New World(s): Contacts, Conquests and Conflict in Early Modern Hispanic History and Culture (Spring)

Code

MLAC2099

School

Modern Languages and Cultures

Level

2

Credits

10

Semesters

Spring UK

Summary

In this module we follow the course of social and cultural history in Portugal, Spain and their Empires and spheres of influence in the seventeenth and the eighteenth centuries by looking at painting. We will examine religious art, the most widespread and influential form of painting at the time, portraiture and documentary painting (history, social class) from Portugal, Spain, Nagasaki (under Portuguese influence) and Mexico. We will also look at a small selection of poetry in Spanish on religious and political themes, and love poetry. As part of the module, you will be encouraged to visit art galleries and look at official gallery websites. Your coursework assessment will take the form of curator’s notes on individual paintings and poems. You do not need any previous training in art history to take this module. 

Target Students

For registration by Exchange or U21 ONLY. A reading knowledge of Spanish is required.

Classes

• One 1-hour seminar each week for 12 weeks
• One 1-hour lecture each week for 12 weeks

Seminars are delivered to each individual student fortnightly. The School of Cultures, Languages and Area Studies operates an attendance policy. The details of this policy can be found in the student handbook on Workspace and in module handbooks. Weekly 1.5 hour lecture plus two seminars of 1-hour duration. One semester of MLAC2094. For registration by mobility students ONLY.

Assessment

• 100% Coursework 1: Writing Assessment (commentary plus short essay).

Assessed by end of spring semester

Educational Aims

Learning Outcomes

1. Knowledge and Understanding 

Students will:

(A1) read and comprehend complex texts in Spanish;

(A2) acquire an in-depth awareness of the cultural, historical and political contexts 
appropriate to the Hispanic/Lusophone culture(s) addressed;

(A3) develop an appreciation of the relationship between their own cultural, 
historical and social backgrounds and those of those aspects of the 
Hispanic/Lusophone worlds to which they are exposed;

(A4) handle with assurance a range of critical and analytical stratagems and tools 
in their approach to these areas.

2. Intellectual Skills 

Students will provide the tools with which to:

(B1) engage in informed discussion of visual and written texts;

(B2) demonstrate a critical awareness of the historical and socio-political contexts 
of Hispanic/Lusophone cultures;

(B4) deploy effectively a range of critical stratagems and approaches in their 
analytical work.

3. Professional/Practical Skills

The training offered on this module allows students to:

(C3) undertake relevant research and construct a reasoned argument on a topic/issue in English either orally or in writing. 

4. Transferable/Key Skills 

Students are provided with the training to be able to demonstrate:

(D3) the ability to construct and defend a coherent and well-researched argument in English;

(D4) appropriate preparation skills in relation to written documents, oral presentation, illustrations and handouts and the delivery of oral presentations;

(D5) sufficient cross-cultural understanding to be able to negotiate effectively between cultures, particularly Hispanic/Lusophone cultures and their own culture of origin;

(D6) general research skills;

(D7) time-management, prioritising and general organisational skills.

Conveners

• Dr Jean Andrews