Undergraduate 

Spanish MA

Contemporary Spanish Cinema HISP4108

  • Academic Session: 2023-24
  • School: School of Modern Languages and Cultures
  • Credits: 20
  • Level: Level 4 (SCQF level 10)
  • Typically Offered: Runs Throughout Semesters 1 and 2
  • Available to Visiting Students: Yes

Short Description

This course aims to provide an introduction to Spanish cinema through analysis of a number of selected films by directors such as Pedro Almódovar, Luís Buñuel, Alejandro Amenábar, Icíar Bollaín, Víctor Erice, Fernando Trueba, Fernando León and Julio Medem.

Timetable

20 x 1 hour seminars over both semesters as scheduled in 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.

Excluded Courses

None

Co-requisites

None

Assessment

Film review (700 words) - 20%

Analysis of a film clip (800 words) - 30%

Essay (2000 words) - 50%

Main Assessment In: April/May

Are reassessment opportunities available for all summative assessments? Not applicable for Honours courses

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which 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. 

Course Aims

This course aims to:

■ introduce Spanish cinema through analysis of selected films by directors such as Pedro Almódovar, Luís Buñuel, Alejandro Amenábar, Icíar Bollaín, Víctor Erice, Fernando León and Julio Medem;

■ explore the influence of cultural, social, economic, political and aesthetic factors on film production and reception;

■ analyse film language and explore issues such as the construction of national identity, gender, auteur cinema and the interface of Spanish cinema with Hollywood;

■ make students aware of the role that cinema has played in Spanish culture from the 1960s to the present.

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

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

■ analyse and historically contextualise a range of films;

■ display an ability to implement different forms of critical analysis of films (cultural, historical, socio-political, etc.);

■ present arguments related to the films studied in essays supported with appropriate critical evidence;

■ deploy appropriate research skills in preparing essays.

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

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