The second half of the 20th century is a time of intense social, political, and economic transformations in Spain, and its cultural production reflects as much. Cultural Studies offer an interdisciplinary approach to study these complex phenomena and how they materialize in specific cultural objects. These objects are not transparent nor self-explanatory, they emerge from, are part of, and motivate diverse relationships with the people that create and enjoy them.
In this course we will be looking into different cultural manifestations produced in Spain since 1939, taking into account the complex and changing historical and social contexts in which they are produced. We will focus both on so-called "high culture" and popular culture, by analyzing film, photography, comics, propaganda, art, sport, academic texts, and entertainment, as well as the tensions behind their creation and distribution. There will be a strong emphasis on the role of women and the evolution of their role in society, analyzing various cultural products that bear witness to these changes.
Principal topics:
1. Introduction to Cultural Studies
2. Culture and Politics from 1939 to the Present
3. Cultural symbols of Spain since 1939 to Nowadays
4. Political and Cultural Representations in Film, TV and Advertising
5. Cultural and Social Gaps in Spain ( generational and gender gap)
Students are expected to study the assigned readings on a daily basis. Class attendance is mandatory.