Major Learning Outcome 3: Literary and Cultural Knowledge
This Major Learning Outcome deals with the literature and cultures of the Spanish speaking world. It covers the social and cultural aspects of a variety of societies, depending on region and through time. This is done by studying materials in a variety of mediums, I was able to study these aspects of Spanish speaking society through cinema, literature, history, and behavioral practices.
One of the most enlightening courses was SPAN316: Spanish Culture and Civilization. I found this course particularly fascinating because I lacked awareness of culture and society in Spain and also a deeper understanding of Spanish history. This course incorporated aspects from. prehistoric times to present day issues and news. This contemporary aspect was completed in a very easy interactive way, where we would bring into class a piece of current or recent news and discuss their significance to Spain and to the world. This assignment was done typically once a week, so we formed a connection and vision into what news was like for Spanish society and were able to compare it to the lives we lead in our own society. As previously mentioned, this course was based on the historical events in Spain so it was a thoroughly packed course with information. We traversed the times of invasion, separation and union in the Iberian Peninsula, viewing the changes of culture and people that created the society that now resides in Spain.
Another course that proved to be hugely beneficial to an increase in both cultural and literary knowledge was SPAN304: Intro to Hispanic Literature. This course was also a very complex course, in that it a thorough view into the earliest texts in Hispanic Literature. The texts we studied were presented through poetry, short stories, and plays. We were also made to take note of the literary movement these pieces belonged to. The mission of this course was to take into consideration not only what the material says, but to be aware of the historical context of when they were created, and also by who they were created by and what place they took in society. Special note was given to finding aspects of the authors who created the content, that made them stand out. (Basically, we made it a point to study the aspects that singled out the authors.) Aspects could be like Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz who was an early writer of hispanic literature, a woman who was so passionate about acquiring her education and allowing herself to write in a time when women were not educated and only the religious were allowed to be writers, that she became a nun to reach her goal. There were other significant authors of great pieces that highlighted the realities of society, with messages that transcended time, and are still applicable today. One such story that I found to be quite impactful was Las Medias Rojas by Emilia Pardo Bazán, where we found a protagonist whose only pathway out of a life of poverty and abuse was her physical beauty. This story highlighted the tendency of society to focus on the physical aspects of people rather than the actual value of the identity of the individual.
By completing these courses I was able to create a massive collection of knowledge, both of the created arts and of historical events and people, that create the Hispanic world. Through these courses I was able to study a combination of literature and cultural aspects, that helped generate a panoramic view of Hispanic society as it existed in its earliest days until modern times.
The courses that fulfill this requirement are SPAN316, SPAN308, SPAN304, and SPAN325, and SPAN330.
This Major Learning Outcome deals with the literature and cultures of the Spanish speaking world. It covers the social and cultural aspects of a variety of societies, depending on region and through time. This is done by studying materials in a variety of mediums, I was able to study these aspects of Spanish speaking society through cinema, literature, history, and behavioral practices.
One of the most enlightening courses was SPAN316: Spanish Culture and Civilization. I found this course particularly fascinating because I lacked awareness of culture and society in Spain and also a deeper understanding of Spanish history. This course incorporated aspects from. prehistoric times to present day issues and news. This contemporary aspect was completed in a very easy interactive way, where we would bring into class a piece of current or recent news and discuss their significance to Spain and to the world. This assignment was done typically once a week, so we formed a connection and vision into what news was like for Spanish society and were able to compare it to the lives we lead in our own society. As previously mentioned, this course was based on the historical events in Spain so it was a thoroughly packed course with information. We traversed the times of invasion, separation and union in the Iberian Peninsula, viewing the changes of culture and people that created the society that now resides in Spain.
Another course that proved to be hugely beneficial to an increase in both cultural and literary knowledge was SPAN304: Intro to Hispanic Literature. This course was also a very complex course, in that it a thorough view into the earliest texts in Hispanic Literature. The texts we studied were presented through poetry, short stories, and plays. We were also made to take note of the literary movement these pieces belonged to. The mission of this course was to take into consideration not only what the material says, but to be aware of the historical context of when they were created, and also by who they were created by and what place they took in society. Special note was given to finding aspects of the authors who created the content, that made them stand out. (Basically, we made it a point to study the aspects that singled out the authors.) Aspects could be like Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz who was an early writer of hispanic literature, a woman who was so passionate about acquiring her education and allowing herself to write in a time when women were not educated and only the religious were allowed to be writers, that she became a nun to reach her goal. There were other significant authors of great pieces that highlighted the realities of society, with messages that transcended time, and are still applicable today. One such story that I found to be quite impactful was Las Medias Rojas by Emilia Pardo Bazán, where we found a protagonist whose only pathway out of a life of poverty and abuse was her physical beauty. This story highlighted the tendency of society to focus on the physical aspects of people rather than the actual value of the identity of the individual.
By completing these courses I was able to create a massive collection of knowledge, both of the created arts and of historical events and people, that create the Hispanic world. Through these courses I was able to study a combination of literature and cultural aspects, that helped generate a panoramic view of Hispanic society as it existed in its earliest days until modern times.
The courses that fulfill this requirement are SPAN316, SPAN308, SPAN304, and SPAN325, and SPAN330.