This Honors seminar explores masterpieces of contemporary Spanish fiction and film, while asking: Why have certain works entered the cultural canon? What innovations defined them, and what reactions do they elicit today? From a conflicted priest to a sensitive university student to a heroic town councilman, a rebellious nun, an accidental murderer and a ruthless ogre, we will follow dramatic stories of men and women from across Spain. The goal of the course is to read and view intensively, concentrating on selected works in depth. Each narrative and film will be situated in its sociocultural, historical and critical contexts. Through use of Spanish in a seminar

setting, each student will build his or her critical abilities, cultural knowledge and language proficiency. This class meets with an MA-level graduate section that supports the Honors section.