Gender and Authority in the Spanish Comedia and Empire: The Spectacle and Splendor of Women in Power
SPAN 245
Spring 2015 not offered
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| Crosslisting:
THEA 242, COL 209 |
In this course we will trace portrayals of women in positions of authority in Spanish Golden Age comedias as if we were following Ariadne's thread. Along our route we will encounter the Jewish queen Esther in Lope de Vega's La hermosa Esther, a Spanish Sultana in Cervantes' La Gran Sultana, Queen Zenobia of the ancient Palmyrene empire in Calderón's La gran Cenobia, the Baroque princess Estrella in his La vida es sueño and América, the self-possessed Aztec in his Divino narciso. We will focus on geographical, political, social, and religious factors insofar as they relate to the representation of authority and gender in these plays. We will assess as well the various relationships--love, captivity, cooperation, and subordination, for instance--that women in power establish with their male counterparts. We will explore, finally, the parallels that exist between the literary and political culture of the Spanish empire by comparing these dramatic representations of authority to symbols employed in official artistic representations by the royal court during the time of Philip III and Philip IV. J. P. Rubens' Medici cycle--commissioned portraits of Maria de Medici, the mother of Elisabeth de Bourbon, the Queen consort of Philip IV--will be especially useful in this regard. Our overarching aim is to evaluate the extent to which literary culture--in this case, the representation of women in power--may have influenced how female authority was conceived and portrayed in the public (political) sphere in Spain and in the Spanish colonies. For that purpose, we will conclude by studying textual and pictorial accounts of Queen Isabel de Borbón composed in different Mediterranean and New World cities (Milan, Naples, and Rome; Puerto Rico, Lima, and México). |
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
HA RLAN |
| Course Format: Discussion | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: None |
Major Readings:
Primary readings:
Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, LA GRAN SULTANA DOÑA CATALINA DE OVIEDO*
Félix Lope de Vega y Carpio. LA HERMOSA ESTER*
Pedro Calderón de la Barca. LA GRAN CENOBIA *
Pedro Calderón de la Barca. LA VIDA ES SUEÑO.
Pedro Calderón de la Barca. EL GRAN TEATRO DEL MUNDO.*
Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz. EL DIVINO NARCISO
*A digital edition will be offered through Moodle.
Reading Package (Available though Moodle):
Juan de Palma, ISABEL DE BORBÓN (Fragment)
Los funerales de Isabel de Bórbón (Selection)
Perez de Moya. PHILOSOPHIA SECRETA (Selection)
Diego Lopez, DECLARACION MAGISTRAL SOBRE LAS EMBLEMAS DE ANDRES ALCIATO (Selection)
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Examinations and Assignments:
2 Oral presentations 20%
1 Oral Final interview 15%
1 Midterm Essay 15%
1 Final essay 30%
Perfect attendance and weekly commentaries 20% |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
SPAN 245 is intended for students who have completed Spanish 221 or the equivalent with a grade of B or better. Students who have not done so should consult with the professor before pre-registering. COL students will be allowed to take this course on a CR/U basis.
In addition to the essential capabilities indicated, students will regularly exercise skills speaking and writing in Spanish. |
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