Span208: Contemporary Spain I

SPAN 208: CONTEMPORARY SPAIN I

Prof. Jorge H. Cubillos
Smith 416 (x2041)
cubillos@udel.edu

Course information: This course is an introduction to comtemporary Spain, its culture, its people, their way of life and the issues confronting them.; Note: Span208 is taught in English as part of UD's Winter/Summer Session Programs in Granada, Spain.; .
Course Description: The course consists of lectures, excursions and cultural visits to sites throughout Central and Southern Spain. A number of local experts will be invited to provide additional insights to supplement the readings and cultural excursions.; .
Course Objectives: This course seeks to:; 1. Provide students with a better understanding of the diverse influences that make up contemporary Spain and,; 2. Serve as cultural background for their study abroad experience in Spain.

Grading, Evaluation Policies and Procedures: Grades will be calculated on the basis of the following components:; .; 1. Cultural Projects. (60%) Students will hand in a total of 11 cultural assignments (see course calendar for due dates). Projects will require research, application, and/or reflection on the historical and cultural topics discussed in each chapter of the course.; 2. Examinations (2). (30%) There will be two examinations on the readings, presentations and cultural excursions of the program.; 3. Participation. (10%) Active involvement in all lectures, visits, and class discussions is expected.; .; HONORS REQUIREMENTS: Students taking the Honors version of this course will be asked to write a 3-page paper in Spanish on a cultural topic to be selected in consultation with the instructor (deadline for the selection of research topic: May 24, 2002). Students will investigate this topic while in Spain, by interviewing native speakers and eliciting opinion's on the topic's cultural significance or social relevancy to the city, region, or country. The students may also have to visit local sites of interest, preferably ones not visited as part of the culture course.; Papers are due on June 28, 2002, and they will be followed by a 15 minute conference with the instructor on the results of each investigation.

Tentative Course Calendar (Last update: 05/30/02)*
* Note: Class schedule may be modified at the discretion of the instructor and according to the needs of the class: .

Readings
.: -Required reading:; Introduction to Contemporary Spain. Reading Packet available at Copy Maven (136 E. Main Street, Newark).*; .; Note: This is a WebCT course, so don't forget to activate your Unix name and password before departure.; .; - Recommended:; Insight Guide to Spain. (4th or Most recent Edition). Langensche.

Date	Topic	Homework Due
May 9	Overview of Spanish Geography, History, and Art
May 31- June 3	Cultural Excursions: Madrid, Segovia, Toledo	Read: Chapter 1
June 5	Chapter I: Geography and its relation to historical development. Chapter II: Early Settlements	Read: Chapter 2
June 6	Chapter III: The Roman Empire	Read: Chapter 3
June 7-9	Cultural Excursions: Sevilla-Itálica-Jeréz-Cádiz-Córdoba	Read: Chapter 4
June 10	Chapter IV: Arab Control (visit to the Albaycin in the afternoon)	Read: Chapter 4 Submit: Projects 1-2
June 11	Cultural Excursions: The Alhambra
June 12	Chapter V: Christian Reconquest (visit to Granada's Cathedral in the afternoon)	Read: Chapter 5
June 13	Chapter VI: The Spanish Empire	Read: Chapter 6
June 14-16	Cultural Excursions: Alpujarras, Malaga, Ronda
June 17	Review	Submit: Projects 3-5
June 18	Mid-Term Examination
June 19	Chapter VII: Decline, Conflict, & Dictatorship.
June 20	Chapter VIII: The 1898 crisis, the Republic, Civil War and Franco’s dictatorship.
June 21	Chapter IX: Return to Democracy: the Transition.
June 24	Chapter X: Art and culture in Spain today.
June 25	Chapter XI: Current societal trends
June 26	Chapter XII: Stereotypes and visions from abroad. Spain, past, present and future.	Submit: Projects 6- 11
June 27	Final Examination