SPAN 6502 Social Issues and the Graphic Novel in Spain

Conducted in Spanish and fulfills the Post-1800 Peninsular Literature and Culture requirement for HS majors. This course introduces students to the graphic novel as a form of engagement with pressing social issues in 20th- and 21st-century Spain. Throughout the semester, we will develop an appreciation for the graphic novel as a medium that combines visual and textual storytelling and acquire the terminology to speak critically about the assigned readings, while examining their portrayals of race, class, gender, ability, etc. in the Spanish context. Class discussions will likewise trace the social history of contemporary Spain, exploring such topics as the Spanish Civil War and its aftermath, the 2008 financial crisis, and increasing immigration.