Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Contemporary Culture
Other languages of instruction: Catalan, English
Teaching staff
By appointment
Introduction
Following the itinerary of cultures (classical, medieval, modern), Contemporary Culture becomes the last step for the global and cohesive understanding of the historical, literary, philosophical and artistic realities that occur in the so-called contemporary period, probably the most complex and heterogeneous in the history of humanity. The course will provide the student with some keys to understand cultural aspects of a period that could be established at least since the early 19th century until our days.
Pre-course requirements
No prerequisites are needed to enrol in this course.
Objectives
- To acquire knowledge and understanding regarding different issues and problems of contemporary culture in Western Europe.
- Ability to recognise and interpret contemporary cultural manifestations.
- To know the main cultural process between the end of the 18th century and the 20th century.
Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme
- CN02 - Students will be able to identify models and policies specific to different cultures and migratory groups, as well as their historical context.
- CP05 - Students will be able to analyse socio-cultural, historical and artistic structures, from a respect for the fundamental rights of equality between men and women, using language that avoids androcentricity and stereotypes.
- HB03 - Students will be able to develop a coherent understanding and expression of ideas and arguments, both orally and in writing.
- HB04 - Students will be able to develop the capacity for analysis, synthesis and critical thinking.
- HB05 - Students will be able to problem solve based on reasoned judgements.
- HB08 - Students will be able to research different humanistic disciplines based on an analysis and comparison of relevant information.
- HB11 - Students will be able to critically analyse cultural and artistic representations, based on an understanding of their historical context, in order to develop an intercultural perspective and a deeper understanding of the contemporary world.
- HB12 - Students will be able to adequately and effectively apply methods and techniques specific to different humanities disciplines when problem solving and when elaborating critical and well-founded arguments.
- HB13 - Students will be able to draw connections between data derived from observations and relevant theories, following data interpretation.
- HB17 - Students will be able to use data collection tools with a high degree of independence, such as library catalogues, archival inventories, documentary sources, electronic references and other resources.
Learning outcomes of the subject
1. Assimilate key concepts of the study of contemporary culture and analyze critically the circumstances in which it is inscribed.
2. Contextualize and situate relevant cultural phenomena and relate them to their social and political dimension.
3. Relate transversal and multidisciplinary concepts
4. Apply and transfer theoretical and/or abstract concepts to real situations
5. Read and analyze in depth texts and articles related to cultural issues
6. Write narrative and descriptive texts
7. Systematize heterogeneous data and/or information
8. Apply theoretical knowledge in analysis and class debates, as well as in autonomous work.
9. Know and select specific documentation on the study of contemporary culture.
Syllabus
HISTORY:
1. Introduction to the Old Regime
2. The English Revolution
3. The French Revolution
4. The American Revolution
5. Napoleonic era, Restoration and bourgeois revolutions
6. Nationalisms and Socialisms
7. Imperialism and Colonialism
8. The First World War and the Russian Revolution
9. Interwar Period and The Second World War
10. Cold War, Decolonisation and European Construction
LITERATURE:
1. Literary Enlightenment
1.1. The Baroque 18th century
1.2. The Neoclassicism
2. Aesthetics and ideology of Romanticism
2.1. Costumbrism
2.2. Historical novel and gothic novel
2.3 Romantic Poetry and Drama
3. Realistic and naturalistic novel
4. Symbolism
5. Modernism
6. The birth of the literary avant-gardes
7. Existentialism
8. New directions in 20th century literature
ART
Course contents
1. Neoclassicism
2. Romanticism
3. Goya
4. Realism
5. Impressionism
6. Post-impressionism
7. Symbolism
8. On-site class: MNAC, Modern Art Section
9. On-site class: Architecture of the Modern period in Barcelona (Neoclassicism, Historicism, Eclecticism).
PHILOSOPHY
1. Modern thought and its cultural consequences: Illustration and Romanticism.
2. Hegelian idealism. Dialectic and Aufheben of the spirit.
3. Comte and positivism.
4. The impetus of the masters of suspicion:
A) F. Nietzsche. Nihilism and transmutation of values.
B) K. Marx. Materialism and alienation.
C) S. Freud. The unconscious and psychoanalysis.
5. Husserl and Scheler. The contributions of phenomenology.
6. Heidegger: Dasein and Existential Analysis.
7. Hannah Arendt and the Human Condition.
8. Wittgenstein. Linguistic Turn and the limits of language.
9. Adorno and Horkheimer. Dialectics of the Enlightenment and criticism of instrumental reason.
Teaching and learning activities
In person
The course will combine theory-lecture classes, where professors will explain ideas and concepts typical of contemporary culture, practical lessons, seminars and workshops (text analysis, discussions, oral project presentations, etc.).
Evaluation systems and criteria
In person
ADVICE NOTES
1. In this course it is very important to make proper use of language in written tests, papers and oral presentations, both from the point of view of grammar and spelling and punctuation and wording. A proper use of terms specific to the discipline is also of special relevance. The criteria to be followed before any of these errors is as follows: 0.1 will be lowered for misspelling or incorrect words in essays and exams.
2. Advice on plagiarism
Plagiarism is the use of material appropriated from another source or from other sources with the intention of passing it off as one’s own work. Plagiarism may take the form of unacknowledged quotation or substantial paraphrase. Sources of material include all printed and electronically-available publications in English or other languages, or unpublished materials, including theses, written by others.
To avoid plagiarism, you must quote the source whenever ideas written by another person are used and even if the quote is not direct and paraphrases or summarises someone else’s ideas. In direct quotes one must use quotation marks and quote the source. In an academic essay, it is not enough to generally record the literature used, but it is necessary to explicitly mention the source where their ideas written by someone else come from.
Plagiarism in written essays for this course is unacceptable and, therefore, any work in which plagiarism is committed will be evaluated with a zero.
EVALUATION SYSTEMS
The evaluation criteria will be as follows:
HISTORY:
Delivery of an essay that addresses one of the issues discussed during the course. Delivery Date: February 27, 2017.
LITERATURE:
Exam (75%)
Written essay and oral presentation (25%)
ART:
Exam 60%
Class test 10%
Written essay and oral presentation 20%
Participation in class 10%
PHILOSOPHY:
1. Final exam 60%
2. Essay 40%
Bibliography and resources
HISTORY:
CASASSAS, Jordi. La construcción del presente. El mundo desde 1848 hasta nuestros días. Barcelona: Ariel, 2005.
JULIÁ, José-Ramón. Atlas de historia universal. Tomo II: De la Ilustración al mundo actual. Barcelona: Planeta, 2000.
PAREDES, Javier (coord.). Historia universal contemporánea. I: De las Revoluciones Liberales a la Primera Guerra Mundial. Barcelona: Ariel, 1999.
PAREDES, Javier (coord.). Historia universal contemporánea. II: De la Primera Guerra Mundial a nuestros días. Barcelona: Ariel, 1999.
LITERATURE
ABRAMS, M.H., El romanticismo: tradición y revolución. Madrid, Visor, 1992.
AMORÓS, A., Introducción a la novela contemporánea, Madrid, 1974.
AUERBACH, E., Mímesis: la representación de la realidad en la literatura occidental. México, Fondo de Cultura Económica, 1950.
BONET, Carmelo. El realismo literario. Buenos Aires: Editorial Nova, 1958.
BORGES, J. L., Flaubert y su destino ejemplar, Madrid, Emece, 1996.
EAGLETON, T., Las ilusiones del posmodernismo. Oxford. Blackwell, 1996.
FRIEDRICH, H., Estructura de la Lírica Moderna. Madrid, Seix Barral, 1974.
HUMPHREY, R., La corriente de la conciencia en la novela moderna, Santiago de Chile Ed. Universitaria, 1969.
LLOVET, J., Lecciones de Literatura Universal, Madrid, 1995.
LUCKACS, G., Ensayos sobre el Realismo. Buenos Aires, Editorial Siglo XXI, 1994.
NABOKOV, V., Curso de literatura europea, Barcelona, Bruguera, 1983.
OLIVA, C. y TORRES MONREAL, F., Historia básica del arte escénico, Madrid, Cátedra, 1994.
REVOL, E., La tradición imaginaria de Joyce a Borges, Córdoba, Teuco, 1971.
RIQUER, M. de y VALVERDE, J. M., Historia de la Literatura Universal. Barcelona, Planeta, 1997.
ART HISTORY:
ANTIGÜEDAD, M. D., El siglo XIX: la mirada al pasado y la modernidad, UNED, 2015
ARGAN, G. C., El arte moderno 1770-1970, Barcelona, Fernando Torres ed., 1975.
BENEVOLO, L., Historia de la arquitectura moderna, Barcelona, Gustavo Gili, 1986
BOCOLA, S., El arte de la modernidad, Barcelona, Ediciones del Serbal, B, 1999.
BORNAY, E., El Segle XIX, Barcelona, Planeta, 1988
FONTBONA, F., El romanticisme a Catalunya: 1820-1874, Barcelona, Pòrtic, 1999
GRUPO 2C, La Barcelona de Cerdà, Barcelona, Flor del Viento, 2009
HAMILTON, G. H., Pintura y escultura en Europa: 1880-1940, Madrid, Cátedra, 1989
HITCHCOCK, H. R., Arquitectura: siglos XIX y XX, Madrid, Cátedra, 1981
LÓPEZ GUALLAR, M., Cerdà y Barcelona : la primera metrópoli, 1853-1897, Barcelona, Ajuntament de Barcelona, Museu d'Història de Barcelona, 2010
NOVOTNY, F., Pintura y escultura en Europa, 1780-1880, Madrid : Cátedra, 1978
RODRÍGUEZ, D., Del Neoclasicismo al Realismo: la construcción de la modernidad, Madrid, Historia 16, 1996
SANTA-MARIA, G., Decidir la ciutat futura, Barcelona 1859, Barcelona, Ajuntament de Barcelona, Museu d'Història de la Ciutat de Barcelona, 2009
SHAPIRO, M., El arte moderno, Madrid, Alianza Forma, 1993.
URBANO, J., Eclecticisme i Arquitectura, Barcelona, Dux, 2013
URBANO, J., La Barcelona eclèctica, Barcelona, Ajuntament de Barcelona, 2014
Catàlegs d'exposicions:Delacroix : de la idea a la expresión (1798-1863), Barcelona, Fundació La Caixa, 2011
PHILOSOPHY:
BODEI, R. La filosofía del siglo XX. Madrid: Alianza, 2001.
COLOMER, E. El pensamiento alemán: de Kant a Heidegger. Barcelona: Herder, 1990. (3 vols)
CORETH, E, EHLEN, P. La filosofía del siglo XX. Barcelona: Herder, 1989.
CRUZ PRADOS, A. Historia de la filosofía contemporánea. Pamplona: Eunsa, 1987.
FERRARIS, M. La hermenéutica. México: Taurus, 1998.
HERNANDEZ-PACHECO, J. Corrientes actuales de filosofía. Madrid: Tecnos, 1996.
LÖWITH, K. De Hegel a Nietzsche. La quiebra revolucionaria del pensamiento en el siglo XIX. Madrid: Katz, 2008.
REALE, G, ANTISERI, D. Historia del pensamiento filosófico y científico. Vol. III. Del romanticismo hasta hoy. Barcelona: Herder, 1995.
VERNEAUX, R. Historia de la filosofía contemporánea. Barcelona: Herder, 1977.
VILLACAÑAS, J.L. Historia de la filosofía contemporánea. Madrid: Akal, 1997.