SPAN3023 – Hispanic Film and Literature

SPAN3023 – Hispanic Film and Literature
Category: Elective Course
Year: Third or fourth year of study
Medium of Instruction: Spanish
Semester: Offered in the second semester
1. COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course introduces students to the Spanish and Latin American Cinema and Literature
through the analysis of key texts written by a representative selection of authors and films
directed by internationally renowned directors. The topics are organized thematically to allow
for the combination of the study of literary and cinematographic texts dealing with the same
topic. The socio-historical context reflected in the texts or in which texts were produced will
be taken into account throughout the analysis. There is also a very practical component to
allow students to experience the complexities of filmmaking: they have to design a digital
story of 3-5 minutes combining images and sound. The course is intended for students who
are at a B1-B2 level or higher of the Common European Framework of Reference for
Languages. Reading, writing, oral and listening skills are equally practiced and an interactive
approach is followed in order to ensure students’ active involvement in their learning process.
1.1 COURSE INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
Language



Write texts of 100-250 words related to the course topics
Demonstrate reading and viewing capacity using unabridged texts
originally produced in Spanish
Present an original audiovisual project in Spanish
Literary and
cinematographic
analysis


Describe filmic and literary texts (e.g. plot, devices, and style)
Describe and analyse literary and cinematographic texts
Cultural and
intercultural
competences

Demonstrate knowledge of well-known literary works and films
originally made in Spanish
Demonstrate knowledge of cultural and socio-political aspects
related to literary and filmic texts
Show awareness of the contribution of cinema and literature to the
social development of contemporary Spanish-speaking societies


Attitude towards the
Spanish-speaking
world


Show awareness of common stereotypes about Spanish-speaking
countries and people
Show leadership skills in the promotion of Spanish-speaking cultures
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1.2 PRE-REQUISITES
Students wishing to be admitted to SPAN3023 must have completed SPAN3001 - Spanish
III.1. Students wishing to be admitted to SPAN3023 without having previously completed
SPAN3001, will be required to satisfy the Faculty Board through the Head of the School of
Modern Languages and Cultures that they have attained elsewhere the required standard.
Exchange students wishing to enrol in this course should contact the Programme Director,
Mrs. Rocío Blasco (roblasco@hku.hk).
1.3 ASSESSMENT
This course is graded on the basis of continuous assessment and is as follows:



One written test
The digital story project and presentation
Two written assignments
40%
30%
30%
Attendance and active participation in class will be taken into account for final grading.
2. COURSE CONTENTS
The course has 2 contact hours per week. Attendance is expected to all classes and nonattendance may affect students’ final grade.
There is no textbook for this course, all materials will be provided by the teacher in the
classroom or via the Moodle platform. The course has an important component of work
outside the classroom which serves as either preparation for the next class or reflection
about a topic previously seen in class. Work may consist of reading texts and answering
questions related to them, posting an opinion on a Moodle forum, watching a film and/or
documentary and completing some activities related to it, writing texts, etc.
The following table shows a breakdown of the topics covered in the course:
COURSE TOPICS
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2
3
4
5
Teatro y cine españoles del siglo XX
El cine español a partir de los años 80. Enfoque en Alejandro Amenábar y
Pedro Almodóvar
Introducción al análisis cinematográfico
El cuento corto hispanoamericano
El Imperio Español y su decadencia en el cine y la Literatura: El Barroco
(Calderón de la Barca, Francisco de Quevedo)
2
6
7
8
9
10
11
Dictaduras en el cine de países hispanohablantes: la novela de dictador,
cine argentino de ficción y documental chileno
Don Quixote, literario y visual
El realismo mágico de Gabriel García Márquez y los melodramas de Arturo
Ripstein
Poesía en español
Arte y revolución en el mundo hispanohablante
Apuntes de cine mexicano y/o argentino contemporáneo
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