Defiant Echoes: Resistance and Reinvention in the Spanish Canon
SPAN 250
Spring 2026
| Section:
01
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| Crosslisting:
COL 219 |
Can the literary canon be both a tool of oppression and a space for rebellion? In this course, we will challenge traditional notions of the Spanish canon, exploring how voices of dissent have reshaped it from the 18th century to today. Through literature, comics, memoirs, theater, and essays, we will uncover how writers and artists have resisted imposed identities and fought for a more inclusive cultural landscape. From the groundbreaking works of Emilia Pardo Bazán and Federico García Lorca to contemporary creators like Quan Zhou Wu, Ana Penyas, and Desiree Bela-Lobedde, we will analyze how these voices question authority, identity, and belonging. Through engaging discussions and critical analysis, students will examine the evolving definition of Spanish identity and consider how narratives of power, exclusion, and resistance continue to shape the literary world. Whether you are interested in literature, history, cultural studies, or activism, this course will give you new perspectives on the power of storytelling as a force for change. |
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
HA RLAN |
| Course Format: Seminar | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: SPAN221 |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: (College of Letters)(Hispanic Literatures and Cultures)(Romance Studies) |
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Past Enrollment Probability: 90% or above |
| SECTION 01 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
Course Reading packet and Wesleyan RJ Julia
Major works in this course:
Leandro Fernández de Moratín, El sí de las niñas (theater);
José de Espronceda and Rosalía de Castro (poetry);
Emilia Pardo Bazán, "En tranvía" , "Feminista" y "La educación del hombre y de la mujer" (short story and essay);
Federico García Lorca, Yerma (theater);
Carmen Martín Gaite, El cuarto de atrás (novel);
Quan Zhou Wu, Gente de aquí, gente de allí (comic/essay);
Desirée Bela-Lobedde, Ser mujer negra en España (memoir);
Lucía Litjmaer, Ofendiditos (essay);
Silvia Albert Sopale, No es país para negras (theater);
Najat El Hatchmi, Jo també soc catalana;
Ana Penyas, Estamos todas bien (comic).
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Examinations and Assignments:
Reading notes for every class
2 short essays
2 exams
Final essay |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
This class is intended for students who have completed SPAN 221 with a B- or better. Students who have not done so should consult with the professor before preregistering. Readings, written assignments, and class discussions will be in Spanish. Only COL students may take this course CR/U. Students are expected to be active/informed participants in class discussions. You will improve all of your language skills in this course. |
| Instructor(s): Sendra Ferrer,Olga Times: .M.W... 01:20PM-02:40PM; Location: TBA |
| Total Enrollment Limit: 15 | | SR major: 8 | JR major: 2 | | |
| Seats Available: 15 | GRAD: X | SR non-major: 1 | JR non-major: 1 | SO: 2 | FR: 1 |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 0 | 1st Ranked: 0 | 2nd Ranked: 0 | 3rd Ranked: 0 | 4th Ranked: 0 | Unranked: 0 |
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