SPA 365 From Almodóvar to zarzuela: Identities in Spain in the 20th century
In this course students learn about the process in which identity was formed in Spain during the 20th and 21st centuries. Coming out of the repression that characterized the aftermath of the Civil War (1936-1939), Spain transition to democracy in the 1980s and eventually became a E.U. member, to then have to undergo other crises as the capitalistic system underwent crises. A common tension throughout these centuries was the opposing between the dos Españas, a Spain that was modern and progressive, and one that continued to identify with conservative values such as the monarchy and Catholicism. The course aims to explore the historical, economic and social factors that have shaped and continue to shape contemporary Spain, from opera, music, film, narrative and other forms of cultural production. We will watch movies such as “Dark Habits”, “What have I done to deserve this”, “Women on the verge of a nervous breakdown”, watch zarzuelas (a Spanish opera type) and read novels such as “Crematorio” by Rafael Chirbes and “Alba Cromm” by Vicente Luis Mora.