Course Catalogue

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Dress and clothing are an intrinsic part of human culture because they connect how individuals experience their bodies with group identities and the creation and exchange of objects, labour, skills and knowledge. This course explores the culture of clothing in nineteenth-century Spain to gain insights into Spanish society and culture during the rise of Capitalism, a period characterised by its substantial and lasting transformation of human relationships at many different levels. It draws on a diverse range of nineteenth-century sources, e.g., paintings, photographs, engravings, fashion magazines, letters and literary texts, to study topics such as gender, entrepreneurship, labour relations, nation building and transnational connectedness in relation to dress and clothing.  

20 x 1hr sessions across both semesters as scheduled on MyCampus.

This is one of the honours options in SMLC and may not run every year. The options which are running this session are available on MyCampus.

"Available to all students fulfilling requirements for Honours entry into one of the SMLC Honours programmes, and by arrangement to visiting students or students of other Honours programmes who qualify under the University's 25% regulation."

None

None

Blog Post (1000 words) - 25%

Essay or Project output* (3000 words) - 75%

*Students will be given the choice between writing a) an academic essay and b) a proposal for a museum exhibit dedicated to an aspect of the culture of dress and clothing in nineteenth-century Spain. The proposal will require an academic justification of the idea proposed, thus allowing students to demonstrate their argumentative skills.

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. Where, exceptionally, reassessment on Honours courses is required to satisfy professional/accreditation requirements, only the overall course grade achieved at the first attempt will contribute to the Honours classification. For non-Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below. 

The course aims to  

■ Introduce students to Spanish society and culture in the nineteenth century through the lens of clothing and dress  

■ Equip students to identify and interpret visual representations of dress  

■ Enable students to reflect on wider issues pertaining to the production, circulation and use of clothing and dress  

■ Expand students' analytical skills by studying texts from a wide range of formats and genres  

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ Discuss significant aspects of Spanish nineteenth-century society and culture 

■ Critically evaluate visual representations of dress 

■ Engage with wider debates pertaining to the production, circulation and use of clothing and dress 

■ Undertake research into the culture of dress and clothing in nineteenth-century Spain and communicate this research effectively in writing 

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.