Taught in Spanish. How did Madrid’s construction as a modern capital shape the regional and national identity? In which ways did Spain struggle to become a “modern country,” and what was the role of Madrid in achieving it? In this course, we will explore the changing nature of modern Madrid through representations of the city in history and the present. Taking into account different disciplines such as literature, film, history, photography, tourism and cultural studies, the course will also investigate how gender, class, race and sexuality offer new perspectives in the design of urban spaces. Discussion materials will include canonical authors along with more recent cultural products: Ramón de Mesoneros Romanos, Carmen Martín Gaite, Pedro Almodóvar, Pío Baroja, Pedro Lazaga, Ramón Gómez de la Serna, Francesc Català-Roca, and the Indignados movement, among others. Additionally, the course will practice Madrid with visits, excursions and tours to iconic spaces of the capital in order to examine the connection between the representation of these urban spaces and the creation of Madrid as a modern city.
Prereq: SPA 202, the equivalent of four semesters of college-level Spanish, or permission of the instructor
Department: Spanish
Location: Madrid
Semesters: Fall, Spring
Credits: 3