FS4018: SPANISH IDENTITY THROUGH MUSIC, FILM AND VISUAL CULTURE (2023-2024)

This course introduces students to different cultural identities and representations in and of Spain in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. In particular, it focuses on the relationship between music, film and visual culture, nationalism and politics, where students will examine the various ways in which ‘Spanish-ness’ has been represented, performed and negotiated at different historical and political moments. In the popular imagination, Spain invokes a number of alluring stereotypes: sun, sand, passion, and flamenco. Students will be encouraged to look beyond these dominant stereotypes, exploring how music, film and visual culture can reveal deep-seated tensions regarding national identity, politics and cultural representations of Spain.

Adopting an interdisciplinary approach (music, film and visual culture, music and Spanish cultural studies), the course will be structured in five thematic blocks:

1. The Spanish image and propaganda;
2. Performing national and regional identity;
3. Tourism;
4. Politics; and
5. Migration. In each of these blocks, students will be introduced to a range of musical and visual culture case studies that cross different genres (e.g., film, art, photography, flamenco, popular music, folk music).

The course will examine how cultural representations of Spanish-ness in twentieth and twenty-first century Spain have been used to articulate critical portrayals of Spanish society. Students will study the ways in which these representations relate to social and political developments, such as the tourism boom in Spain from the 19th century, the Civil War (1936-39), the Franco dictatorship (1939-75), the transition to democracy (1975 onwards), and 21st century debates around national identity, race and migration

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

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There are no assessments for this course.