Overview

During this course, you will be introduced to key contemporary texts and films related to Galician culture, including Alfonso R. Castelao's short story collection Cousas (1926-9), Óliver Laxe's film O que arde (2019) and Eduardo Blanco Amor's A esmorga (1959). Through close readings of these works, you will be introduced to the key debates in contemporary Galician culture, including language conflict and preservation, dissident/queer identities, hybridity, the disappearance of rural society and ecological collapse. Attention will be paid to both the cultural and stylistic specificity of the texts and films, and to the way they encompass the main historical events of Galician and Spanish recent history. All set readings and viewings are available in English translation Prior knowledge of Galician is not essential.

Assessment Strategy

-threshold -D- - D+: For the award of credit, students should demonstrate a satisfactory comprehension of the various topics studied, with some understanding of the correlations and interrelations highlighted.

-good -C- - B+: For the award of higher grades, students should demonstrate a solid comprehension of the various topics studied, with clear understanding of the correlations and interrelations highlighted, having also analysed and evaluated key sources.

-excellent -A- - A*: For the award of the highest grade, students should demonstrate a detailed comprehension of the various topics studied, with a nuanced understanding of the correlations and interrelations highlighted, having also analysed and evaluated key sources thoroughly.

Learning Outcomes

• Demonstrate an understanding and application of relevant critical theories, including historicism, cultural minorities, gender studies and ecocriticism.

• Demonstrate an understanding of the linguistic and literary variety across the Spanish territory as a key factor in the study of Spain today, and particularly of the Galician language and culture.

• Demonstrate familiarity with the work of key writers and film-makers of the contemporary period and with the critical interpretations of their works.