SPAN 597 The Myth of Don Juan

The myth of Don Juan has influenced the thoughts on seduction, erotic interactions, and gender roles for numerous authors and personalities from various times and countries. On the other hand, Don Juan has also been a symbol of rebellion against moral, social, and religious norms. In this course, we will explore the fundamental characteristics that defined the persona of Don Juan in the Spanish Golden Age period, where he was born, and how he was received during the romantic, modernist, and contemporary periods of Spanish literature and culture. We will examine the original elements of the character of Don Juan, place the myth within its social and historical contexts, and analyze the various dramatic and literary techniques used by playwrights, novelists, poets, artists, and filmmakers in creating the character of Don Juan. The course will examine the most influential versions of the myth, including Don Juan Tenorio by José Zorrilla and El estudiante de Salamanca by José de Espronceda. Additionally, there will be a focus on comedic reinterpretations of Don Juan by key authors of modern Spanish comedies, such as Enrique Jardiel Poncela, Pedro Muñoz Seca, and Miguel Mihura. Through laughter and insightful jokes, these authors emphasized the obsolescence of the womanizer masculine archetype at a time when women were becoming aware of their new role in modern societies. The resources to be studied will encompass drama, novels, poetry, films, paintings, music, performances, as well as academic, psychoanalytic, and philosophical essays.