Spanish 4/5: música y protesta en América latina
Este curso es para estudiantes con nivel avanzado de español (si has estudiado español al menos durante 5 años).
This course will be delivered online in Spanish. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in the course details for more information.
Choose a starting date
Learning modes and locations may be different depending on the course start date. Please check the location of your chosen course and read our guide to learning modes and locations to help you choose the right course for you.
- Start Date: 11 Jun 2025End Date: 25 Jun 2025Wed (Evening): 18:30 - 20:30OnlineLocation: OnlineDuration: 3 sessions (over -3 weeks)Course Code: LSW43Tutors: Pilar Villanueva MartinezFull fee £69.00 Senior fee £69.00 Concession £45.00
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
What is the course about?
lease note this course is delivered entirely in Spanish.
This seminar examines theoretical and practical approaches to understanding how sound has permeated through Latin America’s struggles. We will examine how experiences of resistance to structures of power can take sonic forms in contemporary Latin America. We will critically engage with themes such as race, class, gender, sexuality, queerness, state, economy, colonialism, and indigeneity to challenge traditional conceptualizations of art and sound.
This is a live online course. You will need:
- Internet connection. The classes work best with Chrome.
- A computer with microphone and camera is best (e.g. a PC/laptop/iMac/MacBook), or a tablet/iPad/smart phone/iPhone if you don't have a computer.
- Earphones/headphones/speakers.
We will contact you with joining instructions before your course starts.
What will we cover?
Session 1: Patriarchy, Feminism, and Urban Sounds
- Hip hop, Reggaeton
Session 2: Colonialism and Decolonizing Sounds
- Traditional Music & Folklore
Session 3: Neoliberal Capitalism and Insurgent Sounds
- Popular Music & “Nueva Canción”, Punk
We will focus on how sound is entangled with performance, literature, and politics. This course will prioritize displaying the diversity of Latin American voices, including Black and Indigenous writers, and cultural content created by women and members of the LGBTQ+ community.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
- understand sound and music as multilevel forms of expression which contest power in historically bound and culturally specific settings.
- recognise and understand a wide range of musical styles which all have their importance in Latin America's protest culture.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
Advanced knowledge of Spanish is essential: you should have done a minimum of 5 years of Spanish recently. It is not necessary to have any prior knowledge of Black History studies or South American society.
For further details of the specific foreign language skills required for this level, please see the languages self-assessment chart at the start of the languages section of our course guide or at https://www.citylit.ac.uk/self-assess-your-level.
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.
Homework is highly recommended to consolidate learning.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
The course is based on the tutor’s own resources.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
Other Spanish advanced courses or workshops at level 4 and 5. Please email languages@citylit.ac.uk for advice.
Pilar Villanueva-Martinez is a Ph.D. Candidate in Latin American Cultural Studies at the University of Texas at Austin. With over eight years of experience in education, Pilar has become a specialist in teaching courses on Latin American cultures, history, social movements, music, and literature. In addition, she has taught Spanish courses catering to beginners, intermediates, and advanced learners at esteemed institutions like Bucknell University and the University of Texas at Austin. Moreover, she has extended her expertise to various community-engaged organizations, including the Biblioteca del Bicentenario and Casa Cultural el Chontaduro in Colombia. She is also the founder and editor of the Latin American magazine Zánganos, dedicated to disseminating arts, cultures, and activism from the region.
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.