Sex and Society in Spanish Literature to 1700 (Term 1)

This module, which is open to students taking Spanish Language 4, assumes no prior knowledge either of early Spanish literature or the intellectual contexts that governed its production. As its title suggests, the module looks in depth at the relationship between sex - the basic animalistic desire to love, woo, and procreate - and the tension created by the imposition of social, moral, or religious conventions that codify, limit, or stigmatize different types of sexual behavior. The module is in this sense unified by theme and concept, rather than by the analysis of a specific author or corpus of texts, and in so doing, it attempts to explore a series of interrelated questions that progressively build in complexity and sophistication as it develops. Its aim is in this way to provide students with a firm grasp of the development of attitudes towards sex (both learned and popular, secular and religious) that were expressed in Spain during this period, along with an understanding of the paradoxical and often contradictory ways in which sexual activity is perceived and presented in differing cultural traditions. Particular emphasis is placed in the module on the analysis of sexual codes of conduct, the difficulties involved in accepting them, and the conflicts that arise when they are broken. Attention is also paid to taboo subjects (infidelity, impotence, prostitution, incest, castration, mutilation, sexual climax, promiscuity, and so on) as well as specific literary traditions, such as courtly love. The module is not recommended for students who may find themselves easily offended at, or distressed by, the sexual nature of its content.

Further details of pre-requisites, co-requisites, aims, contact hours and assessment.