Literatures and Cultures of Spain: From Medieval to Present
Imaginary Journeys
This course uses the motif of travel—encompassing spatial, temporal, spiritual, symbolic and emotional journeys—to survey and interrogate influential texts produced in Spain from the medieval period to the contemporary era. Through a diverse selection of narratives, drama, poetry, comics, movies, and non-fiction prose, we will tackle pressing issues like class inequality, gender and sexuality, love, race, war, mass tourism, or the boundaries between truth and fiction. You will sharpen your critical thinking and reading skills through class discussions, debates and reflective writing. Together, we will discover how Spain’s historical, social, and religious crossroads shaped its diverse literary and cultural history.
Language of instruction: Spanish
Instructor: Dr. Raúl Álvarez Moreno
Recommended prerequisites: This course is recommended for students who have completed SPAN_V 221 or SPAN_V 301.
Participation and Preparation 15 %
Leading Discussion 13%
Midterm 22 %
Critical Responses (1. 10%, 2. 15%) 25%
Final Project 25 %
This course prioritizes student accessibility, voice, language proficiency, and autonomy. All course materials (i.e., Conde Lucanor -selections-, Vida de Lazarillo de Tormes, "El retablo de las maravillas", Usos amorosos de la posguerra española -selections-, Historia de una escalera, Todo bajo el sol…) will be freely accessible to students via Canvas, either as PDFs within weekly modules or through direct links to resources in the UBC library.