Focusing on cultural texts, this collection of essays by Jo Labanyi explores the interplay between emotions and social tensions in Spanish literature, cinema, painting, and photography. Covering a span from the early nineteenth century to the present, the work examines how these texts reflect and negotiate cultural anxieties, often emphasizing gender as a critical lens. Labanyi's analysis reveals the historical evolution of emotions and their connections to political processes, offering a unique perspective on Spanish cultural studies.
This Very Short Introduction introduces the ways in which Spanish literature
has been read, in and outside Spain, explaining misconceptions, outlining the
insights of recent scholarship, and suggesting new readings. It explores the
relationship between Spanish literature and modernity and issues of gender and
sexuality.
Focusing on six significant Spanish novelists from the post-Civil War era, this analysis delves into their literary contributions and the themes that shaped their narratives. It offers a comprehensive exploration of their texts, examining the historical and cultural contexts that influenced their writing. Through in-depth examination, readers gain insights into the evolution of Spanish literature and the distinct voices that emerged in response to the tumultuous backdrop of the 20th century.
Jo Labanyi and Luisa Elena Delgado provide the first cultural history of modern literatures in Spain. With contributors Helena Buffery, Kirsty Hooper and Mari Jose Olaziregi, they showcase the country’s cultural complexity by working across its four major literary cultures – Castilian, Catalan, Galician and Basque – from the eighteenth century to the present. Engaging critically with the concept of the “national”, Modern Literatures in Spain traces the uneven institutionalization of Spain’s diverse literatures in a context of Castilian literary hegemony, as well as examining literary production by Spaniards outside of Spain. The thematically organized chapters explore literary constructions of subjectivity, gender and sexuality; urban and rural imaginaries; intersections between high and popular culture; and the formation of a public sphere. Throughout, readings are attentive to the multiple ways in which literature serves as a barometer of cultural responses to historical change. An introduction to major historical debates as well as an original analysis of key texts, this book is important reading for students and scholars with an interest in the literatures and cultures of Spain.
