HI2C8-15 Visual and Material Cultures of the Spanish Empire
Introductory description
This module introduces students to the visual and material culture of the early modern Iberian World. Drawing on a wide range of material objects and visual expressions, we will pay close attention to processes of conquest and colonisation, expansion and encounter – global interactions, transfers, and exchanges. We will discuss historiographical and methodological approaches to the study of visual and material culture, and consider how we can critically assess images and ‘things’ as historical evidence. What insights can these sources provide into the social, cultural, political, economic, and religious histories of Spain and its Empire?
Module aims
Emphasis will be placed on understanding how things were made, circulated, displayed, and reproduced – and how this knowledge can inform our analysis of the sources. Students will also reflect on theories of vision and visuality. Each session will explore a key theme in Iberian history, through a range of images and objects – Mexican feather work, Japanese folding screens (byobu), books and herbariums from Scientific Expeditions, court portraiture, urban architecture, maps, fashions, and textiles.
Outline syllabus
This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.
- ‘Plumería, Enconchados, Biombos’: Visual and Material Cultures of the Iberian World
- Expansion and Encounter
- Cross-cultural Art and Material Culture
- Global Goods, Connected Spaces
- Power and Propaganda
- Reading Week
- Ceremony and Ritual
- Gender and Sexuality
- Race and Identity
- Cataloguing and Collecting
Learning outcomes
By the end of the module, students should be able to:
- Demonstrate a detailed knowledge of some major themes and questions in the social and cultural history of the Iberian world, between 1500 and 1800.
- Communicate ideas and findings, adapting to a range of situations, audiences and degrees of complexity.
- Generate ideas through the analysis of a broad range of primary source material, including images and objects.
- Analyse and evaluate the contributions made by existing scholarship in the historical study of visual and material culture.
- Act with limited supervision and direction within defined guidelines, accepting responsibility for achieving deadlines.
Indicative reading list
Reading lists can be found in Talis
Specific reading list for the module
Subject specific skills
See learning outcomes.
Transferable skills
See learning outcomes.
Study time
| Type | Required |
|---|---|
| Lectures | 1 session of 1 hour (1%) |
| Seminars | 7 sessions of 2 hours (9%) |
| Tutorials | 2 sessions of 1 hour (1%) |
| Practical classes | 1 session of 2 hours (1%) |
| Other activity | 1 hour (1%) |
| Private study | 131 hours (87%) |
| Total | 151 hours |
Private study description
History modules require students to undertake extensive independent research and reading to prepare for seminars and assessments. As a rough guide, students will be expected to read and prepare to comment on three substantial texts (articles or book chapters) for each seminar taking approximately 3 hours. Each assessment requires independent research, reading around 6-10 texts and writing and presenting the outcomes of this preparation in an essay, review, presentation or other related task.
Other activity description
1 x one hour seminar
Costs
No further costs have been identified for this module.
You must pass all assessment components to pass the module.
Assessment group A2
| Weighting | Study time | Eligible for self-certification | |
|---|---|---|---|
Assessment component |
|||
| Seminar contribution | 10% | No | |
Reassessment component |
|||
| 1000 word reflection | Yes (extension) | ||
Assessment component |
|||
| 1500 word source review | 40% | Yes (extension) | |
Reassessment component is the same |
|||
Assessment component |
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| 3000 word essay | 50% | Yes (extension) | |
Reassessment component is the same |
|||
Feedback on assessment
Feedback via tabula and during office hours
Courses
This module is Optional for:
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UPDA-Y306 Undergraduate History (Part-Time)
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UVCA-LA99 Undergraduate Liberal Arts
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- Year 2 of LA75 Liberal Arts with Modern Lanaguages and Cultures
- Year 2 of LA96 Liberal Arts with Philosophy
- Year 2 of LA94 Liberal Arts with Theatre and Performance Studies