| Unit name | 20th and 21st Century Portugal: Politics, Art and Society |
|---|---|
| Unit code | HISP20055 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | I/5 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Cosme |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
None |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department | Department of Hispanic, Portuguese and Latin American Studies |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
This course will focus on Portuguese history and society since the rise of Salazar to power in the 1930s to the present and how that history can be related to several art works (literature, film, and paintings). Subjects to be explored include the ideologies and myths of nation, in pre and post-dictatorship and the evolution of the national self-perception. We will cover the transition to democracy, the loss of Imperial status, the impact of EU membership, and the immigration. We will be examining how some of these are articulated and contested in several works of fiction (literature, film and paintings) and chronicles.
By the end of this unit, students should be able to identify the key themes of Portuguese 20th and 21st century history and to be able to critically engage with fictional works in relation to their contexts.
Lectures and seminars
One summative essay of 1,800-2,000 words (one-third of mark) and one two-hour examination (two-thirds of mark). Note: the presentations in class will count towards the final mark in borderline cases.
