2024/25 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

SPPO2110 Literature and the Arts in the Spanish-speaking World

20 creditsClass Size: 50

Module manager: Roberto Rodriguez-Saona
Email: r.rodriguez@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2024/25

Pre-requisite qualifications

Students need to have reached Spanish level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Modern Languages before enrolling on this module, typically evidenced by successful completion of SPPO1010 Practical Language Skills in Spanish 1 in level 1.
This module is not available for students taking programmes with Spanish B (beginners).

This module is mutually exclusive with

SPPO2115

Literature and the Arts in the Spanish-speaking World

Module replaces

SPPO2430 Modern Spanish-American LiteratureSPPO2690 Spanish Literature and Theatre

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Module summary

The primary objective of this module is to enhance students’ understanding of literature and the arts from the Spanish-speaking through contextual, thematic and stylistic analysis in relation to key cultural issues. At the same time, it aims to extend students’ exposure to the Spanish language through in-depth study of such works and through delivery of an increasing number of classes in the target language. The module furthermore aims to prepare students to undertake literary and cultural analysis of materials in Spanish at level 3, with a greater degree of personal autonomy, either in taught modules or in the Final Year Project. Students will be taught through a series of lectures, seminars and language workshops. Teaching will be through the medium of both English and Spanish, with an increasing amount of teaching in Spanish as the module progresses. Students are expected to be of CEFR B2 level for Spanish language before commencing this module.

Objectives

This module aims to:
-Enhance students’ understanding of literature and the arts from the Spanish-speaking world through contextual, thematic, and stylistic analysis in relation to key cultural issues, such as national identity, race, patriarchy, popular art, revolution, popular music in dictatorship and in democracy, unheard voices on stage, among others.
-Extend students’ exposure to the Spanish language through in-depth study of such works and through delivery of an increasing number of classes in the target language.
-Prepare students to undertake literary and cultural analysis of materials in Spanish at level 3, with a greater degree of personal autonomy, either in taught modules or in the Final Year Project.
-Develop students’ understanding of the various ways in which cultural production is shaped by, and engages with, the socio-historical context in which it is produced, and how material factors specific to each medium affect literary and theatrical creation.
-Draw critically on secondary literature to sustain an argument of their own in a traditional written academic format.

Learning outcomes
On completion of this module students should be able to:

1. Possess a wide-ranging knowledge of literature, theatre, and popular music in the Spanish-speaking world from the nineteenth century to the present day.
2. Understand the various ways in which cultural production is shaped by, and engages with, the socio-historical context in which it is produced, and how material factors specific to each medium affect literary, theatrical, and musical creation.
3. Possess a comprehensive knowledge of a variety of analytical terms and conceptual frameworks associated with the disciplines and be able to apply these critically in the analysis of literature, theatre, and popular music.
4. Demonstrate an advanced capacity for independent critical thought and the skills necessary to exercise this in seminar debate concerning particular primary sources, secondary materials and more general issues broached in class.
5. Produce sophisticated and well-organised essays, using knowledge acquired in class and through independent reading, and addressing issues with reference to their specific historical and discursive contexts.
6. To draw on critical faculties and personal reflection to produce a technically sophisticated and professional-looking Video Review of texts covered in class.
7. Feel more confident speaking Spanish in public, demonstrating an awareness of the importance of pronunciation and intonation in the production of meaning.

Skills outcomes
This module focuses on subject-specific skills necessary to:
1. Analyse works of literature and the arts drawing on subject-specific theoretical frameworks and methodologies.
2. Possess a comprehensive knowledge of a variety of literary terms and conceptual frameworks associated with the disciplines and be able to apply these critically in the analysis of prose fiction, poetry, and theatre.
2. Ability to work with complex, original written and/or spoken materials in Spanish.
3. Study through the medium of Spanish.
4. Write persuasively in English in an academic context.
5. Speak persuasively in Spanish in a real-life context.

Syllabus

The module seeks to balance the study of canonical works with those that are lesser known or more recently produced, and to offer the opportunity to engage with a range of different genres and art forms such as novels and short stories, plays and their different stagings, poetry and/or song lyrics and their performance, as well as other more hybrid cultural forms that have a textual base. Works studied may be from any historical era, although the focus will be predominantly on those produced since the beginning of the 20th century and on recent stagings of older works. There will typically be balanced coverage of Peninsular Spanish works and those from the Spanish-speaking republics of Latin America and elsewhere in the Spanish-speaking world (eg. Africa).
The syllabus will normally comprise the study of 2-3 (typically longer and/or more complex) works in Semester 1, resulting in the production of an academic essay written in English, and the study of 4-5 (typically shorter and/or less complex) works in Semester 2, resulting in the production of a video review in Spanish intended for a non-academic audience in a real-life context.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Workshop	6	1.00	6.00
Interactive Lecture	4	1.00	4.00
Lecture	10	1.00	10.00
Seminar	7	1.00	7.00
Private study hours			173.00
Total Contact hours			27.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Private study

Reading course materials/preparation for seminars – 100 hrs
Preparation for writing essay – 43 hours
Preparation of video review – 30 hours

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Informal feedback will be provided orally during seminars, language workshops and interactive lectures to individuals or the whole group, and in written form on any non-assessed written work set for these classes. Informal feedback may also be provided orally before or after classes, and in written form by email. Frequency: throughout the module.
Written feedback on 2,500 word essay completed in Semester 1 – students will be able to draw on aspects of this feedback as they prepare their video review in Semester 2. They will also be encouraged to discuss this feedback with the module tutor where further clarification is required. Formative feedback on oral presentation skills and preparations for video blog assessment will be given in classes during semester 2.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	2,500 words	60.00
-------------------------	Video Review in Spanish, 6 - 8 minutes long	40.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 02/05/2024

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