Introductory description

This introductory module offers first‑year students a broad and engaging exploration of the diverse cultures, histories, and societies that make up the Hispanic world. Across six thematic blocks, students will begin with a general overview of the historical and linguistic development of the Hispanic World. The following blocks then focus on key artistic and cultural genres—including poetry, fiction, film, visual culture, and performance—providing accessible entry points into major works, movements, and writers. Through guided readings, discussions, and multimedia materials, we place particular emphasis on developing skills of analysis and argumentation, through the close reading of primary texts which centre on iconic figures and authors, equipping students with foundational knowledge and skills.

Module web page

Module aims

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.

Weeks 1-3: The Hispanic World – A General Introduction
Week 4-7: Poetry across the Hispanic World: an exploration of major poetic voices, introducing students to foundational texts and techniques of poetic analysis, engaging with Golden Age lyric poetry, modernismo or Latina/Chicana poetry.
Week 8-10: Narrative: a study of narrative genres, such as the Latin American short story or excerpts from longer fiction. Texts may include works by authors such as Cervantes, Jorge Luis Borges, Emilia Pardo Bazán, Rosario Castellanos or others representing major narrative movements of the Hispanic world (e.g. magical realism, etc.).
Week 11-13: Film and Audio-Visual Cultures: an introduction to the cinematic traditions and contemporary screen cultures of the Hispanic world, examining film language, key directors, and cultural contexts.
Weeks 14-16: Visual Cultures: a survey of visual expression, including painting, photography, and graphic arts. Examples may include Francisco de Goya, Pablo Picasso, Joan Miró, Diego Rivera, Frida Khalo or Maruja Mallo.
Weeks 17-20: An examination of performance traditions such as theatre, dance, and live art, ranging from early modern dramatic texts by Lope de Vega to the lyrical and performative culture of tango and other popular genres.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• An awareness of a range of genres within Hispanic culture, exploring examples drawn from different areas of the discipline, including literature, film, visual arts and music.
• An ability to analyse complex literary texts and other cultural output, making use of scholarship where appropriate
• An ability to marshal information and present a clear and cogent argument anchored in the analysis of primary material
• An ability and willingness to engage with other cultures, appreciating their distinctive features (Level 4)
• Knowledge, awareness and understanding of one or more cultures and societies, other than their own (Level 4)

Indicative reading list

Reading lists can be found in Talis

Specific reading list for the module

International

All modules delivered in SMLC are necessarily international. Students engage with themes and ideas from a culture other than that of the UK and employ their linguistic skills in the analysis of primary materials from a non-Anglophone context. Students will also be encouraged to draw on the experiences of visiting exchange students in the classroom and will frequently engage with theoretical and critical frameworks from across the world.

Subject specific skills

This module will develop students’ linguistic skills through engaging with primary materials in the target language. It will build students’ capacity to engage with aspects of Hispanic culture through analysis of this primary material and through seminar discussion aimed at deeper critical thinking. In particular, students’ awareness of influential cultural figures and genres from different areas of the Hispanic world will be enhanced through lectures and seminars which engage with scholarship in the field.

Transferable skills

All SMLC culture modules demand critical and analytical engagement with artefacts from target-language cultures. In the course of independent study, class work and assessment students will develop the following skills: written and oral communication, creative and critical thinking, problem solving and analysis, time management and organisation, independent research in both English and their target language(s), intercultural understanding and the ability to mediate between languages and cultures, ICT literacy in both English and the target language(s), personal responsibility and the exercise of initiative.