This module offers students an exploration of the ways in which Latin American and Iberian societies are represented in contemporary visual and audiovisual cultures. Through a diverse selection of case studies, students will examine how visual media engages with and reflects the complex cultural, social, political, and economic landscapes of Spain and Latin America. Drawing on interdisciplinary theories from the social sciences and humanities, the module investigates key themes such as gender, race, memory and trauma, globalisation, postcolonialism, and populism. These frameworks will support a critical understanding of how the Hispanic world is portrayed in visual culture across the 20th and 21st centuries, spanning regions from Mexico and the Caribbean to the Southern Cone and the Iberian Peninsula. Case studies will include photography, independent and mainstream films, graphic narratives, and audiovisual productions created for various platforms, including television and streaming services such as Netflix and Prime Video. By engaging with these materials, students will develop analytical skills and cultural insights into the evolving visual narratives of the Hispanic world.

Week 1: Race, Gender, and Class on Screen: Representations in Mexican Cinema Week 2: Urban Violence and Social Marginality: Crime Genres in Contemporary Spanish Television Week 3: Memory, Trauma and Narration: Documenting the Chilean Dictatorship through Film Week 4: The Legacy of the Revolution: Cinematic Meditations on Cuban Society Week 5: Icons and Stardom: Media, Celebrity, and Cultural Identity in Latin America Week 6: Realist Aesthetics: Poverty and Marginality in Latin American Cinema Week 7: Photography as Visual Anthropology: Environment and Indigenous Representation Week 8: Popular Culture in the Digital Age: Graphic Novels and Streaming Platforms Week 9: Feminist Cinemas: Gender Politics and Representation in Latin America Week 10: Futures Imagined: Climate Fiction, Ecotopias, and Dystopias in Spanish Graphic Narratives Week 11: Crisis on Screen: Migration, Economy, and Ecology in Contemporary Venezuelan Documentary Week 12: Avant-Garde Aesthetics and Social Fragmentation in Latin American Visual Culture

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to: • Compare and analyse key aspects of Hispanic societies, such as race and gender relations, popular culture, cultural norms, political institutions, and social movements, as represented in contemporary visual media. • Interpret a range of visual cultural products by formulating hypotheses about the meanings they convey. • Develop audiovisual literacy through close textual analysis, with particular attention to the formal language of film and other visual media.

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to: • Identify the effects of cinematic techniques such as editing, cinematography and music and appraise how these formal elements influence audience perception and responses. • Enhance interpersonal and communication skills through active participation in group projects and presentations that involve collaboration and teamwork.

Not available

The module is delivered through a combination of lectures and tutorials. Weekly lectures introduce key topics and concepts, combining social background with close readings of selected case studies. The selection of texts will be informed by a research-led approach, ensuring students are exposed to the latest debates and scholarship. Tutorials focus on collaborative learning through group work in several forms (discussions, debates, presentations). Students will engage in detailed analysis of specific film scenes and images, applying a variety of theoretical approaches. Additionally, students will be encouraged to extend their learning through private study and research beyond contact hours. Attendance to all lectures and tutorials is required to support learning and continuous engagement. The module supports the development of the following UL graduate attributes: agility (fostered through independent research in preparation for tutorials and assignments); curiosity (through the critical engagement and analysis of texts in tutorial discussions and presentations); and articulate (through collaborative group work, individual participation in class, and written and oral assignments).