Spanish 3/4: Más allá de la ensaladilla rusa: food, censorship and identity in Franco's Spain
Este taller invita a descubrir cómo la comida se convirtió en una herramienta de identidad, propaganda y supervivencia en la España del siglo XX, especialmente durante la dictadura de Francisco Franco.
A través de ejemplos curiosos como la tortilla sin patatas y sin huevos elaborada durante la Guerra Civil o el cambio de nombre de la ensaladilla rusa por ensaladilla nacional en tiempos del franquismo, reflexionaremos sobre cómo...
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This workshop invites participants to explore how food became a tool of identity, propaganda and survival in 20th-century Spain, particularly during Francisco Franco’s dictatorship.
Through examples, such as the “potato omelette without potatoes or eggs” created during the Spanish Civil War, or the renaming of Russian salad as National salad under the Franco regime, we will reflect on how cooking can express values, adapt to scarcity and mirror the social and political changes of an era.
What will we cover?
During the session, we will examine how the Francoist regime used food as a method of education and control, from radio programmes that taught recipes adapted to food shortages to cookbooks and magazines that promoted national and gender values. Using images, short readings and historical recipes, participants will analyse how 20th-century politics and popular culture influenced the way Spanish people cooked, ate and represented their national identity.
The workshop is designed as a dynamic and interactive space for learning and discussion, where participants can share ideas and discover how everyday cooking practices reveal stories of resistance, adaptation and creativity in times of crisis.
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
- Understand how food reflected and attempted to shape Spanish identity during the Franco regime.
- Analyse how political systems used food as a tool of control and communication.
- Reflect on how everyday cooking can reveal broader social and historical narratives
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This workshop is aimed at students with an intermediate or advanced level of Spanish (4-5 years of learning) who wish to explore cultural and historical aspects of modern Spain. No prior knowledge of the topic is required, only interest and curiosity.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
Our courses are characterised by spoken interaction and communication. Typical activities include pair work, group work, role plays and games. A range of resources will be used to support your learning including presentations, hand-outs, and audio-visual material.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
This course is based on the tutor's own material.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
Any other course at level 3 or 4. Please email languages@citylit.ac.uk for more information.
Rosa holds a PhD in Spanish Visual Arts and Politics and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA). She currently teaches Spanish language and cultural courses at the University of Sussex and at Hammersmigh and Fulham Adult Education Skills Centre and has taught at Kingston University over a decade. Her research focuses on Spanish and Latin American visual culture, political communication and the relationship between art, media and power. She has taught Spanish language, translation and modules on Spanish and Latin American culture and politics.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
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https://www.citylit.ac.uk/spanish-3-4-mas-alla-de-la-ensaladilla-rusa-food-censorship-and-identity-in-franco-s-spain3025231Spanish 3/4: Más allá de la ensaladilla rusa: food, censorship and identity in Franco's Spainhttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/spanish-2-up-consolidation-ls2111-1024.jpg3939GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Languages/Courses/Languages/European/Courses/Languages/European/Spanish/Courses/Languages/Language & culture2285128012811294136901228512801281<p>Este taller invita a descubrir cómo la comida se convirtió en una herramienta de identidad, propaganda y supervivencia en la España del siglo XX, especialmente durante la dictadura de Francisco Franco.</p><p>A través de ejemplos curiosos como la <em>tortilla sin patatas y sin huevos</em> elaborada durante la Guerra Civil o el cambio de nombre de la <em>ensaladilla rusa</em> por <em>ensaladilla nacional</em> en tiempos del franquismo, reflexionaremos sobre cómo la cocina puede comunicar valores, adaptarse a la escasez y reflejar los cambios sociales y políticos de una época.</p>003003694Spanish 3/4: Más allá de la ensaladilla rusa: food, censorship and identity in Franco's Spain3939https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/spanish-2-up-consolidation-ls2111-1024.jpgInStockDaytimeSatKeeley StreetAvailable coursesOne-off onlyWeekend2026-06-06T00:00:00+00:00Some experience, AdvancedJun 2026LanguagesLSW713939Spanish 3/4: Más allá de la ensaladilla rusa: food, censorship and identity in Franco's Spain392539Rosa Rodriguez-Garridospanish-3-4-mas-alla-de-la-ensaladilla-rusa-food-censorship-and-identity-in-franco-s-spain/lsw71-2526<p>Este taller invita a descubrir cómo la comida se convirtió en una herramienta de identidad, propaganda y supervivencia en la España del siglo XX, especialmente durante la dictadura de Francisco Franco.</p><p>A través de ejemplos curiosos como la <em>tortilla sin patatas y sin huevos</em> elaborada durante la Guerra Civil o el cambio de nombre de la <em>ensaladilla rusa</em> por <em>ensaladilla nacional</em> en tiempos del franquismo, reflexionaremos sobre cómo la cocina puede comunicar valores, adaptarse a la escasez y reflejar los cambios sociales y políticos de una época.</p>0000-Available|2026-06-06 00:00:00<p>This workshop invites participants to explore how food became a tool of identity, propaganda and survival in 20th-century Spain, particularly during Francisco Franco’s dictatorship.</p><p>Through examples, such as the “potato omelette without potatoes or eggs” created during the Spanish Civil War, or the renaming of <em>Russian salad</em> as N<em>ational salad</em> under the Franco regime, we will reflect on how cooking can express values, adapt to scarcity and mirror the social and political changes of an era.</p><p>Este taller invita a descubrir cómo la comida se convirtió en una herramienta de identidad, propaganda y supervivencia en la España del siglo XX, especialmente durante la dictadura de Francisco Franco.</p><p>A través de ejemplos curiosos como la <em>tortilla sin patatas y sin huevos</em> elaborada durante la Guerra Civil o el cambio de nombre de la <em>ensaladilla rusa</em> por <em>ensaladilla nacional</em> en tiempos del franquismo, reflexionaremos sobre cómo la cocina puede comunicar valores, adaptarse a la escasez y reflejar los cambios sociales y políticos de una época.</p><p>During the session, we will examine how the Francoist regime used food as a method of education and control, from radio programmes that taught recipes adapted to food shortages to cookbooks and magazines that promoted national and gender values. Using images, short readings and historical recipes, participants will analyse how 20th-century politics and popular culture influenced the way Spanish people cooked, ate and represented their national identity.</p><p>The workshop is designed as a dynamic and interactive space for learning and discussion, where participants can share ideas and discover how everyday cooking practices reveal stories of resistance, adaptation and creativity in times of crisis.</p><p>- Understand how food reflected and attempted to shape Spanish identity during the Franco regime.</p><p>- Analyse how political systems used food as a tool of control and communication.</p><p>- Reflect on how everyday cooking can reveal broader social and historical narratives</p><p>This workshop is aimed at students with an intermediate or advanced level of Spanish (4-5 years of learning) who wish to explore cultural and historical aspects of modern Spain. No prior knowledge of the topic is required, only interest and curiosity.</p><p>Our courses are characterised by spoken interaction and communication. Typical activities include pair work, group work, role plays and games. A range of resources will be used to support your learning including presentations, hand-outs, and audio-visual material.</p><p>This course is based on the tutor's own material. </p><p>Any other course at level 3 or 4. Please email <a href="http://languages@citylit.ac.uk" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">languages@citylit.ac.uk</a> for more information. </p>EuropeanSpanishvirtual393925LSW71NONESat06/06/2611:00 - 13:3011:0013:301 session1One-off onlyDaytimeWeekendKSKeeley StreetRosa Rodriguez-GarridoSome experience, AdvancedAvailable courses2026-06-06T00:00:00+00:00Jun 2026Languages3939Spanish 3/4: Más allá de la ensaladilla rusa: food, censorship and identity in Franco's Spainspanish-3-4-mas-alla-de-la-ensaladilla-rusa-food-censorship-and-identity-in-franco-s-spain/lsw71-2526<p>Este taller invita a descubrir cómo la comida se convirtió en una herramienta de identidad, propaganda y supervivencia en la España del siglo XX, especialmente durante la dictadura de Francisco Franco.</p><p>A través de ejemplos curiosos como la <em>tortilla sin patatas y sin huevos</em> elaborada durante la Guerra Civil o el cambio de nombre de la <em>ensaladilla rusa</em> por <em>ensaladilla nacional</em> en tiempos del franquismo, reflexionaremos sobre cómo la cocina puede comunicar valores, adaptarse a la escasez y reflejar los cambios sociales y políticos de una época.</p>0000-Available|2026-06-06 00:00:00<p>This workshop invites participants to explore how food became a tool of identity, propaganda and survival in 20th-century Spain, particularly during Francisco Franco’s dictatorship.</p><p>Through examples, such as the “potato omelette without potatoes or eggs” created during the Spanish Civil War, or the renaming of <em>Russian salad</em> as N<em>ational salad</em> under the Franco regime, we will reflect on how cooking can express values, adapt to scarcity and mirror the social and political changes of an era.</p><p>Este taller invita a descubrir cómo la comida se convirtió en una herramienta de identidad, propaganda y supervivencia en la España del siglo XX, especialmente durante la dictadura de Francisco Franco.</p><p>A través de ejemplos curiosos como la <em>tortilla sin patatas y sin huevos</em> elaborada durante la Guerra Civil o el cambio de nombre de la <em>ensaladilla rusa</em> por <em>ensaladilla nacional</em> en tiempos del franquismo, reflexionaremos sobre cómo la cocina puede comunicar valores, adaptarse a la escasez y reflejar los cambios sociales y políticos de una época.</p><p>During the session, we will examine how the Francoist regime used food as a method of education and control, from radio programmes that taught recipes adapted to food shortages to cookbooks and magazines that promoted national and gender values. Using images, short readings and historical recipes, participants will analyse how 20th-century politics and popular culture influenced the way Spanish people cooked, ate and represented their national identity.</p><p>The workshop is designed as a dynamic and interactive space for learning and discussion, where participants can share ideas and discover how everyday cooking practices reveal stories of resistance, adaptation and creativity in times of crisis.</p><p>- Understand how food reflected and attempted to shape Spanish identity during the Franco regime.</p><p>- Analyse how political systems used food as a tool of control and communication.</p><p>- Reflect on how everyday cooking can reveal broader social and historical narratives</p><p>This workshop is aimed at students with an intermediate or advanced level of Spanish (4-5 years of learning) who wish to explore cultural and historical aspects of modern Spain. No prior knowledge of the topic is required, only interest and curiosity.</p><p>Our courses are characterised by spoken interaction and communication. Typical activities include pair work, group work, role plays and games. A range of resources will be used to support your learning including presentations, hand-outs, and audio-visual material.</p><p>This course is based on the tutor's own material. </p><p>Any other course at level 3 or 4. Please email <a href="http://languages@citylit.ac.uk" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">languages@citylit.ac.uk</a> for more information. </p>EuropeanSpanishconfigurable
