Handbook of Spanish Popular Culture

(Hardback)

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Description

Spanish popular culture is one of the richest in the world. The absence of an efficient ruling class has allowed the Spanish people to stamp their personality on all major aspects of their country's life. From the bullfight and flamenco to wines and food, this is an exploration of the rich and pervasive popular culture of Spain. It describes the peculiar Spanish feeling for death and tragedy as expressed in popular religious practices, music and the bullfight; the "fiesta sense of life", so foreign to the work ethic of most Western countries; the oral tradition that has managed to survive into the post-industrial age; love and courtship in the country of Don Juan and Carmen; the press, radio, television and the movies; and the use of food and drink in everyday life and as a ritual part of sacred and secular celebrations. A familiarity with Spanish popular culture, which permeates all aspects of Spanish life, is essential to understanding Spain.

Reviews

.,."nobody could have written this book better than Edward Stanton."-Dr. Fernando Claramunt Professor Emeritus of Psychology Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain
"A book like this has been sorely needed for many years now.... The Handbook of Spanish Popular Culture will be an essential reference tool for students and scholars of Spain and the best introduction possible for the educated general reader and traveller."-Timothy Mitchell Professor of Spanish Texas A&M University

Author Bio

EDWARD F. STANTON is Professor of Spanish and was named in 1988 the first Bingham Professor in the Humanities at the University of Kentucky./e He is the author of numerous books and articles on various aspects of Hispanic life and culture.