
STUDY VISIT: REGIONAL FESTIVALS
Madrid City Walk: Mercado de San Miguel & Plaza Mayor
Note: class and excursion dates are subject to change.
Research Paper Due
Quiz #2
Oral Presentations
Rev: 6/2014