UC Center, Madrid

This course provides students with a general overview of how Spanish artists in the 20th and 21st centuries seek references and are influenced by religion, politics, identity, gender and popular culture while simultaneously re-appropriating historical icons and images to provide new readings and modify traditional interpretations. It examines specific art works that have shaped Spain's contemporary history and society such as Picasso's “Guernica,” Dalí's references to psychoanalysis and sexuality, or Miró's multiple interpretations of Abstraction. The course also focuses on the role of the viewer in the 21st century: that of an active viewer that must interact with art works to decode their meanings via the study of Abstract Expressionists such as Tàpies or Saura, the Abstract Geometric such as Chillida, political and social critics such as Arroyo and Grupo Crónica, more well-known contemporary artists, such as García Alix or Plensa, as well as young emerging artists. This course highlights important events in Spanish history such as the Civil War, Franco's dictatorship, the transition to democracy, terrorism or today's current economic and political crisis through the public art works or manifestations that—officially or not—influence the city of Madrid and demonstrate how contradictions become compatible and how a city might become the ultimate example of a Post-Modern society.

This course offers an introduction to the fundamental principles and concepts of computers and programming with the programming language Python.

This course explores the relations between Latin America and Spain in the post-colonial period. It begins with the insurrection in the Indies (El Grito de Dolores) and the criollo war against Napoleonic Spain in 1810 and ends with the present-day migratory movement from Spain to Latin America due to the economic crisis. It critically examines the cultural practices, literary productions, political concerns and economic relations of the newly formed Spanish American nations and Spain from the beginning of the independence in order to provide an understanding of the historical relations between “de-colonized” Latin American nations and “non-imperial” Spain, as well as of contemporary political and cultural relations. The course discusses “the Black and White legends” of Imperial Spain and subsequent sessions focus on the post-colonial period. Drawing examples from a variety of political issues, economic relations, cultural practices and literary texts, it looks at the dynamics of these “Hispanic Transatlantic” relationships characterized by a continuous fluctuation of both a merger of and antagonism between the cultures of the modern Spanish American nations and that of Spain. Special attention is given to issues of cultural displacement as well as to the role of linguistic, religious, and cultural affinities that bring these nations together.

This beginning A1 level intensive Spanish language and culture course is geared for students without prior course work or those who have basic knowledge of the language. It stresses the acquisition of basic oral and written skills, and takes advantage of students' immersion in Spanish life to incorporate intercultural learning and provide further context to the grammatical, lexical, and cultural content of the course. Assessment is based on essays, oral presentations, homework, a cultural blog, midterm and final exams, participation, and attendance. Texts: Corpas, Jaime et al. AULA 2 Nueva Edición. Libro del Alumno. Nivel A2. Madrid: Editorial Difusión. Alonso Raya, Rosario et al. Gramática básica del estudiante de español. Madrid: Editorial Difusión.