Cooking up the Nation (SPAN20024)

Undergraduate level 2Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)

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Overview

Availability
Semester 2
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This subject focuses on the interaction between cuisine and nationalist discourses in Spain and Peru, exploring how food can function as a site of control and/or a vehicle for the construction of nationhood. Studies of national cuisines demonstrate that how we talk about food is as revealing of our identity as what we eat. Some important developments in the newly emerging field of Hispanic Cultural Food Studies reveal that gastronomic identities can be mobilised within different social contexts to different political and cultural ends. These range from the prescription and re-description of gender roles to processes of modernisation, from national renewal to questions of national boundaries. Culinary identities in Spain and Peru will also be examined in the context of regional rivalries, regional integration, post-colonial legacies and dictatorial rule.

Academic skills are enhanced through learning how to write scholarly essays in Spanish and to do close readings of a variety of food texts and scholarly and journalistic articles. Workplace-relevant skills are developed through collaborative project-based group work, and investigative and oral skills developed through media that could include podcasts, radio broadcasts, or other journalistic presentations.

Intended learning outcomes

On successful completion of this subject, students should:



  • understand and use at an academic level strategies in the use of linguo-cultural genres at an advanced level with a focus on researching the food cultures of Spain and Peru from the late 19th through to present day;
  • be able to interpret the intellectual, cultural and historical context of contemporary Spanish and Latin American societies by acquiring learning strategies to researching national and trans-national contexts;
  • understand the role of cultural studies and food studies in shaping Hispanic Studies research as a global discipline;
  • understand the academic and research practice of the main theories and approaches to the cultures of Spain and Peru;
  • understand and research the social, political, historical and cultural contexts and international awareness of the major Spanish-language cultural and food practices around the world;
  • be able to communicate knowledge intelligibly, bilingually and economically through researching in the form of academic essays on Spanish-language culture;
  • understand and research the linguo-cultural acquisition and contextualisation of judgements and knowledge process, developing a critical self-awareness and being open to new ideas and new aspects of contemporary Hispanic cultures both in English and Spanish showing autonomous, self-directed and academic-level skills;
  • have developed public speaking skills and confidence in self-expression, research and conversations where cultural differences within the Spanish-speaking world are addressed in relation to culture, particularly food culture.

Generic skills

At the completion of this subject, students should:

  • understand social, political, historical and cultural contexts and international awareness/ openness to the word: through the contextualisation of judgements and knowledge;
  • have developed a critical self-awareness, be open to new ideas and new aspects of Spanish culture, and formulate arguments;
  • be able to communicate intelligibly and economically: through essay writing, tutorial discussions and class presentations;
  • be able to speak publicly with increasing confidence in self expression through tutorial participation and class presentations.

Last updated: 14 March 2025

Eligibility and requirements

Prerequisites

Code Name Teaching period Credit Points
SPAN10004 Spanish 4
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
SPAN20003 Spanish 4
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
SPAN10008 Spanish 6
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
SPAN20019 Spanish 6
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
SPAN30015 Spanish 6
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5

Corequisites

None

Non-allowed subjects

Code Name Teaching period Credit Points
SPAN30019 Cooking up the Nation
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5

Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)

The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.

Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home

Last updated: 14 March 2025

Assessment

Additional details

• A group media presentation during semester (equivalent to 1200 words) [30%]
• An individual analytical presentation during semester (equivalent to 800 words) [20%]
• An essay (2000 words) due during the examination period [50%]

Hurdle Requirement: Students must attend a minimum of 75% of tutorials in order to pass this subject. All pieces of written work must be submitted to pass this subject.

Note: Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at 10% per working day. In-class tasks missed without approval will not be marked.

Last updated: 14 March 2025

Dates & times

  • Semester 2
    Principal coordinatorLara Anderson
    Mode of deliveryOn Campus (Parkville)
    Contact hours
    Total time commitment170 hours
    Teaching period29 July 2019 to 27 October 2019
    Last self-enrol date 9 August 2019
    Census date31 August 2019
    Last date to withdraw without fail27 September 2019
    Assessment period ends22 November 2019

Time commitment details

170 hours

Additional delivery details

Entry to this subject can be met through:

  • completion of Spanish 4; or
  • Spanish 6; or
  • equivalent.

On successful completion of this subject, students should:

Last updated: 14 March 2025

Further information

  • Texts

    Prescribed texts

    There are no specifically prescribed or recommended texts for this subject.

  • Related Handbook entries

    This subject contributes to the following:

    TypeName
    MajorSpanish and Latin American Studies
    Specialisation (formal)Spanish and Latin American Studies
  • Breadth options

    This subject is available as breadth in the following courses:

  • Links to additional information

    http://arts.unimelb.edu.au/soll

  • Available through the Community Access Program

    About the Community Access Program (CAP)

    This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.

    Please note Single Subject Studies via Community Access Program is not available to student visa holders or applicants

    Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.

    Additional information for this subject

    Language Placement Test required

  • Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students

    This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.

Last updated: 14 March 2025