COURSE SYLLABUS: GENERAL HISTORY & HISTORY OF ART IN SPAIN

Location: Granada, Spain

Partner Institution: University of Granada

Course Title: General History & History of Art in Spain (Historia general y del arte en España)

Session: Summer (CILYC)

Instruction in: Spanish

Contact Hours: 45 hours

Credits: 3 credits, 4 quarter units

Course Description

The goal of this course is the introduction and comprehension of the discipline of Spanish Art History and in the context of the History of Spain. This course teaches the political, economic, social and cultural events that are most significant for the recent past century and how they tie into Spanish Art. This is achieved through an historic-artistic overview of the principal artistic styles that define peculiar characteristics of Spanish Art. The richness and extension of Spanish Art make it necessary to delimitate the thematic blocks in correspondence with a Granadan cultural environment that permits, on one hand, a greater closeness to Spanish art, and on the other hand, the best possible assimilation of content and styles studied as priorities in the program. To this end, the class presents the most relevant aspects in the overall history of Spain, and then enters into the contemporary age. Special focus is given to the social movements and the aspects of the most important cultural manifestations of the Spanish 20th century.

Program

History of Art in Spain topics:

• The beginning of art. Cave paintings and megaliths.
• Art of the colonizations and Iberian sculpture.
• Introduction to Islamic Art.
• Spanish-Muslim art: Caliphate Cordoba and Almohade Sevilla.
• Spanish-Muslim art: Granada zirí and nazarí (I)
• Visit: Arab Baths (bañuelo), Alcaicería, Oratorio de la Madraza, and Corral del Carbón
• Spanish-Muslim art: Granada zirí and nazarí  (II)
• Visit: Palacios Reales de la Alhambra and Museo de Arte Hispano Musulmán
• General characteristics of Renaissance Art and the principal Granada examples (I)
• Visit: Capilla Real and museum
• General characteristics of Renaissance Art and the principal Granada examples (II)
• Visit: Puerta de las granadas, Palacio and Pilar de Carlos V, and Museo de Bellas Artes.
• Essential traits of baroque art and architecture. Velázquez.
• Alonso Cano. Granadan baroque architect, sculptor, and painter.
• Visit: Catedral de Granada
• Neoclassic Art: Juan de Villanueva and the Museo del Prado
• Francisco de Goya
• 19th and 20th century architecture: from history to modernity.
• Contemporary art: Dalí, Miró and Picasso

History of Spain topics:

• Introduction to the History of Spain. Brief chronologic view of the general history of Spain.
• Alfonso XIII and the Monarchy Crisis (1902 – 1931). The basis of the parliamentary system (caciquismo, parties and regionalism). Regime problems: regionalism, social questions, Morocco. The dictatorship of Primo de Rivera (1923-30). The Generation of 98 and Zarzuela.
• The Second Republic (1931-1936). Political, economic, and social bases. The reform (1931-33). The governments of the center-right (1933-1936). The Popular Front (1936). The Generation of 27 and the vanguard movements.
• The Spanish Civil War (1936-1939). The coup d’etat. The military situation and foreign intervention. The political evolution of the two sides. Consequences and balances of the Civil War. Film as an instrument of political propaganda.
• General Franco’s Spain (I) (1939-1951). The post-war. The creation of the national state: its laws and doctrine. The National Catholic School. Film and radio. Censorship. The birth of NODO.
• General Franco’s Spain (II) (1951-1975). The first opening phase. The development plans: social change, economic impulse, and political problems. The importance of tourism. Catholic culture and the culture of secularization and consumerism. University protests and protest songs. Television and the arrival of essay cinema (cine de ensayo).
• The political transition: the New Spain; political reform; the first democratic elections. The constitution of 1978. “La Movida” and Generation X: postmodern Spain.

Activities

• The first part is normally dedicated to introducing and presenting the topic of discussion. The final part is to complete practical activities that facilitate understanding and will complement the professor’s lecture.
• Classes are based on a mix of theory with student participation. Class participation comes from discussion of previous assigned readings.
• The course will utilize audiovisual mediums such as documentaries, music from the time period, films, etc. to complement discussions.

• There is a series of guided tours of monuments, museums, and urban spaces. All visits are related, directly, with the stylistic languages established in the epigraphs and thematic blocks of the program and whose most significant examples are shown using Granada as the example.
• The end product of these visits is a final paper that the student will submit. It should be 5 pages and the focus must be on one of the art forms studied (sculpture, painting, portraits, etc.). It should have an analysis and description of real-life examples in Granada of the art form studied.

Course Evaluation

The final grade is determined by the following criteria:

• 25% of the final grade is based on the attention, participation, and attendance of the student. This is intended to motivate the student to think, form opinions, and discuss their ideas with their classmates and the professor, and also use and practice their Spanish.
• Another 25% is from the correction and evaluation of written exercises, lectures, and activities realized in class.

• The remaining 50% is from the results of a final written exam (the exam consists also in a written commentary of the slides shown in class)

Bibliography

Spanish Art History:

• AA.VV. Historia del Arte, vols. 10, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 28, 31, 35, 38, 41, 42, 43, 47 y 50. Madrid: Historia 16, 1989.
• BUENDÍA, R. et al. Historia del Arte Hispánico, vols. I al VI. Madrid: Alhambra, 1979-1980.
• CALVO CASTELLÓN, A. Historia del Arte Español. Madrid: Edelsa, 1992.

Spanish History:

• ARTOLA, M., Historia de España, Madrid, Historia 16, 1990
• DOMÍNGUEZ ORTIZ, A., España. tres milenios de historia, Madrid, Marcial Pons, 2001
• TUÑON DE LARA, M., Historia de España, Madrid, Istmo, 1989
• GAY ARMENTEROS, 1, La España del s,~/o XX, Madrid, edi6, S.A., 1986
• CARR, R., PRESTON, P., GARCÍA DELGADO, J.L., La época franquista, Vol. XL de la Historia de España dirigida por José María Jover, Madrid, Espasa Calpe, 1996.

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