CVA2058 After the Dictator
(Intermediate Liberal Arts)
In this course, we will look at artistic and other cultural responses (film, narrative, art, music, popular culture) that reflect and inform the experience of dictatorship and the transition from authoritarianism to the promise of a more open form of governance. Through films and texts that explore questions of history and the representation of national and individual identities, we will consider cultural responses to the consequences of dictatorship and the new political, economic, and social realities that have emerged. Scholars, policymakers, and business leaders are among those interested in addressing the causes, character, and possibilities of these transformations. The democratic transition in Spain, which began with the death of Francisco Franco in 1975, provides a valuable point of comparison to our examination of various other country examples. What are the differing strategies used to come to terms with the past and the legacy of dictatorship? How successful have these political transitions been? What elements remain unresolved, and how do they continue to play out or find expression in the culture and society? This course may be offered Fall or Spring semester.
Prerequisites: RHT and Foundation H&S and A&H