SP3WPS: Writers and Publishers in Spain

Module code: SP3WPS

Module provider: Languages and Cultures; School of Humanities

Credits: 20

Level: Level 3 (Honours)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

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

Pre-requisite module(s): Before taking this module, you must take SP2L2 or SP2L3 or SP2L4 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

Writers and Publishers in Modern and Contemporary Spain explores Spain’s recent cultural and intellectual history, unpacking how history, politics, society, ideology and technology intertwine to shape cultural landscapes. This module focuses on critical episodes in Spanish history, like the rise of a parliamentary system, the Republic of 1931, the Civil War, the Francoist regime, and the Transition to democracy. It also scrutinises cultural constructs and processes stemming from specific political and economic conditions, analysing the effects of intellectual, technological and social revolutions, censorship, and the application of market theory to the dissemination of culture, among other factors.  

This module is conducted in Spanish to create a dynamic learning environment, seamlessly blending essential program elements like language skill integration, contextual learning, and an authentic exploration of culture. Notably, assessments can be done in either English or Spanish, providing flexibility for students. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Recognise and interpret the impact of fundamental episodes in Spanish history, as well as intellectual, technological, and social revolutions, on shaping Spain's recent cultural history. 
2. Summarise and analyse critical texts in light of the developments studied in the course. 
3. Produce critical and coherent arguments in both spoken and written form. 
4. Apply theoretical frameworks to comprehend a designated cultural field and conduct text analysis. 

Module content

Topics for study may include: 

• The cultural impact of intellectual, technological and social revolutions (e.g. the Enlightenment, the Industrial Revolution, the birth of a market economy, the early feminist movements, the Silver Age of Spanish culture, the cultural project of the Republic) 
• Cultural policies in the recent history of Spain (e.g. educational policies, creation of libraries, copyright policies and other regulations in the field of publishing) 
• The conceptual, formal, social and symbolic evolution of printed texts (newspapers, magazines and books) over the last two centuries 
• Interaction between ideology and culture (e.g. impact of censorship, consideration of culture as a vehicle for modernisation and social justice) 
• Cultural responses to various historical events (e.g. creation of the Institución Libre de Enseñanza, dissidence against Franco's official culture) 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

This module will be taught through a combination of lectures and seminars. Students will be required to do preparatory reading for each seminar, participate in class discussion and undertake small-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. 

Blackboard online tests. 

Reassessment

Additional costs