The University of Western Ontario Department of Modern

The University of Western Ontario Department of Modern

The University of Western Ontario
Department of Modern Languages and Literatures
Spanish 3501: Hispanic Visual Arts and Texts
Fall 2014
Professor: Alena Robin, [email protected] Office: AHB (Arts and Humanities Building/ Old Ivey) 3R16B Schedule: Tuesday 9:30-­‐11:30 am, Thursday 9:30-­‐10:30 am, AHB 3B15 Phone: 519-­‐661-­‐2111, ext. 81599 Office Hour: Thursday: 10:30-­‐12:30 I. Course content and aims
This course is an introduction to visual arts through artistic literature: description of works of art,
monuments and cities, biographies of artists, texts written by and /or for artists will be considered.
Samples of diaries, reflections, interviews, manuals and criticism will be included. The course will work
as case studies, focusing on examples from the pre-Columbian civilizations up to actual expressions in the
Hispanic world.
THE COURSE AND EVALUATIONS WILL BE ENTIRELY IN SPANISH.
NO PREVIOUS KNOWLEDGE OF ART HISTORY IS NECESSARY TO TAKE THIS COURSE.
Teotihuacán, México
Fotografía: © Alena Robin
Capilla del Hombre, Quito, Ecuador
Museo de América, Madrid, España
This course will allow students to:
- Improve their reading, written and verbal skills in Spanish;
- Acquire an introduction to Hispanic visual culture through different types of texts;
- Discover, through the analysis of written material, diverse monuments, works of art, artists, and
topics from Spain and Latin America;
- Familiarize themselves with the lives of artists of the Hispanic world;
- Visually identify important figures through observing and analyzing attributes, details, gestures,
dress, setting, etc., in the works of art;
- Examine the different ways in which the Hispanic artists adopted diverse topics according to their
historical contexts and material circumstances.
Upon successful completion of the course, students will have acquired the following abilities:
- Knowledge of the importance of visual culture in the Hispanic world;
- Exposure to important Hispanic monuments, works of art, and artists;
- Familiarity with central topics of the Hispanic culture;
- Adequate verbal and written communication on artistic literature, works of art and their authors;
- Ample preparation to experiment, to read, to interpret, and to explain works of art of the Hispanic
tradition.
II. Prerequisites
Prerequisite(s): Spanish 2200, 2200 W/X or 2223; 2215F/G, 2216F/G or permission of the Department.
III. Evaluation
Attendance and participation (15%): Students are expected to attend every class unless medical
circumstances prevent them from doing so (please see section below on department policies). The success
of the course depends on the frequency and quality of the participation of its members. Assigned readings
should be done prior to class in order to be adequately discussed in class. Students are expected to come
prepared with ideas for discussion. Being present at class does not necessarily imply participating in it.
Similarly, being absent from class on a repetitive base will seriously affect the participation mark.
When absent, it is still the student’s responsibility to complete and turn in coursework on time and catch
up on the material covered in class. Students must inform their professor by email of any absence as soon
as possible.
Short written assignment (5%): What is your experience with Hispanic visual art? Have you travelled to
any Spanish speaking country, visited any museum, church, archeological site related to the Hispanic
tradition? Do you have a favorite Hispanic artist? Are you an artist yourself? Tell me about yourself in
500 words! Due September 9.
Oral presentations (2 x 15%) and written report (around 500 words) with bibliography (2 x 5%):
In small groups (to be determined the first week of class) students will do two oral presentations (20
minutes each presentation). The presentation calendar will be adjusted according to the size of the group.
Be creative!
PLEASE NOTE: For group activities, the same grade will be given to all members of a group.
Presentación I: ¡Vamos de paseo! En pequeños grupos, los estudiantes serán responsables
de preparar una visita informativa a algún sitio arqueológico del mundo hispano. Tipo de
información que proporcionar: emplazamiento, datación, población que ocupó el sitio,
descubrimiento del yacimiento, descripción de los edificios y restos más importantes, fases de
excavación, etc. 7 y 9 de octubre.
Presentación II: ¡Vamos al museo! En pequeños grupos, los estudiantes serán responsables
de preparar una visita informativa a algún museo de arte del mundo hispano. Tipo de
información que proporcionar: emplazamiento, historia de su fundación, tipo de colección que
tiene, algunas obras estelares del museo, actividades del museo para su difusión (niños, adultos),
etc. 18 y 20 de noviembre.
Short essays (2 x 20%): Each student will write two short essays. For these essays, personal impressions
on certain topics of the course are accepted. Students are however expected to support adequately their
opinion. The essays will be graded on research, originality of thesis and approach, argument, structure
and style. The extension of each essay is between 1000 and 1200 words (20% each).
Ensayo I: Las Meninas es una pintura muy importante para el Siglo de Oro español y aun hoy
día. ¿Está de acuerdo con la expresión realizada por el pintor? ¿Piensa que es una manera
adecuada de trasmitir un mensaje? ¿Considera que todavía es vigente para nuestra época? Fecha
de entrega: 28 de octubre.
Ensayo II: Si pudiera entrevistar a un artista del mundo hispano, muerto o vivo, no estudiado en
el curso, ¿quién sería? ¿Por qué? ¿Qué preguntas le haría? (por lo menos 5 preguntas) ¿Cuál sería
el propósito de sus preguntas? Puede inventar las respuestas, o basarse en información ya
conocida sobre la vida del artista. Fecha de entrega: 2 de diciembre.
Essays must be typewritten in Times New Roman, 12 point font (no other font will be accepted), doublespaced, and prepared according to MLA style. Essays must be handed in at the start of class. Email
submissions and faxes will not be accepted.
IMPORTANT: The only acceptable reason for turning in a late assignment or missing an examination is
for medical purposes (see section on Absenteeism below). Late assignments will lose 5 points per day (on
100%). Assignments turned in a week after the due date (7 days) will not be accepted and will receive a
grade of “0.”
All university regulations concerning plagiarism apply. If you are unsure about plagiarism, please ask.
The Department of Modern Languages and Literatures Policies which govern the conduct, standards,
and expectations for student participation in Modern Languages and Literatures courses is available in the
Undergraduate section of the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures website at
http://www.uwo.ca/modlang/undergraduate/policies.html. It is your responsibility to understand the
policies set out by the Senate and the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures, and thus
ignorance of these policies cannot be used as grounds of appeal.
Electronic Devices: You are encouraged to bring tablets and laptops to class, as we may use them for
some in-class activities. However, I expect you to turn phone ringers off and only use your laptop, tablet,
or other technology purpose.
IV. Mandatory readings and calendar of activities
All readings will be available through WebCT (Sakai).
FECHA Y TEMA
LECTURA/ ACTIVIDAD
Jueves 4 de septiembre
Introducción
Presentación del curso
Martes 9 de septiembre
1. Interrogating the Work or Art
First written assignment due
J 11 de septiembre
El mundo prehispánico:
Los códices
Readings:
2. Joaquín Galarza, “Los códices mexicanos”, Arqueología mexicana,
1997, vol. IV, núm. 23, pp. 6-13.
3. “Códices prehispánicos y coloniales tempranos”, Arqueología
mexicana, 2009, núm. 31, p. 9.
M 16 de septiembre
La tira de peregrinación
Reading:
4. Patrick Johansson, “Tira de peregrinación (Códice Boturini)”,
Arqueología mexicana, 2009, núm. 31, pp. 56-57.
J 18 de septiembre
Readings:
La ciudad de MéxicoTenochtitlan
5. Bertina Olmedo Vera, “Tenochtitlan en números”, Arqueología
mexicana, 1993, vol. 1, núm. 4, p. 65.
6. Hernán Cortés, “Segunda carta-relación” (30 de octubre 1520), Cartas
de relación, Madrid, Historia 16, 1985, pp. 131-141.
7. Bernal Díaz del Castillo, Historia verdadera de la conquista de la
Nueva España, México, Porrúa, 2002 [1632], pp. 171-177.
M 23 de septiembre
El templo Mayor
Reading:
http://www.templomayor.inah.gob.mx/index.php
J 25 de septiembre
Sesión informativa en la biblioteca
Weldon Library's instruction room
M 30 de septiembre
La ciudad colonial
Reading:
8. Bernardo de Balbuena, La grandeza mexicana, México, Porrúa, 2001
[1604], pp. 59-67.
J 2 de octubre
La visión de Diego Rivera
Reading:
9. Francisco González Rul, “Diego Rivera y la arqueología mexicana. La
raíz profunda”, Arqueología mexicana, Edición especial, núm. 47, 2012,
pp. 84-87.
M 7 de octubre
Presentación Oral I
J 9 de octubre
Presentación Oral I
M 14 de octubre
Pintura española del Siglo de
Oro:
El Greco (1541-1614):
El Laoconte (1614)
Reading:
Virgilio, La Eneida, Libro II, pp. 27-35.
http://www.edu.mec.gub.uy/biblioteca_digital/libros/V/Virgilio%20%20La%20Eneida%20(en%20prosa).pdf
J 16 de octubre
Diego Velázquez (1599-1660)
Reading:
Enriqueta Harris, “Velázquez”, Enciclopedia online, Museo del Prado,
https://www.museodelprado.es/enciclopedia/enciclopedia-online/voz/velazquez-diego-rodriguez-de-silva-y/
M 21 de octubre
Las Meninas (1656)
Las hilanderas (1658)
Readings:
Francisco Calvo Serraller, “Las Meninas o la familia de Felipe IV”,
Enciclopedia online, Museo del Prado,
https://www.museodelprado.es/enciclopedia/enciclopedia-online/voz/meninas-o-la-familia-de-felipe-iv-las-velazquez/
Ovidio, “Aracne”, Las metamorfosis, Libro VI, versos 1-145.
http://es.wikisource.org/wiki/Las_metamorfosis:_Libro_VI#Aracne_.28
1_-_145.29
J 23 de octubre
No class: Professor away at conference
(Time to work on your short essay I)
M 28 de octubre
Bartolomé Esteban Murillo
(1617-1682)
Invited speaker: Jimena Zambrano
Reading:
10. Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, Novelas ejemplares. Vol. 120-122,
Madrid: Clásicos Castalia, 1982 (1616), pp. 219-253.
Short essay I is due
J 30 de octubre
Fall Study Break – No class
M 4 de noviembre
El surrealismo:
Salvador Dalí (1904-1989)
Reading:
11. Salvador Dalí, Diario de un genio, Barcelona, Tusquets Editores,
2010, pp. 21-49.
Miguel Cervantes, Don Quijote, Tomo 1, cap. 8.
http://cvc.cervantes.es/literatura/clasicos/quijote/edicion/parte1/cap08/de
fault.htm
J 6 de noviembre
Remedios Varo (1908-1963)
Invited speaker: Aya Ishai
Reading:
12. Remedios Varo, “Trigo, aceitunas y naranjas. Presérvate del frío con
lana de oveja”, en “A veces escribo como si trazase un boceto”. Los
escritos de Remedios Varo, ed. Edith Mendoza Bolio, Madrid/ Frankfurt/
México, Iberoamericana/ Vervuet/ Bonilla Artigas Editores, pp. 223225.
M 11 de noviembre
Frida Kahlo (1907-1954)
Movie screened in class: Frida, 2002, Julie Taymor, director, 123 min.
J 13 de noviembre
Planteamientos actuales en
América Latina:
Juceff Mehri, un poeta del
ciberespacio
Invited speaker: Edgar Yánez
Readings:
http://www.cibernetic.com
M 18 de noviembre
Presentación Oral II
J 20 de noviembre
Presentación Oral II
M 25 de noviembre
Fernando Botero (1932- )
Reading:
“Fernando Botero y Abu Ghraib: No pude quedar callado”,
R e v o lu c ió n , n ú m . 7 9 , 2 5 d e fe b re ro d e 2 0 0 7 :
http://revcom.us/a/079/botero-es.html
J 27 de noviembre
Oswaldo Guayasamin (19191999)
Reading: http://www.guayasamin.org
http://www.capilladelhombre.com/
http://poetassigloveintiuno.blogspot.ca/2012/10/8024-yucef-merhi.html
M 2 de diciembre
Conclusión del curso
Short essay II is due