FS-09 Music and Society: Theory and Practice of Flamenco
Broadly defined, Flamenco is a complex performative art which includes song (cante), dance (baile) and guitar music (toque), originally embedded in a particular lifestyle and worldview. Tracing its origins to approximately the mid-nineteenth century, Flamenco has been associated with Spanish Gypsies (gitanos), a community instrumental in its development and who represent the majority of its practitioners, and with the culture of Andalusia in Southern Spain. The exoticization of Spain during the 19th century stimulated Flamenco’s broader development and popularity until it eventually grew to become a powerful national icon, while it continues to be regarded as a quintessential expression of Spanish culture. Our emphasis is on acquiring an aural, visual, and theoretical understanding of Flamenco, of the streams of culture which created it, and of its role within Spanish culture, and on using the study of Flamenco as a vehicle to explore the relationship between art and culture, music and society, and the ways in which we think, talk and learn about Flamenco.
GS-06 Spanish Cuisine, Spanish Cuisines
This course is designed as an introduction to the diversity of Spain’s cuisine. It is not intended to cover all aspects of Spanish cooking, but rather as an appetizer which will seduce you with its appearance, aromas and tastes, making you hungry to learn more about Spain´s gastronomic achievements.
GS-12 Wine in Spain: History and Wine Tasting
Wine has long been part of human society and today is an important part of Spanish culture. This course provides a hands-on introduction to the world of wine. Students will meet the main Spanish wine regions and grapes, they will learn how to store and serve wine effectively, and explore different wines through sight, smell, and taste, and the principles of food and wine pairings.