Ruralidades encontradas: La España vaciada en la cultura española del siglo XXI

Ibarretxe Diego, Arkaitz

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/121975 Copy

Description

Title

Ruralidades encontradas: La España vaciada en la cultura española del siglo XXI

Author(s)

Ibarretxe Diego, Arkaitz

Issue Date

2023-11-10

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

• Delgado, Luisa Elena
• Martínez-Quiroga, Pilar

Doctoral Committee Chair(s)

• Delgado, Luisa Elena
• Martínez-Quiroga, Pilar

Committee Member(s)

• Ledesma, Eduardo
• Fornoff, Carolyn
• Irigoyen-García, Javier

Department of Study

Spanish and Portuguese

Discipline

Spanish

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Degree Level

Dissertation

Keyword(s)

• Spain
• España
• Neorrurral
• Rural
• España Vaciada
• España Vacía
• Memes
• Documental Aéreo
• Hispanic
• Consenso
• Despoblación

Abstract

(En)countered Ruralities examines contemporary representations of rurality and the "Empty Spain" in 21st-century Spanish literature and culture, set against a backdrop of economic, political, and social crises. The study focuses on how these portrayals become arenas for negotiating identities, articulating political projects, and creating emotional communities. Through the analysis of a variety of genres including neo-rural literature, aerial documentaries, and social media memes, the complexity and multifaceted nature of rurality in contemporary Spanish culture are explored. The research suggests that far from being mere expressions of nostalgia, these portrayals serve multiple functions. On the one hand, they act as ideological and physical refuges. On the other, they become platforms for social and political critique, offering new ways to understand and value rurality and the "Empty Spain." Additionally, the dissertation examines how these portrayals are linked to broader discourses on gender, national identity, and climate change. The study highlights the emergence of new forms of understanding and valuing the "Empty Spain" and rurality that seek to revitalize these territories, giving voice to communities that have hitherto been marginalized. In this sense, it is argued that these cultural representations not only reflect but also influence the way issues such as depopulation, economic crisis, and the urban-rural divide are addressed. Finally, the study concludes that the idea of the "Empty Spain" and rurality will continue to be crucial in a Spain and a global context where issues of depopulation, identity, and crisis show no signs of diminishing in relevance. This analysis contributes to studies on Hispanic literatures and cultures by offering a more integrative approach to this latest iteration of the return to the rural, demonstrating its relevance in shaping public and political discourse in contemporary Spain.

Graduation Semester

2023-12

Type of Resource

Thesis

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2023 Arkaitz Ibarretxe Diego

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