SP2MCN: Modern and Contemporary Spanish Narratives

Module code: SP2MCN

Module provider: Languages and Cultures; School of Humanities

Credits: 20

Level: Level 2 (Intermediate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Dr Marta Simo-Comas, email: m.simo-comas@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s): Before taking this module, you must have passed SP1L3, SP1L2, SP1L1 or equivalent (Open)

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 9 July 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module has two main objectives. Firstly, it aims to equip students with an understanding of pivotal narrative trends in Modern and Contemporary Spanish culture, including realism, the uncanny, the fantastic, metafiction, and symbolic representation. This involves studying various fictional works, including short stories, novels, and films spanning from the late 19th Century to the present, as well as different literary genres. Secondly, the course introduces a theoretical framework for analysing these works, aiming to enhance students' critical and analytical thinking abilities. This is achieved by exploring narrative devices and situating the texts within the intellectual and socio-cultural contexts in which they were produced. Themes covered include identity and existential and social themes, among others. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students will be able to: 

1. Recognise critical narrative trends in Modern and Contemporary Spanish culture, including realism, the uncanny, the fantastic, metafiction, and symbolic representation. 
2. Analyse fictional texts in the light of the intellectual and socio-cultural contexts in which they were created. 
3. Produce critical and coherent arguments in both spoken and written form. 
4. Apply theoretical frameworks to the analysis of a given fictional text. 

Module content

Topics for study may include: 

• Key narrative devices (e.g. themes, characterisation, point of view, focalisation, setting, description and symbolism, among others) 
• Elements of cinematic language (e.g. cinematography, mise-en-scéne, lighting, sound, music, and editing) 
• Predominant modes of fiction (e.g. realist representation, the irrational and the fantastic, symbolic representation) 
• Specific relevant genres in contemporary Spanish narratives (e.g. social and detective fiction) 
• Representative works by some of the most significant authors in Spanish literary and film history: Emilia Pardo Bazán, Carmen Laforet, Javier Marías, Cristina Fernández Cubas, Enrique Vila-Matas, Soledad Puértolas, Álvaro Pombo, José María Merino, Alejandro Amenábar and Icíar Bollaín, among others 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Lectures, seminars and group work. 

Study hours

At least 20 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: /cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Opportunities for practice and discussion in class. 

Reassessment

Additional costs