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CS92PROD
Through Foreign Eyes: The U.S. in Spain in the 20th Century
SPAN 262
Spring 2019 not offered

Although the relationship between Spain and the U.S. has a long history that can be traced back to colonial times, during the 20th century, an extensive corpus of literature in which Spanish authors portray the U.S. prominently becomes visible. The appearance of this body of work gives rise to a series of questions: How do Spaniards see the U.S.? What are the consequences of this understanding? Why is there such interest in portraying the U.S. from a Spanish point of view? Of course, cultural and social definitions are constructions always limited to historic, social, and cultural events, be they of a military, political, or purely commercial nature. One could think that these portraits dwell on stereotypes; nonetheless, we are before a literary production that uses the U.S. to create a narrative about how Spain enters a global economic market through a cultural exchange. These are texts about traveling, the construction of the individual, and the shaping of a nation; texts that cross the boundaries of literary genres to define Spanish identity. We are before the construction of a narrative that questions the building of alterity and shapes the identity of modern Spain. In our approach to the main historic events that define the relationship between Spain and the U.S. during the 20th century, we will examine novels, poems, and movies that result from such events to analyze questions related to identity, globalization, localism, modernity, and nation. What we will engage in is, in fact, a debate about how we define ourselves, whether we are Spanish or American, through foreign eyes.
Credit: 1 Gen Ed Area Dept: HA RLAN
Course Format: Lecture / DiscussionGrading Mode: Graded
Level: UGRD Prerequisites: None
Fulfills a Major Requirement for: (HISP)

Last Updated on MAR-28-2024
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