Module: Spanish Literature, Visual & Film Studies

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Spanish Literature, Visual & Film Studies
Module Code	SPA1014 (ITS: SP293)
Faculty	SALIS	School	Humanities & Social Sciences
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	10

Description

This module aims to provide students with a deep knowledge of contemporary literature, cinema and visual arts in Spain. The main purpose of this module is to further develop students’ analytical and critical skills through the academic study of artists and film directors of the post-dictatorship society. The module is delivered through Spanish and aims to improve comprehension, oral and writing skills as well as deepen students’ knowledge of culture and society

Learning Outcomes

1. Use a broad lexical repertoire and grammatical structures in Spanish to express opinion
2. Demonstrate awareness and critical thinking of cultural issues in contemporary Spain
3. Demonstrate ability to analyse and read films and visual art production
4. Ability to work independently with a variety of resources and documents retrieved from digital tools
5. Understand and interpret different point of views adopted by writers, artists and film directors

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	10	Online/Face to face seminars
Independent Study	160	Students have read and complete tasks of different academic and media texts
Group work	40	Group work. Research, present and discuss a topic through the analysis of a cultural representation such as a film, a band or an artist
Assignment Completion	40	Watch and analyse a film in order to identify different aspects of femininity, masculinity and other cultural and social aspects of the period studied
Total Workload: 250

Section Breakdown
CRN	21036	Part of Term	Semester 2
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale		Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category		Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Alicia Castillo Villanueva	Module Teacher

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Assignment	Students have read and complete tasks of different academic and media texts	25%	n/a
Group presentation	Group work. Research, present and discuss a topic through the analysis of a cultural representation such as a film, a band or an artist	25%	n/a
Assignment	Film assignment Watch and analyse a film in order to identify different aspects of femininity, masculinity and other cultural and social aspects of the period studied	50%	n/a

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Content
The module focuses on the study of cinema and visual culture during the period known as the Transition to Democracy in Spain. The first part of the module focuses on socio-political and cultural changes and their representation during the cultural movement known as La Movida. The module analyses the importance of new trends in music, visual culture and cinema. The work of the well-known director Pedro Almodóvar will be studied in the second part of the module with a special emphasis on the treatment of femininity and masculinity.

Indicative Reading List

Books:
None

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None